Interactions of Cholesterol and Gangliosides with Lipids

脂筏的研究吸引了生物和物理科学家的注意，研究人员使用模型脂质系统和天然生物膜来试图更好地了解这些实体。据推测，脂筏的形成是由于脂质和胆固醇之间的复杂形成，阐明脂质和胆固醇之间的相互作用已经形成了这个项目的基础。该项目将使用3种不同类型的模型系统：单层、双层和红细胞的天然膜，以及一套生物物理技术（表面压力测量、荧光、β -环糊精解吸测定、掠射x射线衍射、x射线反射率以及细胞内位移测定）来探测所涉及的相互作用的本质。研究的目标分为三个方面：(1)脂质和胆固醇的凝聚复合物的性质。它们的热稳定性如何？它们只能在胆固醇和高熔点脂质之间形成吗？结构和化学活性数据是否与脂质/胆固醇相互作用的其他模型一致？(2)膜插层器。能够破坏脂质和胆固醇之间相互作用的有效膜插层器的结构属性是什么？插层剂疏水性的改变将如何影响其驱油性能？其他固醇是否能有效取代胆固醇？(3)涉及神经节苷类的脂质排序。被认为在脂筏中富集的神经节苷脂是如何影响其周围脂质的组织的？它们是否与高熔点脂类以类似胆固醇的方式协调？还是它们形成了其他类型的结构？解决这些问题的成功将有助于阐明脂质和固醇之间的相互作用，以及涉及脂质和神经节苷的相互作用。它还将弥合模型和天然膜系统之间的差距，并解决在各种模型系统中发现的一些看似不一致的问题。从这项工作中获得的知识将大大增加我们对脂筏的基本理解。这些研究活动将为高度跨学科领域的研究人员提供培训机会，并将有助于培养下一代跨学科研究科学家。该项目将进一步加强膜生物物理学研究生课程的内容，以及一个新的跨学科生物物理科学学位授予项目的课程开发。除研究生和博士后外，研究机会将扩展到高中生，本科生，暑期研究和国际交换生。PI已经率先并将继续参与一个为期7周的暑期研究项目，summer Link，将10名来自芝加哥大学实验学校的高中毕业生安置在芝加哥大学生物科学系和物理科学系的实验室中。早期接触研究有助于吸引这些年轻学生考虑从事科学事业。PI将继续接待本科生和REU学生在实验室进行研究。国际研究合作将通过PI与香港中文大学建立的暑期交换学生计划以及芝加哥大学MRSEC的智利交换计划来促进。将通过外展活动向学童介绍科学，特别是跨学科科学的概念。PI致力于增加女性在学术科学领域的代表性。通过PI与教务长办公室的合作，以及她作为芝加哥大学物理科学部女性物理科学委员会主席的参与，将努力解决女性在学术科学领域的机会。

The study of lipid rafts has attracted the attention of biological and physical scientists alike, and researchers have used model lipid systems as well as natural biological membranes to try to better understand these entities. It has been postulated that lipid rafts form due to complex formation between lipids and cholesterol, and elucidation of the interactions between lipids and cholesterol has formed the basis for this project. The project will use 3 different types of model system: monolayers, bilayers, and natural membranes of red blood cells, and a suite of biophysical techniques (surface-pressure measurements, fluorescence, beta-cyclodextrin desorption assays, grazing incidence x-ray diffraction, x-ray reflectivity as well as displacement assays in cells) to probe the nature of the interactions involved. The objectives of the research fall into three areas: (1) Nature of Condensed Complexes of Lipids and Cholesterol. What is their thermal stability? Can they only be formed between cholesterol and high melting point lipids? Are the structural and chemical activity data consistent with other models on lipid/cholesterol interactions besides the complex formation model? (2) Membrane Intercalators. What are the structural attributes of an effective membrane intercalator capable of disrupting the interactions between lipids and cholesterol? How would alterations in the hydrophobicity of the intercalator affect its displacement performance? Would other sterols be effective in displacing cholesterol? (3) Lipid Ordering Involving Gangliosides. How do gangliosides, thought to be enriched in lipid rafts, affect the organization of their surrounding lipids? Do they coordinate with high melting point lipids in a similar fashion as cholesterol? Or do they form other types of structures? The success in addressing these questions will help elucidate interactions between lipids and sterols as well as those involving lipids and gangliosides. It will also bridge the gap between model and natural membrane systems, and resolve some of the seeming inconsistencies found in various model systems. The knowledge gained from this work will greatly add to our fundamental understanding of lipid rafts.The research activities will provide training opportunities for the researchers in a highly interdisciplinary area, and will help train the next generation of interdisciplinary research scientists. The project will further enhance the content of a graduate course in membrane biophysics, as well as the curriculum development of a new interdisciplinary degree-granting program in Biophysical Sciences. Apart from graduate students and postdocs, research opportunities will be extended to high school, undergraduate, summer research as well as international exchange students. The PI has spearheaded and will continue to participate in a 7-week summer research program, Summer Link, placing 10 high school seniors from the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools in laboratories across the Biological Sciences Division and the Physical Sciences Division at the University of Chicago. An early exposure to research can help entice these young students to consider a career in science. The PI will continue to host undergraduates and REU students for research in the laboratory. International research collaboration will be promoted via a summer exchange student program established by the PI with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as the Chile Exchange Program of the University of Chicago MRSEC. Science, especially the concept of interdisciplinary science, will be brought to schoolchildren through outreach activities. The PI is committed to increasing the representation of women in academic science. Efforts will be made to address the opportunities for women in academic science through the PI's work with the Office of the Provost and her involvement as the Chair of the Women in Physical Sciences Committee of the Physical Sciences Division at the University of Chicago.