Mechanobiology of Asymmetric Myelin Membranes at Multiple Length Scales

髓磷脂是一种特殊的膜，作为轴突（神经细胞的连接结构）的绝缘体，并允许神经信号在整个身体中快速传输。 尽管这种膜对健康的神经功能很重要，但人们对膜中各种分子之间的结构动力学或相互作用知之甚少。 提高这种理解将开辟新的策略，以更好地了解髓鞘相关疾病，如多发性硬化症，并可能设计修复或替换受损髓鞘的方法。 除了这种社会影响，该研究小组将举办一个以与髓鞘膜相关的纳米图案和纳米结构为主题的艺术展，并通过新的研究生课程传播知识，并通过与阿克伦建立的联系向更广泛的公众传播知识。据推测，髓鞘脂质或蛋白质组成的相对细微的变化可以显著改变髓鞘的相行为。髓鞘系统和脂质结构域的形成动力学。 这些变化反过来又导致膜粘附性、刚性和完整性的较大变化，这可能导致髓鞘解开并变得功能障碍。 这一假设将与先进的表面科学技术进行测试，包括表面力装置，一个Langumuir槽加上荧光显微镜，和一个流动电位装置。 该研究将显著推进对髓鞘膜中脂质和蛋白质如何相互作用以影响髓鞘的组织、流动性和刚性的机制理解。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Myelin is a specialized membrane that acts as an insulator for axons (the connecting structure of nerve cells) and that allows the nerve signals to be transmitted quickly throughout the body. Despite the importance of this membrane to healthy nerve function, little is known about the structural dynamics or the interactions between the various molecules in the membrane. Improving this understanding will open up new strategies to better understand myelin-related diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, and potentially engineer ways to repair or replace damaged myelin. In addition to this societal impact, the research team will host an art show themed around nano-patterns and nano-structures related to myelin membranes as well as disseminate the knowledge through new graduate-level courses and to the broader public through connections established with Akron-area high school teachers.It is hypothesized that relatively subtle changes in the composition of myelin lipids or proteins can significantly alter the phase behavior of the myelin system and the formation dynamics of lipid domains. These changes, in turn, lead to larger changes in membrane adhesion, rigidity, and integrity that can cause the myelin sheath to unravel and become dysfunctional. This hypothesis will be tested with advanced surface science techniques, including a surface force apparatus, a Langumuir trough coupled with fluorescence microscopy, and a streaming potential apparatus. The research will significantly advance the mechanistic understanding of how the lipids and proteins in the myelin membrane interact to affect the organization, fluidity, and rigidity of the myelin sheath.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.