Monday, July 14, 2025 7/14/2025

Intrinsic curvature induced packing heterogeneity and non-uniform distribution of cholesterol and Abeta peptide in lipid bilayers

Award Number: SC3GM144158
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Intrinsic curvature induced packing heterogeneity and non-uniform distribution of cholesterol and Abeta peptide in lipid bilayers - Project Summary: Lipid intrinsic curvature is a fundamental physical feature that regulates membrane interactions. The goal is to elucidate intrinsic curvature induced effects on the growth of membrane curvature and packing heterogeneity upon mixing lipids of dissimilar curvature and the consequent distribution of cholesterol and the neurotoxic 25-35 segment of Aβ peptides in bilayers, using a novel steady state fluorescence method that utilizes the computed second harmonic (SH) of the zeroth order spectra to better resolve spectral lines that are not obvious in the zeroth harmonic. The polarity sensitive fluorophore Laurdan will be employed. Laurdan emission in bilayers is a composite of a line, referred to as blue, from the denser packed region at 432 nm and a red line from the less packed region starting at 440 nm in single component gel phases evolving to 490 nm upon melting or mixing with a higher curvature lipid. This path of structure evolution was a new finding. The present hypothesis is: Any added molecule of a dissimilar curvature enters the less packed region of the bilayer. A higher curvature molecule increases stress which is then relieved by growth in flat domains. Laurdan’s preference for flat regions together with growth in such domains contribute to an increase in Laurdan presence in flat domains. Fluorescence spectra register an increase in the area, Ab, of the blue line from flat domains and decrease in the red line area, Ar, along with a red-shift of the red peak and no shift in the blue peak. A lower curvature molecule decreases stress and the membrane tends toward a homogeneous curvature distribution resulting in an Ab decrease, Ar increase, blue shift of the red peak and no shift of the blue peak. Enhancement of heterogeneity in regional curvature due to dissimilarity of intrinsic curvature of mixing lipids and preferential distribution of cholesterol or Aβ peptide that manifest distinct difference in behaviors of areas and peak positions are predicted. Laurdan fluorescence spectra will be measured without and with cholesterol or Aβ (25-35) in mixed bilayers of (i and ii) 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) with (i) 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn- glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), and (ii) 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1′-rac-glycerol (POPG) and (iii) brain lipids. SH of spectra will be computed to determine the number of elementary emissions. Spectra will be fitted to this number of log-normal functions according to developed methodology to resolve spectral lines. Area and peak position changes with mixture composition will be examined to determine packing heterogeneity in the bilayers without the transmembrane molecules and the type of distribution (uniform or non-uniform) of these molecules. Computing the SH of fluorescence spectra by modulating the wavenumber in analogy to field modulation in ESR spectroscopy is an innovative approach to bring superior definition to features missed in broad featureless in measured zeroth harmonics. The proposed research will significantly enhance current knowledge by elucidating the key role of intrinsic curvature in the mechanism by which the added molecule enters, accumulates preferentially, inhomogenously rigidifies the bilayer and changes its shape.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $108,750 )
2024	2024	THE UNIVERSITY CORPORATION	18111 NORDHOFF ST	NORTHRIDGE	CA	91330	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	6/17/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$108,750
														Subtotal = $108,750

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $108,750 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, THE	18111 NORDHOFF ST	NORTHRIDGE	CA	91330	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	6/14/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$108,750
														Subtotal = $108,750

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $108,750 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, THE	18111 NORDHOFF ST	NORTHRIDGE	CA	91330	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	6/30/2022	NEW	$108,750
														Subtotal = $108,750

Grand Total All Awards = $326,250

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Intrinsic curvature induced packing heterogeneity and non-uniform distribution of cholesterol and Abeta peptide in lipid bilayers

Award Number: SC3GM144158

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer