Interleaflet Decoupling in a Lipid Bilayer at Excess Cholesterol Probed by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry and Simulations.

Artificial lipid membranes are often investigated as a replica of the cell membrane in the form of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs). In SLBs, the phase state of a lipid bilayer strongly depends on the presence of molecules such as cholesterol, ceramide, and physical parameters such as temperature. Cholesterol is a key molecule of biological membranes and it exerts condensing effect on lipid bilayers.

Nano-mechanical characterization of asymmetric DLPC/DSPC supported lipid bilayers.

Asymmetric distribution of lipid molecules in the inner and outer leaflets of the plasma membrane is a common occurrence in the membrane formation. Such asymmetric arrangement is a crucial parameter to manipulate the properties of the cell membrane. It controls signal transduction, endocytosis, exocytosis in the cells.

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry of fluid and gel phase lipid bilayers in hydrated conditions.

The biological membranes play a crucial role in the various biological processes due to their characteristic physical properties. The parameters such as membrane composition, thickness undulations, and the influence of external stimuli play a crucial role in the phase state behavior of biological membranes. The supported lipid bilayer (SLBs) systems closely represent cell membranes and are often studied to understand their behavior.

Cholesterol induced asymmetry in DOPC bilayers probed by AFM force spectroscopy.

Cholesterol induced mechanical effects on artificial lipid bilayers are well known and have been thoroughly investigated by AFM force spectroscopy. However, dynamics of cholesterol impingement into bilayers at various cholesterol concentrations and their effects have not been clearly understood. In this paper we present, the effect of cholesterol as a function of its concentration in a simple single component dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayer.