Preparing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) of complex lipid mixtures on demand: Mixing small unilamellar vesicles of compositionally heterogeneous mixtures

Tripta Bhatia*, Peter Husen, Jonathan Brewer, Luis A. Bagatolli, Per L. Hansen, John H. Ipsen, Ole G. Mouritsen

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are simple model membrane systems of cell-size, which are instrumental to study the function of more complex biological membranes involving heterogeneities in lipid composition, shape, mechanical properties, and chemical properties. We have devised a method that makes it possible to prepare a uniform sample of ternary GUVs of a prescribed composition and heterogeneity by mixing different populations of small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs). The validity of the protocol has been demonstrated by applying it to ternary lipid mixture of DOPC, DPPC, and cholesterol by mixing small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) of two different populations and with different lipid compositions. The compositional homogeneity among GUVs resulting from SUV mixing is quantified by measuring the area fraction of the liquid ordered-liquid disordered phases in giant vesicles and is found to be comparable to that in GUVs of the prescribed composition produced from hydration of dried lipids mixed in organic solvent. Our method opens up the possibility to quickly increase and manipulate the complexity of GUV membranes in a controlled manner at physiological buffer and temperature conditions. The new protocol will permit quantitative biophysical studies of a whole new class of well-defined model membrane systems of a complexity that resembles biological membranes with rafts.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
Volume1848
Issue number12
Pages (from-to)3175-3180
Number of pages6
ISSN0005-2736
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Confocal fluorescence microscopy
  • Domains
  • Giant unilamellar vesicles
  • Lipid heterogeneity
  • Membranes
  • Rafts

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