Retinal membranes are comprised of a variety of phospholipids, proteins, and fatty acids. The presence of a unique class of lipids, which contain very-long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs), was first identified over two decades ago and has been implicated in maintaining healthy retinal function, particularly rod photoreceptors. In the retina, deficiencies in VLC-PUFAs stem generally from either low dietary intake of VLC-PUFAs or altered activity of the fatty acid elongase protein, ELOVL4, which synthesizes VLC-PUFAs in the endoplasmic reticulum. The studies described here were motivated by the need to characterize a biologically rare but influential membrane component found in the membrane of retinal cells, In an attempt to investigate the impact of VLC-PUFAs on lipid membrane properties, membrane packing in model VLC-PUFA:DSPC membranes were evaluated from pressure-area isotherms. Additionally, the compression moduli of VLC-PUFA:DSPC mixtures were determined, as it has been postulated that VLC-PUFA may modulate membrane rigidity as a key aspect of their biological function in the retinal membrane. In addition to the static perturbations to the membrane, the effect on lipid translocation (flip-flop) was also investigated by sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (SFVS).

Effect of very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on membrane structure and lipid flip-flop studied in model membranes

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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