心磷脂蓝莓类结构的形成和演化

用共聚焦显微镜和光学显微镜研究了NaCl溶液中心磷脂蓝莓类结构的形成和演化过程. 研究发现, 在NaCl溶液(浓度0.005~0.25 mol/L)中, 心磷脂海绵相的表面首先生成半球形的层状相微结构元胞, 并逐渐呈蜂窝状六角密堆积排列. 溶液中NaCl浓度的轻微增加驱使层状相与海绵相的界面由表面向海绵相内部扩散, 溶液中微弱流场的存在也会影响微结构元胞的形貌, 最终形成蜂窝样网状结构、 蓝莓样包状结构和蓝莓样球状结构, 统称蓝莓类结构. 由于心磷脂在线粒体内膜的拓扑结构转变中具有重要作用, 因此相转变及微结构形态演化的研究有助于进一步理解其在线粒体功能发挥中的作用机理.

Formation and Evolution of Raspberry-like Structures from Cardiolipin

Using confocal microscopy and optical microscopy,the formation and evolution of the self-assembly structures from cardiolipin were investigated in NaCl solutions.The results show that,as the solution concentration is close to physiological concentrations,micro-hemispherical cells emerge on the surface of sponge phase cardiolipin,which tend to automatically arrange in a honeycomb-like array.The slow increasing of the brine content in solutions would drive the phase transition from sponge phase to lamellar phase continuously developed toward to the deep-center of sponge phase cardiolipin.On the other hand,the pressure and shear stress from weak flowing of the fluid also can affect the final morphology of these micro-cells,make them appear as honeycomb-like structures,raspberry-like domes and raspberry spheres.Since cardiolipid plays an important role for mitochondrial function,we hope these above results on phase transition and morphology evolution may improve our understanding of the acting mechanisms of cardiolipin.