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Structure of a cholinergic cell membrane.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Unwin, Nigel 

Abstract

Cell membranes are complex assemblies of proteins and lipids making transient or long-term associations that have yet to be characterized at a molecular level. Here, cryo-electron microscopy is applied to determine how phospholipids and cholesterol arrange between neighboring proteins (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) of Torpedo cholinergic membrane. The lipids exhibit distinct properties in the two leaflets of the bilayer, influenced by the protein surfaces and by differences in cholesterol concentration. In the outer leaflet, the lipids show no consistent motif away from the protein surfaces, in keeping with their assumed fluidity. In the inner leaflet, where the cholesterol concentration is higher, the lipids organize into extensive close-packed linear arrays. These arrays are built from the sterol groups of cholesterol and the initial saturated portions of the phospholipid hydrocarbon chains. Together, they create an ordered ∼7 Å-thick "skin" within the hydrophobic core of the bilayer. The packing of lipids in the arrays appears to bear a close relationship to the linear cholesterol arrays that form crystalline monolayers at the air-water interface.

Description

Keywords

acetylcholine receptor, cholesterol, cryo-EM, lipid bilayer, phospholipid, Animals, Cell Membrane, Cholesterol, Cryoelectron Microscopy, Lipid Bilayers, Membrane Fluidity, Phospholipids, Torpedo

Journal Title

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0027-8424
1091-6490

Volume Title

Publisher

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences