Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Daniel Fologea (Mentor), Boise State University
Additional Funding Sources
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation CAREER grant #1554166, the Idaho State Board of Education grant #394120, the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health grant #P20GM103408, and the Department of Physics at Boise State University.
Abstract
The fluidity of cell membranes is a biophysical parameter with large implications on the functionality of cells in both health and disease. Adjustments to membrane fluidity modulates the interactions between membranes and drugs, the functionality of transporters and receptors, and cellular motility. The fluidity of the cell membrane has been extensively studied in respect to the above effects, but the influence of membrane fluidity on the dynamics of pore formation in membranes has not been intensely researched. To fill this gap in the literature, it was needed to investigate the kinetics of electro-induced pores with respect to transport of water and macromolecules through the transient electro-pores. Optical absorption measurements were employed, and the effects of cholesterol depletion from red blood cell membranes on the kinetics of electrically induced pores was studied.
Our results show that the amount of cholesterol in membranes has a significant influence on pore dynamics. In addition, we also found that aged red blood cells behave similarly to cholesterol depleted membranes. These investigations provide not only a simple alternative for estimating the fluidity and ordering in a cell membrane but also may shed more light on the influence of membrane fluidity on overlooks physiological processes.
Effect of Cholesterol on the Kinetics of Electropores in Red Blood Cell Membranes
The fluidity of cell membranes is a biophysical parameter with large implications on the functionality of cells in both health and disease. Adjustments to membrane fluidity modulates the interactions between membranes and drugs, the functionality of transporters and receptors, and cellular motility. The fluidity of the cell membrane has been extensively studied in respect to the above effects, but the influence of membrane fluidity on the dynamics of pore formation in membranes has not been intensely researched. To fill this gap in the literature, it was needed to investigate the kinetics of electro-induced pores with respect to transport of water and macromolecules through the transient electro-pores. Optical absorption measurements were employed, and the effects of cholesterol depletion from red blood cell membranes on the kinetics of electrically induced pores was studied.
Our results show that the amount of cholesterol in membranes has a significant influence on pore dynamics. In addition, we also found that aged red blood cells behave similarly to cholesterol depleted membranes. These investigations provide not only a simple alternative for estimating the fluidity and ordering in a cell membrane but also may shed more light on the influence of membrane fluidity on overlooks physiological processes.