Key Role of Polyphosphoinositides in Dynamics of Fusogenic Nuclear Membrane Vesicles
2011

Role of Polyphosphoinositides in Nuclear Membrane Dynamics

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Zhendre Vanessa, Grélard Axelle, Garnier-LHomme Marie, Buchoux Sébastien, Larijani Banafshé, Dufourc Erick J.

Primary Institution: Chemistry and Biology of Membranes and Nanoobjects (CBMN), UMR5248 - CNRS-Université Bordeaux-Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux, Pessac, France

Hypothesis

The study investigates how polyphosphoinositides affect the structure and dynamics of nuclear membrane precursor membranes.

Conclusion

Polyphosphoinositides enhance the fluidity of nuclear envelope precursor membranes and counterbalance the ordering effect of cholesterol.

Supporting Evidence

  • Phosphoinositides were found to increase the fluidity of model membranes by up to 20%.
  • Cholesterol's ordering effect on membranes was counterbalanced by the presence of phosphoinositides.
  • Phosphoinositides control the orientation dynamics of other lipids in the membranes.

Takeaway

This study shows that certain fats in cell membranes help them stay flexible, which is important for how cells grow and divide.

Methodology

The study used solid-state NMR spectroscopy to analyze the structure and dynamics of model membranes mimicking nuclear envelope precursors.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0023859

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