Neutron scattering elucidates lipid membrane dynamics

OCT 30, 2020

Neutron spin echo spectroscopy allows researchers to better understand the way soft matter like lipids moves during temperature changes.

Aili McConnon

DOI: 10.1063/10.0002431

Neutron scattering elucidates lipid membrane dynamics internal name — Neutron scattering elucidates lipid membrane dynamics lead image

Each of the trillions of cells in the human body is encapsulated in fat molecules. The physical properties and dynamics of these lipids and cholesterols, some only a few nanometers thick, are incredibly complicated. Kelley et al. present an integrative method for investigating nanoscale lipid membrane dynamics using neutron scattering techniques.

Like many soft materials, lipids undergo a melting transition associated with a significant increase in their dynamics. Based on their neutron scattering data, the researchers found that membrane fluctuations increase during lipid melting, and the membranes were softer and more dynamic during the phase transition than even the fluid phase at higher temperatures.

“Neutron scattering is not often used in biophysics,” said author Elizabeth Kelley. “However, scattering, and in particular quasielastic scattering, gives us access to a unique size and time scale that is synergistic with dynamics in many biological molecules.”

Using neutron spin echo spectroscopy (NSE), the researchers studied the collective dynamics of a specific phospholipid called dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (14:0 PG, DMPG) throughout its anomalous phase transition over a 12-20 C temperature window.

The group hopes that their research has helped establish that neutron scattering, primarily used by physicists, has broad application in biology as well.

“NSE can be a complementary and powerful tool in a biophysicist’s toolbox,” said Kelley. “NSE may also help with understanding disease progression or new therapeutic treatments associated with biological membranes.”

Source: “Enhanced dynamics in the anomalous melting regime of DMPG lipid membranes,” by Elizabeth G. Kelley, Michihiro Nagao, Paul D. Butler, Lionel Porcar, and Bela Farago, Structural Dynamics (2020). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/4.0000031 .

This paper is part of the open Dynamics and Neutron Scattering Collection, learn more here Submission Deadline: December 31, 2020.