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Membrane Elasticity Modulated By Cholesterol In Model Of Porcine Eye Lens-Lipid Membrane, Nawal K. Khadka, Max-Florian Mortimer, Mason Marosvari, Raju Timsina, Laxman Mainali

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Experimental evidence shows that the eye lens loses its elasticity dramatically with age. It has also been reported that the cholesterol (Chol) content in the eye lens fiber cell plasma membrane increases significantly with age. High Chol content leads to the formation of cholesterol bilayer domains (CBDs) in the lens membrane. The role of high Chol associated with lens elasticity is unclear. The purpose of this research is to investigate the membrane elasticity of the model of porcine lens-lipid (MPLL) membrane with increasing Chol content to elucidate the role of high Chol in lens membrane elasticity. In this study, we …

Alpha-Crystallin Association With The Model Of Human And Animal Eye Lens-Lipid Membranes Is Modulated By Surface Hydrophobicity Of Membranes, Raju Timsina, Geraline Trossi-Torres, Jackson Thieme, Matthew O'Dell, Nawal K. Khadka, Laxman Mainali

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose

This research aims to probe the interaction of α-crystallin with a model of human, porcine, and mouse lens-lipid membranes.

Methods

Cholesterol/model of human lens-lipid (Chol/MHLL), cholesterol/model of porcine lens-lipid (Chol/MPLL), and cholesterol/model of mouse lens-lipid (Chol/MMLL) membranes with 0–60 mol% Chol were prepared using the rapid solvent exchange method and probe-tip sonication. The hydrophobicity near the surface of model lens-lipid membranes and α-crystallin association with these membranes were investigated using the electron paramagnetic resonance spin-labeling approach.

Results

With increased Chol content, the hydrophobicity near the surface of Chol/MHLL, Chol/MPLL, and Chol/MMLL membranes, the maximum percentage of membrane surface occupied …