Detection of Sphingomyelin Clusters by Raman Spectroscopy

作者：Shirota Koichiro; Yagi Kiyoshi; Inaba Takehiko; Li Pai Chi; Murata Michio; Sugita Yuji; Kobayashi Toshihide^*

来源：Biophysical Journal, 2016, 111(5): 999-1007.

DOI：10.1016/j.bpj.2016.07.035

Sphingomyelin (SM) is a major sphingolipid in mammalian cells that forms specific lipid domains in combination with cholesterol (Chol). Using molecular-dynamics simulation and density functional theory calculation, we identified a characteristic Raman band of SM at similar to 1643 cm(-1) as amide I of the SM cluster. Experimental results indicate that this band is sensitive to the hydration of SM and the presence of Chol. We showed that this amide I Raman band can be utilized to examine the membrane distribution of SM. Similarly to SM, ceramide phosphoethanolamine (CerPE) exhibited an amide I Raman band in almost the same region, although CerPE lacks three methyl groups in the phosphocholine moiety of SM. In contrast to SM, the amide I band of CerPE was not affected by Chol, suggesting the importance of the methyl groups of SM in the SM-Chol interaction.

• 出版日期2016-9-6