Thermomechanical Transitions of Egg-Ceramide Monolayers

Ceramides have unique biophysical properties. Their high melting temperature and their ability to form lateral domains have converted ceramides into the paradigm of rigid lipids. Here, using shear surface rheology of egg-ceramide Langmuir monolayers, a solid to fluid transition was evidenced as a va...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Catapano, Elisa R., Lillo, M. P., García Rodríguez, C., Natale, Paolo, Langevin, D., Monroy Muñoz, Francisco, López-Montero, Iván
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/34193
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/34193
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Lipids
Monolayers
Compression
Fluids
Phase transitions
Química física (Química)
Descripción
Sumario:Ceramides have unique biophysical properties. Their high melting temperature and their ability to form lateral domains have converted ceramides into the paradigm of rigid lipids. Here, using shear surface rheology of egg-ceramide Langmuir monolayers, a solid to fluid transition was evidenced as a vanishing shear rigidity at lower temperatures than the lipid melting temperature. Such a mechanical transition, which depends on the lipid lateral pressure, was found in a broad range temperature (40−50 °C). The solid to fluid transition was correlated to a LC to LC+LE phase transition, as confirmed by BAM experiments. Interestingly, together with the softening transition, a supercooling process compatible with a glassy behavior was found upon freezing. A new phase scenario is then depicted that broadens the mechanical behavior of natural ceramides. The phase diversity of ceramides might have important implications in their physiological roles.