Impact of membrane-anchored fluorescent probes on the mechanical properties of lipid bilayers

H. BOUVRAIS; T. POTT; LUIS A. BAGATOLLI; J.H. IPSEN; P. MÉLEARD

BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2010 vol. 1798 p. 1333 - 1333

0005-2736

luorescent probes are used in membrane biophysics studies to provide information about physical properties such as lipid packing, polarity and lipid diffusion or to visualize membrane domains. However, our understanding of the effects the dyes themselves may induce on the membrane structure and properties are sparse. As mechanical properties like bending elasticity were already shown to be highly sensitive to the addition of "impurities" into the membranes, we have investigated the impact of six different commonly used fluorescent membrane probes (LAURDAN, TR-DPPE, Rh-DPPE, DiIC18, Bodipy-PC and NBD-PC) on the bending elasticity of dye containing POPC GUVs as compared to single component POPC GUVs. Small changes in the membrane bending elasticity compared to single POPC bilayers are observed when 2 mol% of Rh-DPPE, Bodipy-PC or NBD-PC are added in POPC membranes. These binary membranes are showing non reproducible mechanical properties attributed to a photo-induced peroxidation proces