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by Keyword: Sphingolipids
Placci, Marina, Muro, Silvia, Giannotti, Marina Ines, (2026). Glucosylceramide increases the mechanical resistance of membrane domains Journal of the Royal Society Interface 23, 20251168 
Cells tightly regulate membrane composition to maintain homeostasis and adapt to perturbations. Disruptions in lipid metabolism, such as those occurring in Gaucher disease (GD), can disturb this balance. In GD, excess glucosylceramide (GlcCer) accumulates in lysosomes, altering overall lipid metabolism and potentially impacting membrane composition. This study investigates how GlcCer influences lipid distribution and the local mechanical properties of model lipid bilayers composed of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), egg sphingomyelin (SME), cholesterol (Chol) and GlcCer in varying ratios, using atomic force microscopy and force spectroscopy. In simple bilayers (DOPC and DOPC:Chol), GlcCer forms rigid, unstable domains with high lateral packing. In contrast, in complex DOPC:Chol:SME membranes, higher GlcCer concentrations are accommodated but significantly alter domain organization and nanomechanical properties. Excess GlcCer preferentially partitions into segregated domains, sequestering cholesterol and SME, thereby reshaping lipid distribution with potential implications for membrane curvature, protein diffusion and localization.
JTD Keywords: Afm, Atomic force microscopy, Atomic-force microscopy, Force spectroscopy, Functional roles, Gaucher disease, Glucosylceramide, Lipid membranes, Membrane structure, Models, Nanomechanical properties, Nanomechanics, Neutral glycosphingolipids, Phase-diagram, Spectroscopy, Sphingomyelin, Supported lipid-bilayers
Gumí-Audenis, Berta, Costa, Luca, Carlá, Francesco, Comin, Fabio, Sanz, Fausto, Giannotti, M. I., (2016). Structure and nanomechanics of model membranes by atomic force microscopy and spectroscopy: Insights into the role of cholesterol and sphingolipids 
Membranes , 6, (4), 58
Biological membranes mediate several biological processes that are directly associated with their physical properties but sometimes difficult to evaluate. Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are model systems widely used to characterize the structure of biological membranes. Cholesterol (Chol) plays an essential role in the modulation of membrane physical properties. It directly influences the order and mechanical stability of the lipid bilayers, and it is known to laterally segregate in rafts in the outer leaflet of the membrane together with sphingolipids (SLs). Atomic force microscope (AFM) is a powerful tool as it is capable to sense and apply forces with high accuracy, with distance and force resolution at the nanoscale, and in a controlled environment. AFM-based force spectroscopy (AFM-FS) has become a crucial technique to study the nanomechanical stability of SLBs by controlling the liquid media and the temperature variations. In this contribution, we review recent AFM and AFM-FS studies on the effect of Chol on the morphology and mechanical properties of model SLBs, including complex bilayers containing SLs. We also introduce a promising combination of AFM and X-ray (XR) techniques that allows for in situ characterization of dynamic processes, providing structural, morphological, and nanomechanical information
JTD Keywords: Atomic force microscopy, Force spectroscopy, Lipid membranes, Supported lipid bilayers, Nanomechanics, Cholesterol, Sphingolipids, Membrane structure, XR-AFM combination
