Lipid density governs cell flexibility

Lipid density has been shown to be the defining factor in membrane flexibility, potentially opening new avenues in synthetic biology. Research into membrane behavior has revealed that how tightly lipids are packed into the membrane is the primary factor in determining their flexibility. The work, led by Rana Ashkar, Virginia Tech (VA, USA), has overturned the previous assumption that different types of lipids behave differently when exposed to cholesterol, shedding light on our understanding of homeostasis and other cellular functions. A new perspective Instead of using macroscopic measurements, as in previous research into membrane elasticity, Ashkar and her team utilized neutron spin–echo (NSE) and solid-state ²H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to understand lipid chain conformations. Lipid packing densities were obtained by small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS). Once the mesoscopic bending moduli was determined, it was corroborated by Michael Brown’s lab at the University of Arizona (AZ, USA) and Milka Doktorova’s lab at Stockholm University (Sweden) utilizing all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. PFAS versus the gut microbiome Certain human gut microbes can absorb PFAS, offering potential protection against the harmful ‘forever chemicals’.