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Properties of membranes derived from the total lipids extracted from clear and cataractous lenses of 61–70-year-old human donors

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Abstract

Human lens-lipid membranes prepared from the total lipids extracted from clear and cataractous lens cortexes and nuclei of 61–70-year-old donors by use of a rapid solvent-exchange method were investigated. The measured cholesterol-to-phospholipid (Chol/PL) molar ratio in these membranes was 1.8 and 4.4 for cortex and nucleus of clear lenses, respectively, and 1.14 and 1.45 for cataractous lenses. Properties and organization of the lipid bilayer were investigated by use of electron paramagnetic resonance spin-labeling methods. Formation of Chol crystals was confirmed by use of differential scanning calorimetry. Pure cholesterol bilayer domains (CBDs) were formed in all the membranes investigated. It was shown that in clear lens membranes of the nucleus, Chol exists in three different environments: (1) dispersed in phospholipid bilayers (PCDs), (2) in CBDs, and (3) in Chol crystals. In clear lens membranes of the cortex, and in cortical and nuclear cataractous lens membranes, Chol crystals were not detected, because of the lower Chol content. Profiles of membrane properties (alkyl-chain order, fluidity, oxygen transport, and hydrophobicity) across the PCD were very similar for clear and cataractous membranes. Profiles of the oxygen transport parameter across the CBD were, however, different for cortical clear and cataractous membranes—the amount and size of CBDs was less in cataractous membranes. These results suggest that high Chol content, formation of CBDs, and formation of Chol crystals should not be regarded as major predispositions for the development of age-related cataracts.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants EY015526, EB002052, EB001980, and EY001931 from the National Institutes of Health. We acknowledge the help of Bhavna Sheth, MD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA

    Laxman Mainali, Marija Raguz & Witold K. Subczynski

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA

    William J. O’Brien

  3. Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia

    Marija Raguz

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  1. Laxman Mainali
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  2. Marija Raguz
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  3. William J. O’Brien
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  4. Witold K. Subczynski
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Correspondence to Witold K. Subczynski.

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Mainali, L., Raguz, M., O’Brien, W.J. et al. Properties of membranes derived from the total lipids extracted from clear and cataractous lenses of 61–70-year-old human donors. Eur Biophys J 44, 91–102 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-014-1004-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-014-1004-7

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