Isolation of nano-meso scale detergent resistant membrane that has properties expected of lipid 'rafts'

Research output: Contribution to journalLiterature reviewpeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This review assesses problems that confound attempts to isolate 'raft' domains from cell membranes, focusing in particular upon the isolation of detergent resistant membrane (DRM). Despite its widespread use, this technique is rightly viewed with skepticism by many membrane biochemists and biophysics for reasons that include the inability to isolate DRMs at 37 degrees C, the temperature at which their lipids are supposed to be ordered and so exclude detergents. If solubilization is done in an ionic buffer that preserves the lamellar phase of the metastable inner leaflet lipids, DRMs can readily be isolated at 37 degrees C, and these have many properties expected of lipid rafts. However, to date these DRMs have remained somewhat larger than current concepts of rafts. We describe an adaptation of this method that purifies nano-meso scale DRMs, and could be a significant step towards purifying the membrane of individual 'rafts'.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)671 - 677
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Neurochemistry
Volume116
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2011

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