It is universally true that
• No prokaryotes (eubakteria and archaebacteria) contain sterols
• All eukaryotes contain 20-50% sterols in their plasma membranes 1
Cholesterol modulates the properties of lipid bilayers. When mixed with phospholipids, it enhances the permeability-barrier properties of the lipid bilayer. Cholesterol inserts into the bilayer with its hydroxyl group close to the polar head groups of the phospholipids, so that its rigid, platelike steroid rings interact with— and partly immobilize—those regions of the hydrocarbon chains closest to the polar head groups (see Figure 10–5 ). By decreasing the mobility of the first few CH2 groups of the chains of the phospholipid molecules, cholesterol makes the lipid bilayer less deformable in this region and thereby decreases the permeability of the bilayer to small water-soluble molecules. Although cholesterol tightens the packing of the lipids in a bilayer, it does not make membranes any less fluid. At the high concentrations found in most eukaryotic plasma membranes, cholesterol also prevents the hydrocarbon chains from coming together and crystallizing. Note that bacterial plasma membranes are often composed of one main type of phospholipid and contain no cholesterol. In archaea, lipids usually contain20–25-carbon-long prenyl chains instead of fatty acids; prenyl and fatty acid chains are similarly hydrophobic and flexible (see Figure 10–20F); in thermophilic archaea, the longest lipid chains span both leaflets, making the membrane
particularly stable to heat. Thus, lipid bilayers can be built from molecules with similar features but different molecular designs. The plasma membranes of most eukaryotic cells are more varied than those of prokaryotes and archaea, not only in containing large amounts of cholesterol but also in containing a mixture of different phospholipids. Analysis of membrane lipids by mass spectrometry has revealed that the lipid composition of a typical eukaryotic cell membrane is much more complex than originally thought. These membranes contain a bewildering variety of perhaps 500–2000 different lipid species with even the simple plasma membrane of a red blood cell containing well over 150. While some of this complexity reflects the combinatorial variation in head groups, hydrocarbon chain lengths, and desaturation of the major phospholipid classes, some membranes also contain many
structurally distinct minor lipids, at least some of which have important functions. The inositol phospholipids, for example, are present in small quantities in animal cell membranes and have crucial functions in guiding membrane traffic and in cell signaling (discussed in Chapters 13 and 15, respectively). Their local synthesis and destruction are regulated by a large number of enzymes, which create both small intracellular signaling molecules and lipid docking sites on membranes that recruit specific proteins from the cytosol.
1. http://www.dr4.cnrs.fr/bfp/telechargement/docs_gdr/Mouritsen.pdf
• No prokaryotes (eubakteria and archaebacteria) contain sterols
• All eukaryotes contain 20-50% sterols in their plasma membranes 1
Cholesterol modulates the properties of lipid bilayers. When mixed with phospholipids, it enhances the permeability-barrier properties of the lipid bilayer. Cholesterol inserts into the bilayer with its hydroxyl group close to the polar head groups of the phospholipids, so that its rigid, platelike steroid rings interact with— and partly immobilize—those regions of the hydrocarbon chains closest to the polar head groups (see Figure 10–5 ). By decreasing the mobility of the first few CH2 groups of the chains of the phospholipid molecules, cholesterol makes the lipid bilayer less deformable in this region and thereby decreases the permeability of the bilayer to small water-soluble molecules. Although cholesterol tightens the packing of the lipids in a bilayer, it does not make membranes any less fluid. At the high concentrations found in most eukaryotic plasma membranes, cholesterol also prevents the hydrocarbon chains from coming together and crystallizing. Note that bacterial plasma membranes are often composed of one main type of phospholipid and contain no cholesterol. In archaea, lipids usually contain20–25-carbon-long prenyl chains instead of fatty acids; prenyl and fatty acid chains are similarly hydrophobic and flexible (see Figure 10–20F); in thermophilic archaea, the longest lipid chains span both leaflets, making the membrane
particularly stable to heat. Thus, lipid bilayers can be built from molecules with similar features but different molecular designs. The plasma membranes of most eukaryotic cells are more varied than those of prokaryotes and archaea, not only in containing large amounts of cholesterol but also in containing a mixture of different phospholipids. Analysis of membrane lipids by mass spectrometry has revealed that the lipid composition of a typical eukaryotic cell membrane is much more complex than originally thought. These membranes contain a bewildering variety of perhaps 500–2000 different lipid species with even the simple plasma membrane of a red blood cell containing well over 150. While some of this complexity reflects the combinatorial variation in head groups, hydrocarbon chain lengths, and desaturation of the major phospholipid classes, some membranes also contain many
structurally distinct minor lipids, at least some of which have important functions. The inositol phospholipids, for example, are present in small quantities in animal cell membranes and have crucial functions in guiding membrane traffic and in cell signaling (discussed in Chapters 13 and 15, respectively). Their local synthesis and destruction are regulated by a large number of enzymes, which create both small intracellular signaling molecules and lipid docking sites on membranes that recruit specific proteins from the cytosol.
1. http://www.dr4.cnrs.fr/bfp/telechargement/docs_gdr/Mouritsen.pdf
