Synthetic Trehalose Glycolipids Confer Desiccation Resistance to Supported Lipid Monolayers

Abstract

Lipid derived desiccation resistance in membranes is a rare and unique ability previously observed only with trehalose dimycolate (TDM), an abundant mycobacterial glycolipid. Here we present the first synthetic trehalose glycolipids capable of providing desiccation protection to membranes of which they are constituents. The synthetic glycolipids consist of a simple trehalose disaccharide headgroup, similar to TDM, with hydrophobic tail groups of two 15 or 18 carbon chains. The synthetic trehalose glycolipids protected supported monolayers of phospholipids against dehydration even as minority components of the overall membrane, down to as little as 20 mol % trehalose glycolipid, as assessed by assays of membrane fluidity. The dependence of the desiccation protection on synthetic trehalose glycolipid fraction is nearly identical to that of TDM. The striking similarity of the desiccation resistance observed with TDM and the synthetic trehalose glycolipids, despite the variety of hydrophobic tail structures employed, suggests interactions between the trehalose headgroup and surrounding molecules are the determining factor in dehydration protection.

Synthesis and Properties of Dodecyl Trehaloside Detergents for Membrane Protein Studies

“…12 With the alkyl chains of trehalose lipids anchored into a lipid bilayer, the trehalose moiety was assumed to have a more effective interaction with phospholipids thereby making the bilayer highly stable and impermeable and resistant to desiccation. 13,14 …”

<strong>Electrochemical Detection of <em>Salmonella</em> via On-surface Isothermal Amplification of its Genetic Material onto Highly Stable and Reproducible Indium Tin Oxide Platforms</strong>

“…Regarding sensor stability, the sensing surface was dry-stored at 4 1C after washing with a solution containing 2.5% of both BSA and glucose, which provides desiccation protection. 21 As shown in Fig. 2, no significant loss of the signal was observed after 9 months, provided a rehydration step for 2 h in phosphate buffer is performed before its use, indicating a remarkably improved storage stability when compared with the most stable ternary SAMs on Au.…”

Using a patterned grating structure to create lipid bilayer platforms insensitive to air bubbles

“…We mentioned in the Introduction section that previous methods to construct air-stable lipid membranes can be categorized into two groups. 22 The second group involves using biomolecules, such as trehalose, [24][25][26][27][28][29] α-α-galacto-trehalose, 24 and streptavidin, 23 to cover the surface of SLBs for protecting lipid bilayers from delamination. For example, a zirconium-phosphate-modified surface would reduce the diffusivity of a typical SLB on it to 18% of its diffusivity before the modification.…”

“…Some of these studies involved using polymerizable lipids to cross-link the lipid bilayer structure [12][13][14] or lipopolymers-lipids with polymers attached to the head groups-to increase the rigidity and degree of membrane hydration. Another category of studies involved adding biomolecules, such as proteins 9,23 and disaccharides, [24][25][26][27][28][29] to form protective layers above the membrane for enhancing the bending modulus of the membrane and preventing the lipid bilayer from curling during delamination. These studies have successfully developed reinforced lipid bilayers that can retain their integrity against air-water interfacial force; however, modifying the chemical structure of the lipid or strongly tethering the lipid membrane to the modified supports can alter the native environment for certain membrane species.…”