Vitamin E Bends Model Cell Membranes to Promote its Antioxidant Function

Abstract

composition of the liquid-disordered phase have a diameter below optical resolution. Direct imaging of the intrinsic contact angle formed by the membrane and the two phases in budded vesicles (PRL, 103:238103, 2009) is also hindered by the poor axial resolution in confocal microscopy. Here, we use a super resolution technique, stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy in both 2D and 3D mode combined with microfluidics to study these remarkable membrane morphologies. We first designed a microfluidic device which can dramatically increase the trapping efficiency of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and improve the solution exchange rate. Then, with a resolution less than 35nm from STED microscopy, we visualize the membrane nanotube structures with unprecedented detail, and compare the directly measured nanotube diameters with previously reported theoretical and experimental ones. Additionally, by manipulating the height of the microfluidic channels, we pinch and orient the budded vesicles to image the intrinsic contact angle with lateral STED resolution. These highly curved membrane structures imaged with super resolution microscopy will serve to deepen and expand our understanding of biomembranes. This work is part of the MaxSynBio consortium, jointly funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany and the Max Planck Society.

The Vitamin E Consumption Effect on Muscle Damage and Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Vitamin E is the major lipid soluble, chain-breaking antioxidant 31 . Vitamin E accumulates in the cell membranes phospholipid bilayer and limits lipid peroxidation within the membrane 32 . Vitamin E supplementation has been shown to significantly decrease the amount of membrane damage and lipid peroxidation associated with different types of exercise 24 .…”