DEFORMATION-INDUCED LIPID TRAFFICKING

Using fluorescent labels we have shown that lipid trafficking to the plasma membrane occurs early in response to externally imposed deformations. As shown in the schematic to the right we believe that DILT is cytoprotective because it enables cells to accommodate large changes in shape and surface area without stressing the fragile lipid bilayer of the plasma-membrane.

As first described by Sheetz et al plasma membrane stress may be inferred from the force that a lipid tether of the plasma membrane exerts on a bead that is held by a "Laser Trap". The picture to the left shows a membrane tether in a blebbed A549 cell (Berrios, unpublished observations). Measurements of the tether force/length relationships help to infer the amount of excess plasma membrane, that may simply unfold during a matrix deformation imposed shape change.

Selected Publications

1. Vlahakis NE, Schroeder MA, Pagano RE, Hubmayr RD. Deformation-induced lipid trafficking in alveolar epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2001 280: L938-L946
2. Vlahakis NE, Schroeder MA, Pagano RE, Hubmayr RD. Role of deformation-induced lipid trafficking in the prevention of plasma membrane stress failure. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 166: 1282-1289, 2002
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