Nanoscale organization of glycosphingolipids in biological membranes

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Understanding the nanoscale organization of glycosphingolipids in biological membranes is essential for unraveling their role in membrane compartmentalization and cellular processes such as signaling, trafficking, and pathogen entry. Glycosphingolipids are key components of membrane nanodomains, or lipid rafts, which are involved in regulating a variety of biological functions. However, their precise nanoscale distribution and organization in living membranes and the impact of this heterogeneous membrane distribution on receptor binding remain elusive due to the limitations of traditional imaging techniques. Our lab’s unique implementation of Monte-Carlo Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (MC-FRET) enables us to overcome these challenges by characterizing membrane heterogeneities with nanometer-scale precision. This technique allows us to probe the organization and clustering of glycosphingolipids in free-standing lipid membranes, offering insights into how these nanodomains are self-assembled and modulated by interactions with approaching glycosphingolipid receptors.  

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