Behavior of sphingomyelin and ceramide in a tear film lipid layer model

0477753 - ÚOCHB 2018 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Olžyńska, A. - Cwiklik, Lukasz
Behavior of sphingomyelin and ceramide in a tear film lipid layer model.
Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger. Roč. 210, March (2017), s. 128-134. ISSN 0940-9602. E-ISSN 1618-0402
Institutional support: RVO:61388963
Keywords : tear film lipid layer * molecular dynamics simulations * Langmuir balance * sphingomyelin * ceramide
OECD category: Physical chemistry
Impact factor: 1.852, year: 2017

Tear film lipid layer is a complex lipid mixture forming the outermost interface between eye and environment. Its key characteristics, such as surface tension and structural stability, are governed by the presence of polar lipids. The origin of these lipids and exact composition of the mixture are still elusive. We focus on two minor polar lipid components of the tear film lipid later: sphingomyelin and ceramide. By employing coarse grain molecular dynamics in silico simulations accompanied by Langmuir balance experiments we provide molecular-level insight into behavior of these two lipids in a tear film lipid layer model. Sphingomyelin headgroups are significantly exposed at the water-lipids boundary while ceramide molecules are incorporated between other lipids frequently interacting with nonpolar lipids. Even though these two lipids increase surface tension of the film, their molecular-level behavior suggests that they have a stabilizing effect on the tear film lipid layer.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0273993