We have established that
- the dipole potential significantly enhances the ligand-induced clustering and signaling of ErbB1 and ErbB2
- the dipole potential is biologically significantly larger in lipid rafts than in other parts of the membrane
- increasing the sphingolipid content of the cell membrane enhances the size of liquid-ordered (Lo) domains and “traps” lipid and protein constituents residing in the liquid-disordered (Ld) domain inhibiting their mobility and function. Such an increase in the sphingolipid content of the cell membrane is present in Gaucher’s disease.
In our current research efforts we are seeking an answer for how systematic alterations in the lipid composition of the cell membrane change the behavior (clustering, mobility, signaling) of membrane proteins.