Cross-talk between lipid membrane-photooxidation and toxin/peptides interaction through domain formation

• Grant number: 15/07500-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: October 01, 2015
• End date: June 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Radiology and Photobiology
• Principal Investigator: Rosangela Itri
• Grantee: Rosangela Itri
• Visiting researcher: Andre Schroder
• Visiting researcher institution: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique/Cnrs , France
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Associated research grant: 12/50680-5 - Photosensitization in life sciences, AP.TEM

Abstract

RaftOxiLip is a research project devoted to the elucidation of the fundamental mechanisms by which photo-induced oxidation processes change domain formation in lipid membranes self-assembled from lipid mixtures. At the crossroads of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, RaftOxiLip will address, from a Physical and Biochemical perspective, two key challenges: i) to develop and consolidate methods for imaging under an optical microscope the production and the density of singlet oxygen, a photo-induced oxidizing species in order to ii) to identify and control the organization changes induced by photo-induced oxidation on plasma and model multicomponent lipid membranes. As an outcome, RaftOxiLip is expected not only to bring new insight into the understanding of the modifications of lipid membrane behavior associated with lipid oxidation, but also to open new research pathways to devise strategies for the design of controlled phase separation in lipid membranes and tissue destruction therapy based on oxidative stresses. Moreover, the contributions from the visiting scientist that have a long collaboration history with the guest group, is also expected to significantly impact the technical pedagogical and environment available in the guest laboratory for pursuing efforts towards the understanding of the FAPESP Thematic Grant program 2012/50680-5 of the host laboratory: "Photo-sensitisation in Life Sciences". RaftOxiLip is twin to PepOxiLip, a project presented by professor Carlos Marques, seeking concomitantly support from FAPESP, for a visit of the group of professor Maurício Baptista, also a member of the Thematic Grant program "Photo-sensitisation in Life Sciences". (AU)