Lipid membrane structure by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS):scattering density profiles of asymmetric leaflet chemical groups

• Grant number: 23/15786-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 22, 2024
• End date: March 21, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Rosangela Itri
• Grantee: Samuel Utrabo Pizzol
• Supervisor: Francesco Spinozzi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM), Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/07024-1 - Lipid membrane structure by SAXS: scattering density profiles from chemical groups, BP.IC

Abstract

The Scattering Density Profile (MSDP) method will be used to simulate SAXS and SANS curves of symmetrical and asymmetrical model membranes (lipid bilayers) with respect to the lipid composition of the inner and outer membranes.Different lipid compositions will be investigated by simulating plasma membranes and extending to organelle membranes.This internship will be carried out at Prof. Francesco Spinozzi's group. He has a recognized expertise in computer science and molecular biophysics, which will allow us to explore, in a novel way, SAXS curves of complex systems composed of lipid bilayers with asymmetric lipid distribution in the inner and outer leaflet. The data analysis will be done accordingto the scattering of chemical groups volume fraction distribution within the bilayer, thus avoiding false fittings to SAXScurves.