# Functional consequences of plasmalogens - Membrane curvature and lipid miscibility

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · 2020 · $60,162

## Abstract

Abstract.
Functional consequences of plasmalogens—Membrane curvature and lipid miscibility
Phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen (PEp) is prevalent in mammalian membranes,
comprising 20 mol% of phospholipids in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane (PM)
according to recent lipidomics. Despite its prevalence, surprisingly little is known about its
biophysical effects on biological membranes. The chemically unique vinyl ether linkage
between the glycerol backbone and sn-1 fatty acyl chain is known to increase membrane
fluidity and curvature; yet, PEp partitions into more structured cholesterol rich regions of the
plasma membrane. Its unique curvature properties and roles in endocytic pathways and
cellular signaling suggest it disrupts membrane integrity to promote fusion and fission. The
proposed research combines all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) with FRET imaging and
membrane fusion assays to quantify the curvature properties of pure PEp and characterize
biologically relevant PEp mixtures. The proposal is for an F32 individual training fellowship.
As a graduate student, trainee Dr. Alison Leonard (AL) developed an all-atom force field for
PEp which she will use in the MD simulations. Whereas AL's graduate research focused on
the development of lipid force field parameters and modeling of single-component
membranes, the central hypothesis of this proposal addresses a topic with direct
application to human health, the mechanisms of lipid homeostasis. AL will expand her
knowledge of cell biology and theoretical modeling of biologically relevant lipid mixtures.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10068606
- **Project number:** 1F32GM139319-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
- **Principal Investigator:** Alison Leonard
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $60,162
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2021-08-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10068606

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10068606, Functional consequences of plasmalogens - Membrane curvature and lipid miscibility (1F32GM139319-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10068606. Licensed CC0.

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