Morphology and fine structure of membranes upon osmotic upshifts

Lipid bilayers are impermeable to most polar molecules. Osmoregulated transporters are responsible for controlling the intracellular osmolarity and protecting the cell against changes in osmolality in the environment. The mechanisms by which membranes regulate the activity of these transporters are still largely unknown. In this paper we investigate the response to hyperosmotic stress in artificial, chemically well-defined membrane models called Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUV). The lipid compositions analysed are relevant for the activity of an ABC-transport system that is controlled by the physicochemical properties of the membrane bilayer. Morphology changes are monitored by phase-contrast optical microscopy, and fine structural details related to domain formation are investigated by fluorescence confocal optical microscopy.