Low-flux electron diffraction study for the intercellular lipid organization on a human corneocyte

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013 Jun;1828(6):1424-31. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2013.02.001. Epub 2013 Feb 13.

Abstract

Human skin stratum corneum (SC) structures were investigated by electron diffraction (ED) with a very low-flux electron beam with the help of high-sensitivity detectors, the imaging plate and the CCD camera. This low-flux electron diffraction (LFED) method made it possible to minimize the unfavorable effect of electron beam damage and to give a reliable diffraction pattern from a small selected area (0.2μm(2)) on a corneocyte. Dependence of the 2-dimensional ED pattern on the size of the selected area showed that orientational correlation between lipid packing domains can persist over the area much larger than their domain size. The LFED method also allowed us to trace the detailed structural change induced by the electron beam damage. The ED diffraction peak for the lattice constant of about 4.1nm decayed in three steps. The detailed analysis of these three steps suggested that a different type of orthorhombic structure exists interacted with the well-described hexagonal and orthorhombic structures, in the process of decay resulting from electron beam damage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry*
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Electrons
  • Epidermal Cells
  • Epidermis / chemistry*
  • Epidermis / ultrastructure
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Membrane Lipids / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Membrane Lipids