Lithium fine tunes lipid membranes through phospholipid binding
Abstract Lithium is commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder due to its proven efficacy on patients. Despite this effectiveness, the molecular mechanisms underlying its action remain poorly understood, as it appears to influence numerous unrelated pathways. We propose that these diverse effects may...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97828-0 |
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| author | Louis Bunel Vladimir Adrien Jeff Coleman Paul Heo Frédéric Pincet |
| author_facet | Louis Bunel Vladimir Adrien Jeff Coleman Paul Heo Frédéric Pincet |
| author_sort | Louis Bunel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Lithium is commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder due to its proven efficacy on patients. Despite this effectiveness, the molecular mechanisms underlying its action remain poorly understood, as it appears to influence numerous unrelated pathways. We propose that these diverse effects may stem from a specific physicochemical event: the binding of lithium cations to phospholipid headgroups. In model membrane systems enabling direct observation of the lithium effects on lipid bilayers, we reveal that lithium binding stiffens the membrane, subsequently altering membrane protein activities. This mechanical impact of lithium links existing rationales, drawing a way to decipher the complex lithium effect in bipolar disorder (BD). To illustrate this global effect of lithium, we use the example of intracellular trafficking, a ubiquitous mechanism involving membrane reorganization in all organelles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-922b0bfa09714f3cbea57c17ea0731de |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-922b0bfa09714f3cbea57c17ea0731de2025-08-20T02:17:47ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-97828-0Lithium fine tunes lipid membranes through phospholipid bindingLouis Bunel0Vladimir Adrien1Jeff Coleman2Paul Heo3Frédéric Pincet4Laboratoire de Physique de l’École Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris CitéAP-HP, Department of Psychiatry, Avicenne Hospital, Paris Nord Sorbonne UniversitéNanobiology Institute, Yale UniversityINSERM, UMR-S 1266, Institut de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences de Paris, Université Paris CitéLaboratoire de Physique de l’École Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris CitéAbstract Lithium is commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder due to its proven efficacy on patients. Despite this effectiveness, the molecular mechanisms underlying its action remain poorly understood, as it appears to influence numerous unrelated pathways. We propose that these diverse effects may stem from a specific physicochemical event: the binding of lithium cations to phospholipid headgroups. In model membrane systems enabling direct observation of the lithium effects on lipid bilayers, we reveal that lithium binding stiffens the membrane, subsequently altering membrane protein activities. This mechanical impact of lithium links existing rationales, drawing a way to decipher the complex lithium effect in bipolar disorder (BD). To illustrate this global effect of lithium, we use the example of intracellular trafficking, a ubiquitous mechanism involving membrane reorganization in all organelles.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97828-0 |
| spellingShingle | Louis Bunel Vladimir Adrien Jeff Coleman Paul Heo Frédéric Pincet Lithium fine tunes lipid membranes through phospholipid binding Scientific Reports |
| title | Lithium fine tunes lipid membranes through phospholipid binding |
| title_full | Lithium fine tunes lipid membranes through phospholipid binding |
| title_fullStr | Lithium fine tunes lipid membranes through phospholipid binding |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lithium fine tunes lipid membranes through phospholipid binding |
| title_short | Lithium fine tunes lipid membranes through phospholipid binding |
| title_sort | lithium fine tunes lipid membranes through phospholipid binding |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97828-0 |
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