Reversible Control of Exo- and Endo-Budding Transitions in a Photosensitive Lipid Membrane

We have developed a method for the photomanipulation of lipid membrane morphology in which the shape of a vesicle can be switched by light through the use of a synthetic photosensitive amphiphile containing an azobenzene unit (KAON12). We prepared cell-sized liposomes from KAON12 and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and conducted real-time observations of vesicular transformation in the photosensitive liposome by phase-contrast microscopy. Budding transitions--either budding toward the centre of the liposome (endo-bud) or budding out of the liposome (exo-bud)--could be controlled by light. We discuss the mechanism of this transformation in terms of the change in the effective membrane surface area due to photoisomerization of the constituent molecules.