Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) are membrane bound receptors found in the nervous system. They are responsible for detecting neurotransmitters released from neurons and subsequently mediating responses of the cells on which they are found. Thus, pLGICs play an invaluable role in communication between cells of the nervous system and understanding their function is pivotal to understanding how the nervous system works in general. One factor which is known to mediate pLGIC function is lipids found in the membrane environment in which pLGICs are embedded. This dissertation explores the various ways in which lipids interact with and modulate the function of pLGIC. Potential mechanisms and biological consequences of this modulation will be presented and discussed within the context of our current state of knowledge of pLGIC and nervous system function.

The growth of the Penaeus monodon prawn aquaculture industry in Australia is hampered by a reliance on wild-caught broodstock. This species has proven difficult to breed from if broodstock are reared in captivity. Studies were therefore carried out to investigate factors controlling reproduction and influencing egg quality. Results of the studies revealed that patterns of nutrient accumulation during early ovary development are altered by captive conditions, possibly contributing to reduce larval quality. The sinus gland hormones were shown, together with the environment, to regulate two stages of ovary development. In a separate study it was further revealed that the hormone methyl farnesoate (MF) could negatively regulate the final stages of ovary development. Lastly it was shown that broodstock reared in captivity are less likely to mate and that this is due to inherent problems in both the male and the female prawns.

Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) are membrane bound receptors found in the nervous system. They are responsible for detecting neurotransmitters released from neurons and subsequently mediating responses of the cells on which they are found. Thus, pLGICs play an invaluable role in communication between cells of the nervous system and understanding their function is pivotal to understanding how the nervous system works in general. One factor which is known to mediate pLGIC function is lipids found in the membrane environment in which pLGICs are embedded. This dissertation explores the various ways in which lipids interact with and modulate the function of pLGIC. Potential mechanisms and biological consequences of this modulation will be presented and discussed within the context of our current state of knowledge of pLGIC and nervous system function.

No description available.

Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) are membrane-embedded receptors found extensively in pre- and post-synaptic membranes throughout the nervous system where they play an important role in neurotransmission. The function of the prototypic pLGIC, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is highly sensitive to changes in its lipid environment, while other pLGICs display varying lipid sensitivities. This thesis presents a multidisciplinary investigation into the features of the transmembrane domain (TMD) that determine the unique functional and physical traits of different pLGICs. Using two prokaryotic homologues of the nAChR, ELIC and GLIC, as models, I focus on the outermost, lipid-exposed α-helix, M4, which, despite being distant from the primary allosteric pathway coupling agonist binding to channel gating, exercises significant control over channel function. Here, I present evidence that M4 acts as a lipid sensor, detecting changes in the surrounding lipids and transmitting these changes to the channel pore via contacts with the adjacent TMD α-helices, M1 and M3, and/or with structures in the extracellular domain. Using ELIC and GLIC chimeras, I first show that the TMD is the main driver of pLGIC thermal stability. I then demonstrate that the M4 α-helices in each channel play different roles in channel maturation and function, which suggests a divergent evolutionary path. Following this, I show that the M4 C-terminus is essential to both maturation and function in GLIC, while in ELIC its role is less defined, again showcasing possible evolutionary differences. Building on these findings, I examined the role of aromatic residues at the M4 – M1/M3 interface, and found that they predictably determine the interactions between M4 and M1/M3. Notably, the addition of aromatic residues to enhance M4-M1/M3 interactions in ELIC promotes channel function, while the elimination of aromatic residues at the M4-M1/M3 interface in GLIC is detrimental to channel function. Furthermore, I show that these same aromatics alter the strength of pLGIC lipid sensing and the sensitivity to certain disease-causing mutations, both indicating that aromatic residues are key players in channel function, stability and modulation. Finally, I and my collaborators identified and characterized a novel desensitization-linked lipid binding site in ELIC. Extensive mutagenesis studies coupled with biophysical measurements allowed us to develop a model describing how lipid binding influences the rates of ELIC desensitization to shape the agonist-induced response.

Es ist eine allgemein akzeptierte Tatsache, dass der Kontakt von Proteinen mit synthetischen Materialien üblicherweise zur Proteinadsorption an der Materialoberfläche führt. Über den stattfindenden Prozess, insbesondere das Zusammenspiel zwischen Protein-Oberflächen-Wechselwirkungen und konformellen Änderungen der adsorbierten Proteine ist jedoch bisher nur wenig bekannt. In dieser Arbeit wird die ortsgerichtete Spinmarkierungstechnik (SDSL) auf die Strukturuntersuchung adsorbierter Proteine ausgeweitet. Diese nutzt das spezifische Einbringen einer spinmarkierte Seitenkette an gewünschte Positionen der Primärstruktur zur Analyse der Struktur und Dynamik diamagnetischer Proteine mittels der Elektronenspinresonanz(ESR)-Spektroskopie. Das globuläre Protein T4 Lysozym (T4L) wurde auf planare Modelloberflächen adsorbiert und strukturelle Änderungen in Abhängigkeit der physikalischen und chemischen Eigenschaften der Oberfläche verfolgt. Die spezifische Anbindung von T4L auf quarzgestützten zwitterionische Lipiddoppelschichten führt nur zu geringfügigen strukturellen Veränderungen des Proteins. Allerdings bildet sich eine makroskopisch geordnete Proteinschicht aus. Die Vorzugsrichtung der Proteine auf der Oberfläche kann durch Analyse der winkelabhängigen ESR-Spektren bestimmt werden. Die Wechselwirkung negativ geladener Oberflächen mit dem positiv geladenen T4L führt zu drastischeren Störungen der Proteinstruktur. Hierbei wird die Reaktion des Proteins auf den Kontakt mit einer fluiden quarzgestützten Lipiddoppelschicht, die das negativ geladenen Lipid Phosphatidylserin enthält, mit derer bei Adsorption auf einer ebenfalls negativ geladenen, jedoch rigiden Quarzoberfläche verglichen. Dass der Adsorptionsprozess auch das Substrat selbst beeinflussen kann, wird durch die Beobachtung einer Phasentrennung bei Proteinadsorption des Lipidgemischs aufgezeigt, das negativ geladene Lipide enthält. / Although it is commonly accepted that the exposition of proteins to man-made materials typically results in protein adsorption on the material surface, little is known about the interplay between the protein-surface interactions involved and the resulting conformational changes of the adsorbing protein. In this study the site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) approach has been extended to the investigation of proteins adsorbed to planar surfaces. The method involves the selective introduction of an artificial spin-labeled side-chain to a predefined residue of the amino acid sequence and allows the determination of the structure and dynamics of proteins by analysis of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra. The globular protein T4 Lysozyme (T4L) has been adsorbed to planar model surfaces to study the correlation between conformational changes of the protein and the physical and chemical properties of the surfaces. Tethering T4L to a planar quartz-supported zwitterionic lipid bilayer shows only minor changes in the structure of the protein. Furthermore, a macroscopic order of the adsorbed protein layer is proven by angular-dependent EPR spectra which allow the determination of the protein orientation. Offering surfaces that are net negatively charged to the highly positively charged T4L leads to the observation of more drastic conformational changes. Here, the conformation of T4L adsorbing to a fluid quartz-supported lipid bilayer containing negatively charged lipids is compared to the structure of T4L adsorbed to the negatively charged but rigid quartz surface. The adsorption process may also influence the substrate itself. This can be shown by the phase separation of the negatively charged lipid bilayer upon protein adsorption.

All cells maintain essential metal nutrients at optimal levels by metal homeostasis. P-type ATPases, a crucial superfamily of integral membrane proteins, are involved in the active transport of metal ions across biological membranes driven by the motive force of ATP- hydrolysis. The PIB-type ATPase subfamily, also called CPx-ATPases, fulfills a key role in heavy metal homoeostasis among the most widespread species from bacteria to human. In humans, the defect in copper transporters is the direct cause of severe neurological and hepatic disorders such as Wilson and Menkes diseases, therefore, understanding the molecular function of these pumps is of paramount importance in human health. Cu+-ATPases have two transmembrane metal binding sites (TM-MBS) and three cytosolic domains, namely the actuator (A-domain) and phosphorylation and nucleotide-binding domain (PN), and regulatory N-terminal heavy metal binding domain (HMBD). Here, we have studied the Legionella pneumophila CopA (LpCopA) and its isolated cytosolic domains to improve our understanding of the functional interaction of the protein domains during metal transport relate this to the known structure of this ATPase. To elucidate how cytosolic ligands (Cu+ and nucleotide) stimulate the interactions among the cytosolic domains and may transmit conformational changes to the TM-MBS, the interactions among recombinant isolated cytosolic domains were first examined biochemically by co-purification and spectroscopically by circular dichroism, time-resolved fluorescence and site-directed fluorescent labeling assays. The Cu+-dependent interaction between the A-domain and HMBD has been postulated as a mechanism for activating the ATPase cycle. This question was addressed here by studying copper-dependent interactions between the isolated expressed domains. Spectroscopic evidence is provided that an HMBD-A complex is formed in the presence of Cu+ which binds with 100-200 nM affinity to the recombinant HMBD. In contrast, the A-domain interacts with the PN domain in a nucleotide-dependent fashion. This molecular recognition is required for the dephosphorylation step in the catalytic cycle. The interaction was investigated in more detail by the use of a decameric peptide derived from the PN-binding interface of the A-domain and carrying the conserved TGE-motif involved in dephosphorylation. Its binding to the isolated PN domain in a weakly nucleotide-dependent manner, is demonstrated here by stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy. Several ATPase assays were modified to assess the functionality of the PN-domain and full length LpCopA. The peptide was found to reduce the catalytic turnover of full length LpCopA. This agrees with the expected slowing down of the reformation of the PN-A-domain interaction since the peptide occupies their binding interface. Thus, the synthetic peptide provides a means to study specifically the influence of PN-A-domain interactions on the structure and function of LpCopA. This was done by time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) method. The time-dependent Stokes shift of the environmentally sensitive fluorophore BADAN which was covalently attached to the conserved CPC-motif in the TM-MBS was measured. The data indicate that the interior of the ATPase is hydrated and the mobility of the intra-protein water varies from high to low at C382 at the “luminal side” and C384 at the “cytosolic side” of the TM-MBS, respectively. This finding is consistent with the recent MD simulation of LpCopA, bringing the first experimental evidence on a luminal-open conformation of E2~P state. The A-domain-derived decapeptide, although binding to the cytosolic head piece, induces structural changes also at the TM-MBS. The peptide-stabilized state (with a disrupted PN-A interface) renders the C384 environment more hydrophobic as evidenced by TCSPC. Taken together, the data from cytosolic domain interactions, ATPase assays and of time-dependent Stoke shift analyses of BADAN-labeled LpCopA reveal the presence of hydrated intramembraneous sites whose degree of hydration is regulated by the rearrangement of cytosolic domains, particularly during the association and dissociation of the PN-A domains. Copper affects this arrangement by inducing the linkage of the A-domain to the HMBD. The latter appears to play not only an autoinhibitory but also a chaperone-like role in transferring Cu+ to the TM-MBS during catalytic turnover.

Les peptides et protéines extracteurs de lipides (PEL) se lient aux membranes lipidiques puis en extraient des lipides en formant de plus petits auto-assemblages, un phénomène qui peut aller jusqu'à la fragmentation des membranes. Dans la nature, cette extraction se produit sur une gamme de cellules et entraîne des conséquences variées, comme la modification de la composition de la membrane et la mort de la cellule. Cette thèse se penche sur l’extraction lipidique, ou fragmentation, induite par le peptide mélittine et la protéine Binder-of-SPerm 1 (BSP1) sur des membranes lipidiques modèles. Pour ce faire, des liposomes de différentes compositions sont préparés et incubés avec la mélittine ou la BSP1. L'association aux membranes est déterminée par la fluorescence intrinsèque des PEL, tandis que l'extraction est caractérisée par une plateforme analytique combinant des tests colorimétriques et des analyses en chromatographie en phase liquide et spectrométrie de masse (LCMS). La mélittine fait partie des peptides antimicrobiens cationiques, un groupe de PEL très répandu chez les organismes vivants. Ces peptides sont intéressants du point du vue médical étant donné leur mode d’action qui vise directement les lipides des membranes. Plusieurs de ceux-ci agissent sur les membranes des bactéries selon le mécanisme dit « en tapis », par lequel ils s’adsorbent à leur surface, forment des pores et ultimement causent leur fragmentation. Dans cette thèse, la mélittine est utilisée comme peptide modèle afin d’étudier le mécanisme par lequel les peptides antimicrobiens cationiques fragmentent les membranes. Les résultats montrent que la fragmentation des membranes de phosphatidylcholines (PC) est réduite par une déméthylation graduelle de leur groupement ammonium. L'analyse du matériel fragmenté révèle que les PC sont préférentiellement extraites des membranes, dû à un enrichissement local en PC autour de la mélittine à l'intérieur de la membrane. De plus, un analogue de la mélittine, dont la majorité des résidus cationiques sont neutralisés, est utilisé pour évaluer le rôle du caractère cationique de la mélittine native. La neutralisation augmente l'affinité du peptide pour les membranes neutres et anioniques, réduit la fragmentation des membranes neutres et augmente la fragmentation des membranes anioniques. Malgré les interactions électrostatiques entre le peptide cationique et les lipides anioniques, aucune spécificité lipidique n'est observée dans l'extraction. La BSP1 est la protéine la plus abondante du liquide séminal bovin et constitue un autre exemple de PEL naturel important. Elle se mélange aux spermatozoïdes lors de l’éjaculation et extrait des lipides de leur membrane, notamment le cholestérol et les phosphatidylcholines. Cette étape cruciale modifie la composition lipidique de la membrane du spermatozoïde, ce qui faciliterait par la suite la fécondation de l’ovule. Cependant, le contact prolongé de la protéine avec les spermatozoïdes endommagerait la semence. Cette thèse cherche donc à approfondir notre compréhension de ce délicat phénomène en étudiant le mécanisme moléculaire par lequel la protéine fragmente les membranes lipidiques. Les résultats des présents travaux permettent de proposer un mécanisme d’extraction lipidique en 3 étapes : 1) L'association à l’interface des membranes; 2) La relocalisation de l’interface vers le cœur lipidique; 3) La fragmentation des membranes. La BSP1 se lie directement à deux PC à l'interface; une quantité suffisante de PC dans les membranes est nécessaire pour permettre l'association et la fragmentation. Cette liaison spécifique ne mène généralement pas à une extraction lipidique sélective. L'impact des insaturations des chaînes lipidiques, de la présence de lysophosphatidylcholines, de phosphatidyléthanolamine, de cholestérol et de lipides anioniques est également évalué. Les présentes observations soulignent la complexe relation entre l'affinité d'un PEL pour une membrane et le niveau de fragmentation qu'il induit. L'importance de la relocalisation des PEL de l'interface vers le cœur hydrophobe des membranes pour permettre leur fragmentation est réitérée. Cette fragmentation semble s'accompagner d'une extraction lipidique préférentielle seulement lorsqu'une séparation de phase est induite au niveau de la membrane, nonobstant les interactions spécifiques PEL-lipide. Les prévalences des structures amphiphiles chez certains PEL, ainsi que de la fragmentation en auto-assemblages discoïdaux sont discutées. Finalement, le rôle des interactions électrostatiques entre les peptides antimicrobiens cationiques et les membranes bactériennes anioniques est nuancé : les résidus chargés diminueraient l'association des peptides aux membranes neutres suite à l'augmentation de leur énergie de solvatation. / Lipid-extracting peptides and proteins (LEPs) bind to lipid membranes, extract lipids in the form of smaller auto-assemblies, and ultimately fragment membranes. In nature, this lipid extraction occurs in many different cell systems and causes various consequences, such as a modification of the membrane lipid composition or the cell death. This thesis focuses on the lipid extraction, or fragmentation, induced by the peptide melittin and the protein Binder-of-SPerm 1 (BSP1) on model lipid membranes. To this end, liposomes of different composition are prepared and incubated with melittin or BSP1. The association to membranes is determined by the LEPs intrinsic fluorescence, while the extraction is characterized by a combination of colorimetric phosphorus assays and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses (LCMS). Melittin is a cationic antimicrobial peptide, a very common category of LEP found in living organisms. Cationic antimicrobial peptides are interesting to medicine because they directly target membrane lipids. The action of many of these peptides is described by the carpet-like mechanism, by which they adsorb to membrane surface, induce the formation of pores and then cause the fragmentation of the membranes. In this thesis, melittin is used as a model peptide in order to study the mechanism by which cationic antimicrobial peptides fragment lipid membranes. Results show that the phosphocholine (PC) membrane fragmentation is reduced by a gradual demethylation of the ammonium group. Analysis of the fragmented material reveals that PC are preferentially extracted from membranes, due to a local enrichment in PC near melittin in the membrane. Furthermore, a melittin analogue, for which a majority of its cationic residues were neutralized, is used to investigate the role of the cationic character of native melittin. The neutralization increases the peptide affinity for neutral and anionic membranes, reduces fragmentation of neutral membranes and increases fragmentation of anionic membranes. Despite electrostatic interactions between the cationic peptide and the anionic lipids, no lipid specificity is observed in the extraction. BSP1 is the most abundant protein of the bovine seminal plasma and constitutes another example of important LEP found in nature. Upon ejaculation, it mixes with spermatozoa and extracts membrane lipids, such as cholesterol and phosphatidylcholines. This crucial process modulates the lipid composition of sperm membranes, which would then facilitate egg fertilization. However, a prolonged contact between the protein and spermatozoa could damage the semen. This thesis is looking to deepen our understanding of this delicate phenomenon by studying the molecular mechanism by which this protein fragments lipid membranes. Results of the present work suggest a 3-step mechanism for the extraction: 1) Association to membrane interface; 2) Relocation towards the lipid core; 3) Fragmentation of membranes. BSP1 binds directly to two interfacial PC; a sufficient quantity of PC in membranes is necessary for protein association and fragmentation. This specific binding generally does not lead to specificity in the lipid extraction. The impact of unsaturation of the lipid chains, of the presence of lysophosphatidylcholines, of phosphatidylethanolamines, of cholesterol and of anionic lipids is also studied. The present observations underline the complex relationship between a LEP affinity for membranes and the level of fragmentation it induces. The importance of LEP relocation, from the interface to the hydrophobic core of the membranes, for fragmentation is reiterated. This fragmentation seems to be lipid specific only when a phase separation of the lipids occurs in the membrane, notwithstanding specific LEP-lipid interactions. The prevalence of amphipathic structures in certain LEPs, as well as of the auto-assembled discoidal structures resulting from fragmentation is discussed. Finally, the role of electrostatic interactions between cationic antimicrobial peptides and anionic bacterial membranes is detailed: charged residues lower peptide association to neutral membrane due to an increase of their free energy of solvation.

Das Außensegment der Stäbchenzelle ist aus einem Stapel von flachen Membransäckchen, den Diskmembranen, aufgebaut. Entlang dessen existiert ein Cholesterolgradient mit 24 mol% Cholesterol in den basalen Diskmembranen und 5 mol% in den apikalen. Das Außensegment enthält alle Proteine der Signaltransduktion. Der Photorezeptor Rhodopsin ist als integrales Membranprotein in die Diskmembran eingebettet. Das G-Protein Transducin und das Effektorprotein, die Phosphodiesterase (PDE), sind periphere Proteine mit Lipidankern und somit reversibel mit der Membranoberfläche assoziiert. Um den Einfluss des Cholesterolgehaltes der Diskmembranen auf diese drei Proteine zu untersuchen, wurden Diskmembranen mit unterschiedlichem Cholesterolgehalt präpariert (Simulation des Cholesterolgradienten). Die Untersuchungen zur transversalen Verteilung des Cholesterols in der Diskmembran ergaben eine schnelle Transmembranbewegung mit einer Halbwertzeit von weniger als einer Minute bei 35 °C. Desweiteren konnte gezeigt werden, dass es zu kopfgruppenspezifischen Wechselwirkungen von Cholesterol mit dem Phospholipid Phosphatidylcholin kommt. Cholesterol verschiebt das Meta I-Meta II-Gleichgewicht (nach Lichtaktivierung von Rhodopsin) auf die Seite von Meta I (inaktiv). In dieser Arbeit konnte jedoch gezeigt werden, dass durch die Anwesenheit des Transducins das Gleichgewicht vollständig auf die Seite von Meta II (aktiv) verschoben wird, da Transducin spezifisch die Meta-II-Form stabilisiert. Somit kann die verminderte Meta II-Bildung des Rezeptors in Diskmembranen mit hohem Cholesterolgehalt durch Transducin ausgeglichen werden. Lediglich die Geschwindigkeit der Transducinaktivierung ist verlangsamt. Durch den erhöhten Cholesterolgehalt werden die Membraneigenschaften für eine Bindung der beiden peripheren Proteine Transducin und PDE über deren Lipidanker optimiert. Somit kann die Signaltransduktion auch in den basalen Diskmembranen des Stäbchenaußensegmentes stattfinden. / The rod outer segment consists of a stack of flat membrane saccules called disc membranes. Along this stack a cholesterol gradient exists with 24 mol% cholesterol in the basal and only 5 mol% in the apical disc membranes. The outer segment contains all the proteins necessary for signal transduction. The photoreceptor rhodopsin as integral membrane protein is embedded in the disc membrane. The G protein transducin and the effector protein phosphodiesterase (PDE) are soluble proteins with lipid modifications, which are associated reversibly to the membrane surface. Disc membranes with different cholesterol contents were prepared to simulate the cholesterol gradient along the rod outer segment and to investigate the influence of disc membrane cholesterol content of these three proteins. Investigations of the transversal distribution of cholesterol in the disc membrane revealed a fast transmembrane movement with a half life of less than one minute at 35 °C. Further, head group specific interactions between cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine could be shown. The Meta I Meta II equilibrium after light activation of rhodopsin was shifted to the Meta I (inactive) site in membranes with high cholesterol. In this work it was shown that in the presence of transducin this equilibrium is shifted completely to the Meta II (active) site because transducin stabilizes specifically the Meta II form of the receptor. Hence the reduced Meta II formation in disc membranes with high cholesterol could be compensated by transducin. The speed of transducin activation is decelerated. By the increased cholesterol content membrane properties are optimized to the binding of transducin and PDE via their lipid modifications. Thus the signal transduction can take place also in disc membranes with high cholesterol.

L’objectif de ce travail est de comprendre les effets d’un changement de composition des modèles fromagers sur la mobilité, la libération et la perception de molécules de la flaveur (sel, composés d’arôme). Six modèles fromagers aromatisés ont été formulés (3 ratios lipides/protéines (L/P) et 2 teneurs en sel). La microstructure et les propriétés rhéologiques des modèles fromagers ont été caractérisées respectivement par microscopie confocale et par compression uniaxiale. La mobilité des ions sodium a été analysée par RMN 23Na. La cinétique de libération des ions sodium a été suivie dans l’eau, puis dans la salive, en situation de consommation. La libération rétronasale des composés d’arôme a été suivie par nose-space APCI-MS, simultanément au suivi des déglutitions, et de la mastication par électromyographie. Enfin, les propriétés sensorielles des modèles fromagers (intensité salée, arôme, texture) ont été étudiées.Une diminution du ratio L/P et une diminution de la teneur en sel diminuent la taille des gouttelettes lipidiques et augmentent la fermeté. Cela conduit à une diminution de la mobilité des ions sodium, qui se traduit par une diminution de la quantité de sodium libéré dans la salive et une diminution de la perception salée. De plus, le maximum de libération d’arôme est atteint plus tard et la perception aromatique est diminuée. Ces effets peuvent être expliqués par la répartition lipides/protéines observée en microscopie, par une déglutition plus tardive et une plus grande activité masticatoire / The aim of this work is to understand the effects of changes in the composition of model cheeses on mobility, release and perception of flavor molecules (salt, aroma compounds). Six flavoured model cheeses were formulated (3 lipid/protein (L/P) ratios and 2 salt contents). The microstructure and the rheological properties of the model cheeses were characterized respectively by confocal microscopy and by uniaxial compression test. The mobility of sodium ions was analyzed by 23Na NMR. The kinetics of sodium release was followed in water and then in saliva during consumption of the model cheeses. The retronasal release of aroma compounds was followed by nose-space APCI-MS, simultaneously with the study of swallowing and chewing by electromyography. Then, the sensory properties of the model cheeses (saltiness, aroma, texture) were studied.A decrease in the L/P ratio and a decrease in salt content reduce the fat droplet size and increase the hardness. This leads to a decrease in sodium ion mobility, which results in a decrease in sodium release in saliva and a decrease in salty perception. Moreover, the maximum intensity of aroma release is reached later and the aroma perception is decreased. These effects can be explained by the observed lipid/protein distribution in microscopy, by the later swallowing and by the higher chewing activity