Human skin barrier formation takes place via a cubic to lamellar lipid phase transition as analyzed by cryo-electron microscopy and EM-simulation

Stacks of lamellae appear towards the periphery of the tubuloreticular system and they are closely associated with granular regions. Only models based on a bicontinuous cubic phase organization proved compatible with the granular cryo-EM patterns. Only models based on a dehydrated lamellar phase organization agreed with the lamellar cryo-EM patterns. The data support that human skin barrier formation takes place via a cubic to lamellar lipid phase transition.