Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Mostrar: 20 | 50 | 100
Resultados 1 - 20 de 784
Filtrar
1.
J Colloid Interface Sci ; 668: 252-263, 2024 Aug 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38678881

RESUMO

Protein body (PB) formation in wheat seeds is a critical process influencing seed content and nutritional quality. In this study, we investigate the potential mechanisms governing PB formation through an in vitro approach, focusing on γ-gliadin, a key wheat storage protein. We used a microfluidic technique to encapsulate γ-gliadin within giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and tune the physicochemical conditions in a controlled and rapid way. We examined the influence of pH and protein concentration on LLPS and protein-membrane interactions using various microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. We showed that γ-gliadin encapsulated in GUVs can undergo a pH-triggered liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) by two distinct mechanisms depending on the γ-gliadin concentration. At low protein concentrations, γ-gliadins phase separate by a nucleation and growth-like process, while, at higher protein concentration and pH above 6.0, γ-gliadin formed a bi-continuous phase suggesting a spinodal decomposition-like mechanism. Fluorescence and microscopy data suggested that γ-gliadin dense phase exhibited affinity for the GUV membrane, forming a layer at the interface and affecting the reversibility of the phase separation.


Assuntos
Gliadina , Triticum , Lipossomas Unilamelares , Gliadina/química , Gliadina/isolamento & purificação , Triticum/química , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Lipossomas Unilamelares/química , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Água/química , Lipídeos de Membrana/química , Separação de Fases
2.
J Vis Exp ; (206)2024 Apr 12.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38682922

RESUMO

We present a method to incorporate into vesicles complex protein networks, involving integral membrane proteins, enzymes, and fluorescence-based sensors, using purified components. This method is relevant for the design and construction of bioreactors and the study of complex out-of-equilibrium metabolic reaction networks. We start by reconstituting (multiple) membrane proteins into large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) according to a previously developed protocol. We then encapsulate a mixture of purified enzymes, metabolites, and fluorescence-based sensors (fluorescent proteins or dyes) via freeze-thaw-extrusion and remove non-incorporated components by centrifugation and/or size-exclusion chromatography. The performance of the metabolic networks is measured in real time by monitoring the ATP/ADP ratio, metabolite concentration, internal pH, or other parameters by fluorescence readout. Our membrane protein-containing vesicles of 100-400 nm diameter can be converted into giant-unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), using existing but optimized procedures. The approach enables the inclusion of soluble components (enzymes, metabolites, sensors) into micrometer-size vesicles, thus upscaling the volume of the bioreactors by orders of magnitude. The metabolic network containing GUVs are trapped in microfluidic devices for analysis by optical microscopy.


Assuntos
Lipossomas Unilamelares , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Lipossomas Unilamelares/química , Redes e Vias Metabólicas , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/química
3.
Biomed Pharmacother ; 174: 116581, 2024 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38636394

RESUMO

Naringenin is a flavonoid found in many fruits and herbs, most notably in grapefruits. In recent years, this compound and its derivatives have been of great interest due to their high biological activity, including fungicidal and bactericidal effects, also in relation to multidrug-resistant bacteria. Membrane interactions of naringenin oxime (NO) and its 7-O-alkyl (7-alkoxy) derivatives, such as methyl (7MENO), ethyl (7ETNO), isopropyl (7IPNO), n-butyl (7BUNO) and n-pentyl (7PENO) were studied. Thermotropic properties of model membranes were investigated via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the influence on lipid raft mimicking giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) via fluorescence microscopy, and membrane permeability via measuring calcein leakage from liposomes. Molecular calculations supplemented the study. The influence of naringenin oximes on two strains of multidrug resistant bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus KJ and Enterococcus faecalis 37VRE was also investigated. In DSC studies all compounds reduced the temperature and enthalpy of main phase transition and caused disappearing of the pretransition. NO was the least active. The reduction in the area of surface domains in GUVs was observed for NO. Compounds NO and 7BUNO resulted in very low secretion of calcein from liposomes (permeability < 3 %). The highest results were observed for 7MENO (88.4 %) and 7IPNO (78.5 %). When bacterial membrane permeability was investigated all compounds caused significant release of propidium iodide from S. aureus (31.6-87.0 % for concentration 128 µg/mL). In the case of E. faecalis, 7ETNO (75.7 %) and NO (28.8 %) were the most active. The rest of the tested compounds showed less activity (permeability < 13.9 %). The strong evidence was observed that antibacterial activity of the tested compounds may be associated with their interaction with bacterial membrane.


Assuntos
Membrana Celular , Flavanonas , Oximas , Staphylococcus aureus , Flavanonas/farmacologia , Flavanonas/química , Oximas/farmacologia , Oximas/química , Staphylococcus aureus/efeitos dos fármacos , Membrana Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Enterococcus faecalis/efeitos dos fármacos , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Antibacterianos/química , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Lipossomas Unilamelares/química , Varredura Diferencial de Calorimetria , Permeabilidade da Membrana Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana
4.
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces ; 238: 113922, 2024 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38678790

RESUMO

The phytoalexin resveratrol has received increasing attention for its potential to prevent oxidative damages in human organism. To shed further light on molecular mechanisms of its interaction with lipid membranes we study resveratrol influence on the organisation and mechanical properties of biomimetic lipid systems composed of synthetic phosphatidylcholines with mixed aliphatic chains and different degree of unsaturation at sn-2 position (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, POPC, and 1-palmitoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, PDPC). High-sensitivity isothermal titration calorimetric measurements reveal stronger spontaneous resveratrol association to polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine bilayers compared to the monounsaturated ones resulting from hydrophobic interactions, conformational changes of the interacting species and desolvation of molecular surfaces. The latter is supported by the results from Laurdan spectroscopy of large unilamellar vesicles providing data on hydration at the glycerol backbones of glycerophospholipides. Higher degree of lipid order is reported for POPC membranes compared to PDPC. While resveratrol mostly enhances the hydration of PDPC membranes, increasing POPC dehydration is reported upon treatment with the polyphenol. Dehydration of the polyunsaturated lipid bilayers is measured only at the highest phytoalexin content studied (resveratrol/lipid 0.5 mol/mol) and is less pronounced than the effect reported for POPC membranes. The polyphenol effect on membrane mechanics is probed by thermal shape fluctuation analysis of quasispherical giant unilamellar vesicles. Markedly different trend of the bending elasticity with increasing resveratrol concentration is reported for the two types of phospholipid bilayers studied. POPC membranes become more rigid in the presence of resveratrol, whereas PDPC-containing bilayers exhibit softening at lower concentrations of the polyphenol followed by a slight growth without bilayer stiffening even at the highest resveratrol content explored. The new data on the structural organization and membrane properties of resveratrol-treated phosphatidylcholine membranes may underpin the development of future liposomal applications of the polyphenol in medicinal chemistry.


Assuntos
Bicamadas Lipídicas , Resveratrol , Resveratrol/química , Bicamadas Lipídicas/química , Fosfatidilcolinas/química , Glicerofosfolipídeos/química , Glicerofosfolipídeos/metabolismo , Estilbenos/química , Materiais Biomiméticos/química , Lipossomas Unilamelares/química , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo
5.
J Vis Exp ; (205)2024 Mar 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38526087

RESUMO

Cell-free expression (CFE) systems are powerful tools in synthetic biology that allow biomimicry of cellular functions like biosensing and energy regeneration in synthetic cells. Reconstruction of a wide range of cellular processes, however, requires successful reconstitution of membrane proteins into the membrane of synthetic cells. While the expression of soluble proteins is usually successful in common CFE systems, the reconstitution of membrane proteins in lipid bilayers of synthetic cells has proven to be challenging. Here, a method for reconstitution of a model membrane protein, bacterial glutamate receptor (GluR0), in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) as model synthetic cells based on encapsulation and incubation of the CFE reaction inside synthetic cells is demonstrated. Utilizing this platform, the effect of substituting the N-terminal signal peptide of GluR0 with proteorhodopsin signal peptide on successful cotranslational translocation of GluR0 into membranes of hybrid GUVs is demonstrated. This method provides a robust procedure that will allow cell-free reconstitution of various membrane proteins in synthetic cells.


Assuntos
Bicamadas Lipídicas , Proteínas de Membrana , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Membranas/metabolismo , Sinais Direcionadores de Proteínas
6.
J Vis Exp ; (204)2024 Feb 23.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38465944

RESUMO

The precise localization and activation of proteins at the cell membrane at a certain time gives rise to many cellular processes, including cell polarization, migration, and division. Thus, methods to recruit proteins to model membranes with subcellular resolution and high temporal control are essential when reproducing and controlling such processes in synthetic cells. Here, a method is described for fabricating light-regulated reversible protein patterns at lipid membranes with high spatiotemporal precision. For this purpose, we immobilize the photoswitchable protein iLID (improved light-inducible dimer) on supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) and on the outer membrane of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Upon local blue light illumination, iLID binds to its partner Nano (wild-type SspB) and allows the recruitment of any protein of interest (POI) fused to Nano from the solution to the illuminated area on the membrane. This binding is reversible in the dark, which provides dynamic binding and release of the POI. Overall, this is a flexible and versatile method for regulating the localization of proteins with high precision in space and time using blue light.


Assuntos
Bicamadas Lipídicas , Proteínas , Proteínas/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Bicamadas Lipídicas/metabolismo , Membranas , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo
7.
Mol Pharm ; 21(3): 1334-1341, 2024 Mar 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38373398

RESUMO

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a severe pathology that is caused by a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta as well as other areas in the brain. These neurodegeneration processes are linked to the abrupt aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn), a small protein that is abundant at presynaptic nerve termini, where it regulates cell vesicle trafficking. Due to the direct interactions of α-syn with cell membranes, a substantial amount of work was done over the past decade to understand the role of lipids in α-syn aggregation. However, the role of phosphatidic acid (PA), a negatively charged phospholipid with a small polar head, remains unclear. In this study, we examined the effect of PA large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) on α-syn aggregation. We found that PA LUVs with 16:0, 18:0, and 18:1 FAs drastically reduced the toxicity of α-syn fibrils if were present in a 1:1 molar ratio with the protein. Our results also showed that the presence of these vehicles changed the rate of α-syn aggregation and altered the morphology and secondary structure of α-syn fibrils. These results indicate that PA LUVs can be used as a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce the toxicity of α-syn fibrils formed upon PD.


Assuntos
Doença de Parkinson , alfa-Sinucleína , Humanos , alfa-Sinucleína/metabolismo , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Doença de Parkinson/metabolismo , Neurônios Dopaminérgicos/metabolismo
8.
J Am Chem Soc ; 146(5): 3250-3261, 2024 Feb 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38266489

RESUMO

Phospholipid bilayers are dynamic cellular components that undergo constant changes in their topology, facilitating a broad diversity of physiological functions including endo- and exocytosis, cell division, and intracellular trafficking. These shape transformations consume energy, supplied invariably by the activity of proteins. Here, we show that cycles of oppositely directed osmotic stresses─unassisted by any protein activity─can induce well-defined remodeling of giant unilamellar vesicles, minimally recapitulating the phenomenologies of surface area homeostasis and macropinocytosis. We find that a stress cycle consisting of deflationary hypertonic stress followed by an inflationary hypotonic one prompts an elaborate sequence of membrane shape changes ultimately transporting molecular cargo from the outside into the intravesicular milieu. The initial osmotic deflation produces microscopic spherical invaginations. During the subsequent inflation, the first subpopulation contributes area to the swelling membrane, thereby providing a means for surface area regulation and tensional homeostasis. The second subpopulation vesiculates into the lumens of the mother vesicles, producing pinocytic vesicles. Remarkably, the gradients of solute concentrations between the GUV and the daughter pinocytic vesicles create cascades of water current, inducing pulsatory transient poration that enable solute exchange between the buds and the GUV interior. This results in an efficient water-flux-mediated delivery of molecular cargo across the membrane boundary. Our findings suggest a primitive physical mechanism for communication and transport across protocellular compartments driven only by osmotic stresses. They also suggest plausible physical routes for intravesicular, and possibly intracellular, delivery of ions, solutes, and molecular cargo stimulated simply by cycles of osmotic currents of water.


Assuntos
Fosfolipídeos , Lipossomas Unilamelares , Pressão Osmótica , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Osmose , Água
9.
ACS Synth Biol ; 12(11): 3267-3274, 2023 Nov 17.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37909673

RESUMO

Deciphering the physical mechanisms underlying cell shape changes, while avoiding the cellular interior's complexity, involves the development of controlled basic biomimetic systems that imitate cell functions. In particular, the reconstruction of cytoskeletal dynamics on cell-sized giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) has allowed for the reconstituting of some cell-like processes in vitro. In fact, such a bottom-up strategy could be the basis for forming protocells able to reorganize or even move autonomously. However, reconstituting the subtle and controlled dynamics of the cytoskeleton-membrane interface in vitro remains an experimental challenge. Taking advantage of the lipid-induced segregation of an actin polymerization activator, we present a system that targets actin polymerization in specific domains of phase-separated GUVs. We observe actin networks localized on Lo, Ld, or on both types of domains and the actin-induced deformation or reorganization of these domains. These results suggest that the system we have developed here could pave the way for future experiments further detailing the interplay between actin dynamics and membrane heterogeneities.


Assuntos
Actinas , Lipossomas Unilamelares , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Actinas/metabolismo , Polimerização , Citoesqueleto/metabolismo , Microtúbulos/metabolismo
10.
Chem Commun (Camb) ; 59(93): 13863-13866, 2023 Nov 21.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37930322

RESUMO

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) with a semi-permeable nature are prerequisites for constructing synthetic cells. Here we engineer semi-permeable GUVs by the inclusion of DOTAP lipid in vesicles. Diffusion of molecules of different charge and size across GUVs are reported. Control over size-selective permeability is demonstrated by modulating the DOTAP lipid composition in different lipid systems without reconstituting membrane proteins. Such semi-permeable GUVs have immense applications for constructing synthetic cells.


Assuntos
Ácidos Graxos Monoinsaturados , Lipossomas Unilamelares , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana , Permeabilidade
11.
Small Methods ; 7(12): e2300416, 2023 12.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37464561

RESUMO

Creating an artificial cell from the bottom up is a long-standing challenge and, while significant progress has been made, the full realization of this goal remains elusive. Arguably, one of the biggest hurdles that researchers are facing now is the assembly of different modules of cell function inside a single container. Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) have emerged as a suitable container with many methods available for their production. Well-studied swelling-based methods offer a wide range of lipid compositions but at the expense of limited encapsulation efficiency. Emulsion-based methods, on the other hand, excel at encapsulation but are only effective with a limited set of membrane compositions and may entrap residual additives in the lipid bilayer. Since the ultimate artificial cell will need to comply with both specific membrane and encapsulation requirements, there is still no one-method-fits-all solution for GUV formation available today. This review discusses the state of the art in different GUV production methods and their compatibility with GUV requirements and operational requirements such as reproducibility and ease of use. It concludes by identifying the most pressing issues and proposes potential avenues for future research to bring us one step closer to turning artificial cells into a reality.


Assuntos
Células Artificiais , Lipossomas Unilamelares , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Células Artificiais/metabolismo , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Bicamadas Lipídicas , Emulsões
12.
Adv Colloid Interface Sci ; 318: 102935, 2023 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37320960

RESUMO

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are versatile and promising cell-sized bio-membrane mimetic platforms. Their applications range from understanding and quantifying membrane biophysical processes to acting as elementary blocks in the bottom-up assembly of synthetic cells. Definite properties and requisite goals in GUVs are dictated by the preparation techniques critical to the success of their applications. Here, we review key advances in giant unilamellar vesicle preparation techniques and discuss their formation mechanisms. Developments in lipid hydration and emulsion techniques for GUV preparation are described. Novel microfluidic-based techniques involving lipid or surfactant-stabilized emulsions are outlined. GUV immobilization strategies are summarized, including gravity-based settling, covalent linking, and immobilization by microfluidic, electric, and magnetic barriers. Moreover, some of the key applications of GUVs as biomimetic and synthetic cell platforms during the last decade have been identified. Membrane interface processes like phase separation, membrane protein reconstitution, and membrane bending have been deciphered using GUVs. In addition, vesicles are also employed as building blocks to construct synthetic cells with defined cell-like functions comprising compartments, metabolic reactors, and abilities to grow and divide. We critically discuss the pros and cons of preparation technologies and the properties they confer to the GUVs and identify potential techniques for dedicated applications.


Assuntos
Lipídeos , Lipossomas Unilamelares , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/metabolismo
13.
ACS Chem Biol ; 18(6): 1435-1443, 2023 06 16.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37184283

RESUMO

The nongenetic modification of cell membranes with proteins is a straightforward way of cellular engineering. In these processes, it is important to specifically address the proteins to liquid-ordered (Lo) or liquid-disordered (Ld) domains as this can largely affect their biological functions. Herein, we report a cholesterol analogue (CHIM) with a nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) headgroup, named CHIM-NTA. CHIM-NTA integrates into lipid membranes similar to the widely used phospholipid-derived DGS-NTA and, when loaded with Ni2+, allows for specific membrane immobilization of any polyhistidine-tagged proteins of choice. Yet, unlike DGS-NTA, it localizes to the Lo phase in phase-separated giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and allows addressing His-tagged proteins to Lo domains. Furthermore, CHIM-NTA readily integrates into the membranes of live cells and thus enables the nongenetic modification of the cell surface with proteins. Overall, CHIM-NTA provides a facile and flexible way to modify biological membranes, in particular Lo domains, with His-tagged proteins and can serve as a broadly applicable molecular tool for cell surface engineering.


Assuntos
Ácido Nitrilotriacético , Proteínas , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Indicadores e Reagentes , Lipídeos , Colesterol
14.
J Agric Food Chem ; 71(19): 7557-7565, 2023 May 17.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37133208

RESUMO

Molecular permeation through phospholipid membranes is a fundamental biological process for small molecules. Sucrose is one of the most widely used sweeteners and a key factor in the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes, yet a detailed understanding of its mechanism involved in permeability into phospholipid membranes is still lacking. Here, using giant unimolecular vesicles (GUVs) reconstituting membrane properties, we compared the osmotic behavior of sucrose in GUVs and HepG2 cells to explore the effect of sucrose on membrane stability in the absence of protein enhancers. The results suggested that the particle size and potential of GUVs and the cellular membrane potential changed significantly with increasing the sucrose concentration (p < 0.05). In microscopic images of cells containing GUVs and sucrose, the fluorescence intensity of vesicles was 537 ± 17.69 after 15 min, and the value was significantly higher than that of microscopic images of cells without sucrose addition (p < 0.05). These changes suggested that the permeability of the phospholipid membrane became larger under a sucrose environment. This study provides a theoretical basis for better insight on the role of sucrose in the physiological environment.


Assuntos
Sacarose , Lipossomas Unilamelares , Sacarose/metabolismo , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Fosfolipídeos/metabolismo , Permeabilidade
15.
Langmuir ; 39(16): 5891-5900, 2023 04 25.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37036429

RESUMO

The construction of bacterial outer membrane models with native lipids like lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a barrier to understanding antimicrobial permeability at the membrane interface. Here, we engineer bacterial outer membrane (OM)-mimicking giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) by constituting LPS under different pH conditions and assembled GUVs with controlled dimensions. We quantify the LPS reconstituted in GUV membranes and reveal their arrangement in the leaflets of the vesicles. Importantly, we demonstrate the applications of OM vesicles by exploring antimicrobial permeability activity across membranes. Model peptides, melittin and magainin-2, are examined where both peptides exhibit lower membrane activity in OM vesicles than vesicles devoid of LPS. Our findings reveal the mode of action of antimicrobial peptides in bacterial-membrane-mimicking models. Notably, the critical peptide concentration required to elicit activity on model membranes correlates with the cell inhibitory concentrations that revalidate our models closely mimic bacterial membranes. In conclusion, we provide an OM-mimicking model capable of quantifying antimicrobial permeability across membranes.


Assuntos
Anti-Infecciosos , Lipossomas Unilamelares , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Membrana Externa Bacteriana/metabolismo , Lipopolissacarídeos , Anti-Infecciosos/farmacologia , Peptídeos , Permeabilidade
16.
ACS Synth Biol ; 12(4): 922-946, 2023 04 21.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37027340

RESUMO

Life-like systems need to maintain a basal metabolism, which includes importing a variety of building blocks required for macromolecule synthesis, exporting dead-end products, and recycling cofactors and metabolic intermediates, while maintaining steady internal physical and chemical conditions (physicochemical homeostasis). A compartment, such as a unilamellar vesicle, functionalized with membrane-embedded transport proteins and metabolic enzymes encapsulated in the lumen meets these requirements. Here, we identify four modules designed for a minimal metabolism in a synthetic cell with a lipid bilayer boundary: energy provision and conversion, physicochemical homeostasis, metabolite transport, and membrane expansion. We review design strategies that can be used to fulfill these functions with a focus on the lipid and membrane protein composition of a cell. We compare our bottom-up design with the equivalent essential modules of JCVI-syn3a, a top-down genome-minimized living cell with a size comparable to that of large unilamellar vesicles. Finally, we discuss the bottlenecks related to the insertion of a complex mixture of membrane proteins into lipid bilayers and provide a semiquantitative estimate of the relative surface area and lipid-to-protein mass ratios (i.e., the minimal number of membrane proteins) that are required for the construction of a synthetic cell.


Assuntos
Células Artificiais , Células Artificiais/metabolismo , Bicamadas Lipídicas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo
17.
PLoS Biol ; 21(4): e3002048, 2023 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37014915

RESUMO

One of the deepest branches in the tree of life separates the Archaea from the Bacteria. These prokaryotic groups have distinct cellular systems including fundamentally different phospholipid membrane bilayers. This dichotomy has been termed the lipid divide and possibly bestows different biophysical and biochemical characteristics on each cell type. Classic experiments suggest that bacterial membranes (formed from lipids extracted from Escherichia coli, for example) show permeability to key metabolites comparable to archaeal membranes (formed from lipids extracted from Halobacterium salinarum), yet systematic analyses based on direct measurements of membrane permeability are absent. Here, we develop a new approach for assessing the membrane permeability of approximately 10 µm unilamellar vesicles, consisting of an aqueous medium enclosed by a single lipid bilayer. Comparing the permeability of 18 metabolites demonstrates that diether glycerol-1-phosphate lipids with methyl branches, often the most abundant membrane lipids of sampled archaea, are permeable to a wide range of compounds useful for core metabolic networks, including amino acids, sugars, and nucleobases. Permeability is significantly lower in diester glycerol-3-phosphate lipids without methyl branches, the common building block of bacterial membranes. To identify the membrane characteristics that determine permeability, we use this experimental platform to test a variety of lipid forms bearing a diversity of intermediate characteristics. We found that increased membrane permeability is dependent on both the methyl branches on the lipid tails and the ether bond between the tails and the head group, both of which are present on the archaeal phospholipids. These permeability differences must have had profound effects on the cell physiology and proteome evolution of early prokaryotic forms. To explore this further, we compare the abundance and distribution of transmembrane transporter-encoding protein families present on genomes sampled from across the prokaryotic tree of life. These data demonstrate that archaea tend to have a reduced repertoire of transporter gene families, consistent with increased membrane permeation. These results demonstrate that the lipid divide demarcates a clear difference in permeability function with implications for understanding some of the earliest transitions in cell origins and evolution.


Assuntos
Archaea , Lipossomas Unilamelares , Archaea/genética , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Glicerol/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Bactérias/metabolismo , Lipídeos de Membrana/metabolismo , Fosfolipídeos/metabolismo , Fosfatos/metabolismo , Bicamadas Lipídicas/análise , Bicamadas Lipídicas/metabolismo
18.
ACS Synth Biol ; 12(2): 369-374, 2023 02 17.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36652603

RESUMO

Spontaneous and induced front-rear polarization and a subsequent asymmetric actin cytoskeleton is a crucial event leading to cell migration, a key process involved in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions such as tissue development, wound healing, and cancer. Migration of adherent cells relies on the balance between adhesion to the underlying matrix and cytoskeleton-driven front protrusion and rear retraction. A current challenge is to uncouple the effect of adhesion and shape from the contribution of the cytoskeleton in regulating the onset of front-rear polarization. Here, we present a minimal model system that introduces an asymmetric actin cytoskeleton in synthetic cells, which are resembled by giant unilamellar lipid vesicles (GUVs) adhering onto symmetric and asymmetric micropatterned surfaces. Surface micropatterning of streptavidin-coated regions with varying adhesion shape and area was achieved by maskless UV photopatterning. To further study the effects of GUV shape on the cytoskeletal organization, actin filaments were polymerized together with bundling proteins inside the GUVs. The micropatterns induce synthetic cell deformation upon adhesion to the surface, with the cell shape adapting to the pattern shape and size. As expected, asymmetric patterns induce an asymmetric deformation in adherent synthetic cells. Actin filaments orient along the long axis of the deformed GUV, when having a length similar to the size of the major axis, whereas short filaments exhibit random orientation. With this bottom-up approach we have laid the first steps to identify the relationship between cell front-rear polarization and cytoskeleton organization in the future. Such a minimal system will allow us to further study the major components needed to create a polarized cytoskeleton at the onset of migration.


Assuntos
Sinais (Psicologia) , Lipossomas Unilamelares , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Citoesqueleto/metabolismo , Citoesqueleto de Actina/metabolismo , Lipídeos
19.
Biophys J ; 122(11): 2147-2161, 2023 06 06.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36523159

RESUMO

Gram-negative bacteria are equipped with a cell wall that contains a complex matrix of lipids, proteins, and glycans, which form a rigid layer protecting bacteria from the environment. Major components of this outer membrane are the high-molecular weight and amphiphilic lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). They form the extracellular part of a heterobilayer with phospholipids. Understanding LPS properties within the outer membrane is therefore important to develop new antimicrobial strategies. Model systems, such as giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), provide a suitable platform for exploring membrane properties and interactions. However, LPS molecules contain large polysaccharide parts that confer high water solubility, which makes LPS incorporation in artificial membranes difficult; this hindrance is exacerbated for LPS with long polysaccharide chains, i.e., the smooth LPS. Here, a novel emulsification step of the inverted emulsion method is introduced to incorporate LPS in the outer or the inner leaflet of GUVs, exclusively. We developed an approach to determine the LPS content on individual GUVs and quantify membrane asymmetry. The asymmetric membranes with outer leaflet LPS show incorporations of 1-16 mol % smooth LPS (corresponding to 16-79 wt %), while vesicles with inner leaflet LPS reach coverages of 2-7 mol % smooth LPS (28-60 wt %). Diffusion coefficient measurements in the obtained GUVs showed that increasing LPS concentrations in the membranes resulted in decreased diffusivity.


Assuntos
Biomimética , Lipopolissacarídeos , Lipopolissacarídeos/metabolismo , Fosfolipídeos/metabolismo , Membranas Artificiais , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo , Bactérias/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Proteínas da Membrana Bacteriana Externa/metabolismo
20.
Methods Mol Biol ; 2576: 425-436, 2023.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36152207

RESUMO

Understanding the correct interaction among the different components of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system is fundamental for a proper assessment of the function of eCBs as signaling molecules. The knowledge of how the membrane environment modulates the intracellular trafficking of the eCB system and its interacting proteins holds a huge potential in unraveling new mechanisms of its modulation. This chapter deals with the application of fluorescence resonance energy transfer technique to measure the binding affinity of eCB proteins to model membranes (i.e., large unilamellar vesicles, LUVs). In particular, we describe in detail the paradigmatic example of the interaction of rat recombinant fatty acid amide hydrolase with LUVs constituted of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine.


Assuntos
Endocanabinoides , Lipossomas Unilamelares , Animais , Transferência Ressonante de Energia de Fluorescência , Ligação Proteica , Ratos , Lipossomas Unilamelares/metabolismo
SELEÇÃO DE REFERÊNCIAS
DETALHE DA PESQUISA