The monolayer technique: a potent tool for studying the interfacial properties of antimicrobial and membrane-lytic peptides and their interactions with lipid membranes

The influence of an antitumor lipid - erucylphosphocholine - on artificial lipid raft system modeled as Langmuir monolayer

Outer layer of cellular membrane contains ordered domains enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids, called 'lipid rafts', which play various biological roles, i.e., are involved in the induction of cell death by apoptosis. Recent studies have shown that these domains may constitute binding sites for selected drugs. For example alkylphosphocholines (APCs), which are new-generation antitumor agents characterized by high selectivity and broad spectrum of activity, are known to have their molecular targets located at cellular membrane and their selective accumulation in tumor cells has been hypothesized to be linked with the alternation of biophysical properties of lipid rafts. To get a deeper insight into this issue, interactions between representative APC: erucylphosphocholine, and artificial lipid raft system, modeled as Langmuir monolayer (composed of cholesterol and sphingomyelin mixed in 1:2 proportion) were investigated. The Langmuir monolayer experiments, based on recording surface pressure-area isotherms, were complemented with Brewster angle microscopy results, which enabled direct visualization of the monolayers structure. In addition, the investigated monolayers were transferred onto solid supports and studied with AFM. The interactions between model raft system and erucylphosphocholine were analyzed qualitatively (with mean molecular area values) as well as quantitatively (with ΔG(exc) function). The obtained results indicate that erucylphosphocholine introduced to raft-mimicking model membrane causes fluidizing effect and weakens the interactions between cholesterol and sphingomyelin, which results in phase separation at high surface pressures. This leads to the redistribution of cholesterol molecules in model raft, which confirms the results observed in biological studies.

The Rheological Properties of Lipid Monolayers Modulate the Incorporation of l-Ascorbic Acid Alkyl Esters

In this work, we tested the hypothesis that the incorporation of amphiphilic drugs into lipid membranes may be regulated by their rheological properties. For this purpose, two members of the l-ascorbic acid alkyl esters family (ASCn) were selected, ASC16 and ASC14, which have different rheological properties when organized at the air/water interface. They are lipophilic forms of vitamin C used in topical pharmacological preparations. The effect of the phase state of the host lipid membranes on ASCn incorporation was explored using Langmuir monolayers. Films of pure lipids with known phase states have been selected, showing liquid-expanded, liquid-condensed, and solid phases as well as pure cholesterol films in liquid-ordered state. We also tested ternary and quaternary mixed films that mimic the properties of cholesterol containing membranes and of the stratum corneum. The compressibility and shear properties of those monolayers were assessed in order to define its phase character. We found that the length of the acyl chain of the ASCn compounds induces differential changes in the rheological properties of the host membrane and subtly regulates the kinetics and extent of the penetration process. The capacity for ASCn uptake was found to depend on the phase state of the host film. The increase in surface pressure resultant after amphiphile incorporation appears to be a function of the capacity of the host membrane to incorporate such amphiphile as well as the rheological response of the film. Hence, monolayers that show a solid phase state responded with a larger surface pressure increase to the incorporation of a comparable amount of amphiphile than liquid-expanded ones. The cholesterol-containing films, including the mixture that mimics stratum corneum, allowed a very scarce ASCn uptake independently of the membrane diffusional properties. This suggests an important contribution of Cho on the maintenance of the barrier function of stratum corneum.

The effect of amidation on the behaviour of antimicrobial peptides

Aurein 2.6-COOH and aurein 3.1-COOH were studied along with their naturally occurring C-terminally amidated analogues. Circular dichroism (CD) and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were used to study the effects of amidation on the interaction of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with lipid bilayers. CD measurements and MD analysis suggested that both peptide analogues were predominantly random coil and adopted low levels of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\alpha$$\end{document}α-helical structure in solution (<30 %) and in the presence of a lipid bilayer the peptides formed a stable \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\alpha$$\end{document}α-helical structure. In general, amidated analogues have a greater propensity than the non-amidated peptides to form a \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\alpha$$\end{document}α-helical structure. MD simulations predicted that aurein 2.6-COOH and aurein 3.1-CHOOH destabilised lipid bilayers from 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine via angled bilayer penetration. They also showed that aurein 2.6-CONH\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$_2$$\end{document}2 and aurein 3.1-CONH\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$_2$$\end{document}2 formed a helix horizontal to the plane of an asymmetric interface.

Membrane binding of Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1 (NCS1)

Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1 (NCS1) belongs to the family of Neuronal Calcium Sensor (NCS) proteins. NCS1 is composed of four EF-hand motifs and an N-terminal myristoylation. However, the presence of a calcium-myristoyl switch in NCS1 and its role in the membrane binding are controversial. The model of Langmuir lipid monolayers is thus used to mimic the cell membrane in order to characterize the membrane interactions of NCS1. Two binding parameters are calculated from monolayer measurements: the maximum insertion pressure, up to which protein binding is energetically favorable, and the synergy, reporting attractive or repulsive interactions with the lipid monolayers. Binding membrane measurements performed in the presence of myristoylated NCS1 reveal better binding interactions for phospholipids composed of phosphoethanolamine polar head groups and unsaturated fatty acyl chains. In the absence of calcium, the membrane binding measurements are drastically modified and suggest that the protein is more strongly bound to the membrane. Indeed, the binding of calcium by three EF-hand motifs of NCS1 leads to a conformation change. NCS1 arrangement at the membrane could thus be reshuffled for better interactions with its substrates. The N-terminal peptide of NCS1 is composed of two amphiphilic helices involved in the membrane interactions of NCS1. Moreover, the presence of the myristoyl group has a weak influence on the membrane binding of NCS1 suggesting the absence of a calcium-myristoyl switch mechanism in this protein. The myristoylation could thus have a structural role required in the folding/unfolding of NCS1 which is essential to its multiple biological functions.

Binding of Short Cationic Peptides (KX)4K to Negatively Charged DPPG Monolayers: Competition between Electrostatic and Hydrophobic Interactions

The influence of the peptide sequence on the binding of short cationic peptides composed of five lysines alternating with uncharged amino acids within the series (KX)4K to negatively charged monolayers of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (DPPG) was investigated by adsorption experiments in combination with epifluorescence microscopy. To evaluate the impact of electrostatic and hydrophobic contributions, different uncharged amino acids X with increasing hydrophobicity, where X = G (glycine), A (alanine), Abu (α-aminobutyric acid), V (valine), or L (leucine) were introduced into the peptide sequence to tune the peptide hydrophobicity. The adsorption kinetics of these peptides to a DPPG monolayer always showed two superimposed processes, one leading to an increase and another to a decrease of the surface pressure Π. Thus, the plots of the change in Π after peptide binding vs initial surface pressure of the monolayer showed an unusual behavior with maxima and negative changes in Π at high initial Π values. Epifluorescence microscopy confirmed that electrostatic binding of the peptides with a concomitant decrease in Π leads to a condensation of the lipid monolayer and the formation of liquid-condensed (LC) domains even at Π values where the monolayer is supposedly in the liquid-expanded (LE) state. An increase in hydrophobicity of the amino acid X was found to counteract the condensation and an increase in Π upon peptide binding is observed at low Π values, also concomitant with the formation of LC-domains. Compression of monolayers after peptide adsorption at low surface pressure for 4 h leads to a change of the isotherms compared to pure DPPG isotherms. The phase transition of DPPG from LE to LC state is smeared out or is shifted to higher surface pressure. Considerable changes in the shapes of LC-domains were observed after peptide binding. Growth of the LC-domains was hindered in most cases and regular domain patterns were formed. Binding of (KL)4K leads to a decrease in line tension and the formation of extended filaments protruding from initially circular domains.

The Presence of Sterols Favors Sticholysin I-Membrane Association and Pore Formation Regardless of Their Ability to Form Laterally Segregated Domains

Sticholysin I (St I) is a pore-forming toxin (PFT) produced by the Caribbean Sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus belonging to the actinoporin protein family, a unique class of eukaryotic PFT. As for actinoporins, it has been proposed that the presence of cholesterol (Chol) and the coexistence of lipid phases increase binding to the target membrane and pore-forming ability. However, little is known about the role of membrane structure and dynamics (phase state, fluidity, and the presence of lipid domains) on the activity of actinoporins or which regions of the membrane are the most favorable for protein insertion, oligomerization, and eventually pore formation. To gain insight into the role of membrane properties on the functional activity of St I, we studied its binding to monolayers and vesicles of phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin (SM), and sterols inducing (ergosterol -Erg and cholesterol -Chol) or not (cholestenone - Cln) membrane phase segregation in liquid ordered (Lo) and liquid disordered (Ld) domains. This study revealed that St I binds and permeabilizes with higher efficiency sterol-containing membranes independently of their ability to form domains. We discuss the results in terms of the relevance of different membrane properties for the actinoporins mechanism of action, namely, molecular heterogeneity, specially potentiated in membranes with sterols inducers of phase separation (Chol or Erg) or Cln, a sterol noninducer of phase separation but with a high propensity to induce nonlamellar phase. The role of the Ld phase is pointed out as the most suitable platform for pore formation. In this regard, such regions in Chol-containing membranes seem to be the most favored due to its increased fluidity; this property promotes toxin insertion, diffusion, and oligomerization leading to pore formation.

High Selective Performance of Designed Antibacterial and Anticancer Peptide Amphiphiles

Short designed peptide amphiphiles are attractive at killing bacteria and inhibiting cancer cell growth, and the flexibility in their structural design offers a great potential for improving their potency and biocompatibility to mammalian host cells. Amino acid sequences such as G(IIKK)nI-NH2 (n≥3) have been shown to be membrane lytic, but terminal amino acid modifications could impose a huge influence on their performance. We report in this work how terminal amino acid modifications to G(IIKK)3I-NH2 influence its α-helical structure, membrane penetrating ability, and selective actions against different cell types. Deletion of an N-terminal Gly or a C-terminal Ile did not affect their antibacterial activity much, an observation consistent with their binding behavior to negatively charged membrane lipid monolayers. However, the cytotoxicity against mammalian cells was much worsened by the N-terminal Gly deletion, consistent with an increase in its helical content. Despite little impact on the antibacterial activity of G(IIKK)3I-NH2, deletion of both terminal amino acids greatly reduced its antitumor activity. Cholesterol present in tumor cell membrane-mimic was thought to constrain (IIKK)3-NH2 from penetrating into the cancerous membranes, evident from its lowest surface physical activity at penetrating model lipid membranes. On the other hand, its low toxicity to normal mammalian cells and high antibacterial activity in vitro and in vivo made it an attractive antibacterial agent. Thus, terminal modifications can help rebalance the different interactions involved and are highly effective at manipulating their selective membrane responses.

Hydrogen Exchange Mass Spectrometry of Proteins at Langmuir Monolayers

Hydrogen exchange (HX) mass spectrometry (MS) is valuable for providing conformational information for proteins/peptides that are very difficult to analyze with other methods such as peripheral membrane proteins and peptides that interact with membranes. We developed a new type of HX MS measurement that integrates Langmuir monolayers. A lipid monolayer was generated, a peptide or protein associated with it, and then the monolayer-associated peptide or protein was exposed to deuterium. The deuterated species was recovered from the monolayer, digested, and deuterium incorporation monitored by MS. Test peptides showed that deuterium recovery in an optimized protocol was equivalent to deuterium recovery in conventional solution HX MS. The reproducibility of the measurements was high, despite the requirement of generating a new monolayer for each deuterium labeling time. We validated that known conformational changes in the presence of a monolayer/membrane could be observed with the peptide melittin and the myristoylated protein Arf-1. Results in an accompanying paper show that the method can reveal details of conformational changes in a protein (HIV-1 Nef), which adopts a different conformation, depending on whether or not it is able to insert into the lipid layer. Overall, the HX MS Langmuir monolayer method provided new and meaningful conformational information for proteins that associate with lipid layers. The combination of HX MS results with neutron or X-ray reflection of the same proteins in Langmuir monolayers can be more informative than the isolated use of either method.

Cyclosporin A in Membrane Lipids Environment: Implications for Antimalarial Activity of the Drug--The Langmuir Monolayer Studies

Cyclosporin A (CsA), a hydrophobic cyclic peptide produced by the fungus Tolypocladium inflatum, is well known for its high efficiency as an immunosuppressor for transplanted organs and anti-inflammatory properties; however, it is also active as antiparasitic (antimalarial) drug. Antimalarial mechanism of CsA action lacks a detailed understanding at molecular level. Due to a high lipophilicity of CsA, it is able to interact with lipids of cellular membrane; however, molecular targets of this drug are still unknown. To get a deeper insight into the mode of antimalarial activity of CsA, it is of utmost importance to examine its interactions with membrane components. To reach this goal, the Langmuir monolayer technique, which serves as a very useful, easy to handle and controllable model of biomembranes, has been employed. In this work, the interactions between CsA and main membrane lipids, i.e., cholesterol (Chol), 2-oleoyl-1-palmitoyl-3-phosphocholine (POPC), and sphingomyelin (SM), have been investigated. Attractive interactions are observed only for CsA mixtures with SM, while repulsive forces occur in systems containing remaining membrane lipids. Taking into consideration mutual interactions between membrane lipids (Chol-SM; Chol-POPC and SM-POPC), the behavior of CsA in model erythrocyte membrane of normal and infected cells has been analyzed. Our results prove strong affinity of CsA to SM in membrane environment. Since normal and parasitized erythrocytes differ significantly in the level of SM, this phospholipid may be considered as a molecular target for antimalarial activity of CsA.

Understanding nanoparticle cellular entry: A physicochemical perspective

Understanding interactions between nanoparticles (NPs) with biological matter, particularly cells, is becoming increasingly important due to their growing application in medicine and materials, and consequent biological and environmental exposure. For NPs to be utilised to their full potential, it is important to correlate their functional characteristics with their physical properties, which may also be used to predict any adverse cellular responses. A key mechanism for NPs to impart toxicity is to gain cellular entry directly. Many parameters affect the behaviour of nanomaterials in a cellular environment particularly their interactions with cell membranes, including their size, shape and surface chemistry as well as factors such as the cell type, location and external environment (e.g. other surrounding materials, temperature, pH and pressure). Aside from in vitro and in vivo experiments, model cell membrane systems have been used in both computer simulations and physicochemical experiments to elucidate the mechanisms for NP cellular entry. Here we present a brief overview of the effects of NPs physical parameters on their cellular uptake, with focuses on 1) related research using model membrane systems and physicochemical methodologies; and 2) proposed physical mechanisms for NP cellular entrance, with implications to their nanotoxicity. We conclude with a suggestion that the energetic process of NP cellular entry can be evaluated by studying the effects of NPs on lipid mesophase transitions, as the molecular deformations and thus the elastic energy cost are analogous between such transitions and endocytosis. This presents an opportunity for contributions to understanding nanotoxicity from a physicochemical perspective.

Direct observation of nanometer-scale pores of melittin in supported lipid monolayers

Melittin is the most studied membrane-active peptide and archetype within a large and diverse group of pore formers. However, the molecular characteristics of melittin pores remain largely unknown. Herein, we show by atomic force microscopy (AFM) that lipid monolayers in the presence of melittin are decorated with numerous regularly shaped circular pores that can be distinguished from nonspecific monolayer defects. The specificity of these pores is reinforced through a statistical evaluation of depressions found in Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers in the presence and absence of melittin, which eventually allows characterization of the melittin-induced pores at a quantitative low-resolution level. We observed that the large majority of pores exhibit near-circular symmetry and a Gaussian distribution in size, with a mean diameter of ∼8.7 nm. A distinctive feature is a ring of material found around the pores, made by, on average, three positive peaks, with a height over the level of the lipidic background of ∼0.23 nm. This protruding rim is most likely due to the presence of melittin near the pore border. Although the current resolution of the AFM images in the {x, y} plane does not allow distinction of the specific organization of the peptide molecules, these results provide an unprecedented view of melittin pores formed in lipidic interfaces and open new perspectives for future structural investigations of these and other pore-forming peptides and proteins using supported monolayers.

Dendrimers complexed with HIV-1 peptides interact with liposomes and lipid monolayers

AIMS

We have investigated the effect of surface charge of model lipid membranes on their interactions with dendriplexes formed by HIV-derived peptides and 2 types of positively charged carbosilane dendrimers (CBD).

METHODS

Interaction of dendriplexes with lipid membranes was measured by fluorescence anisotropy, dynamic light scattering and Langmuir-Blodgett techniques. The morphology of the complexes was examined by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS

All dendriplexes independent of the type of peptide interacted with model lipid membranes. Negatively charged vesicles composed of a mixture of DMPC/DPPG interacted more strongly, and it was accompanied by an increase in anisotropy of the fluorescent probe localized in polar domain of lipid bilayers. There was also an increase in surface pressure of the lipid monolayers. Mixing negatively charged liposomes with dendriplexes increased liposome size and made their surface charges more positive.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-peptide/dendrimer complexes interact with model lipid membranes depending on their surface charge. Carbosilane dendrimers can be useful as non-viral carriers for delivering HIV-peptides into cells.

Effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on lipid raft model at the air/water interface

To investigate an interfacial behavior of the aglycon of glycyrrhizin (GC), glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), with a lipid raft model consisting of equimolar ternary mixtures of N-palmitoyl sphingomyelin (PSM), dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), and cholesterol (CHOL), Langmuir monolayer techniques were systematically conducted. Surface pressure (π)-molecular area (A) and surface potential (ΔV)-A isotherms showed that the adsorbed GA at the air/water interface was desorbed into the bulk upon compression of the lipid monolayer. In situ morphological analysis by Brewster angle microscopy and fluorescence microscopy revealed that the raft domains became smaller as the concentrations of GA in the subphase (CGA) increased, suggesting that GA promotes the formation of fluid networks related to various cellular processes via lipid rafts. In addition, ex situ morphological analysis by atomic force microscopy revealed that GA interacts with lipid raft by lying down at the surface. Interestingly, the distinctive striped regions were formed at CGA=5.0 μM. This phenomenon was observed to be induced by the interaction of CHOL with adsorbed GA and is involved in the membrane-disrupting activity of saponin and its aglycon. A quantitative comparison of GA with GC (Sakamoto et al., 2013) revealed that GA interacts more strongly with the raft model than GC in the monolayer state. Various biological activities of GA are known to be stronger than those of GC. This fact allows us to hypothesize that differences in the interactions of GA/GC with the model monolayer correlate to their degree of exertion for numerous activities.

Surface behavior of peptides from E1 GBV-C protein: Interaction with anionic model membranes and importance in HIV-1 FP inhibition

The interaction between a peptide sequence from GB virus C E1 protein (E1P8) and its structural analogs (E1P8-12), (E1P8-13), and (E1P8-21) with anionic lipid membranes (POPG vesicles and POPG, DPPG or DPPC/DPPG (2:1) monolayers) and their association with HIV-1 fusion peptide (HIV-1 FP) inhibition at the membrane level were studied using biophysical methods. All peptides showed surface activity but leakage experiments in vesicles as well as insertion kinetics in monolayers and lipid/peptide miscibility indicated a low level of interaction: neither E1P8 nor its analogs induced the release of vesicular content and the exclusion pressure values (πe) were clearly lower than the biological membrane pressure (24-30 mN m(-1)) and the HIV-1 FP (35 mN m(-1)). Miscibility was elucidated in terms of the additivity rule and excess free energy of mixing (GE). E1P8, E1P8-12 and E1P8-21 (but not E1P8-13) induced expansion of the POPG monolayer. The mixing process is not thermodynamically favored as the positive GE values indicate. To determine how E1 peptides interfere in the action of HIV-1 FP at the membrane level, mixed monolayers of HIV-1 FP/E1 peptides (2:1) and POPG were obtained. E1P8 and its derivative E1P8-21 showed the greatest HIV-1 FP inhibition. The LC-LE phase lipid behavior was morphologically examined via fluorescence microscopy (FM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Images revealed that the E1 peptides modify HIV-1 FP-lipid interaction. This fact may be attributed to a peptide/peptide interaction as indicated by AFM results. Finally, hemolysis assay demonstrated that E1 peptides inhibit HIV-1 FP activity.

Dependence of interfacial film organization on lipid molecular structure

Combination of surface analytical techniques was employed to investigate the interfacial behavior of the two designed lipids-N-stearoylglycine (1) and its bulky neutral headgroup-containing derivative N-stearoylvaline ethyl ester (2)-at the air-solution interface and as transferred layers on different substrates. Formation of monolayers at the air-water interface was monitored on pure water and on aqueous solutions of different pH. Crystallization effects were visualized at pure water by recording the hystereses in the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) isotherms and by transferring the layers onto mica, gold (111), and ITO (indium-tin oxide on glass) electrodes. Subphase pH affects the morphology and patch formation in monolayers of 1, as evidenced by BAM measurements. At pH 8.2, formation of well-ordered crystallites is observed, which upon compression elongate according to predominantly 1-D growth mechanism to form a dense layer of crystallites. This effect is not observed in monolayers of 2, whose headgroup is not protonated. The orientation of layers of 1 transferred to the solid supports is also pH dependent, and their stability can be related to formation of a hydrogen-bonded networks. AFM images of 1 exhibited platelets of multilayer phase. The IR spectra of the ITO substrates covered by 1 indicated formation of hydrogen bonds between the amide groups. The nature of the adsorption layer and its organization as a function of potential were studied in-depth by EC STM using Au(111) as the substrate. A model showing the arrangement of hydrogen bonds between adsorbed molecules is presented and related to the observed organization of the layer.

Effect of structure on the interactions between five natural antimicrobial compounds and phospholipids of bacterial cell membrane on model monolayers

Monolayers composed of bacterial phospholipids were used as model membranes to study interactions of the naturally occurring phenolic compounds 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde, and the plant essential oil compounds carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, and geraniol, previously found to be active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic microorganisms. The lipid monolayers consist of 1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPPE), 1,2-dihexa- decanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) (DPPG), and 1,1',2,2'-tetratetradecanoyl cardiolipin (cardiolipin). Surface pressure–area (π-A) and surface potential–area (Δψ-A) isotherms were measured to monitor changes in the thermodynamic and physical properties of the lipid monolayers. Results of the study indicated that the five compounds modified the three lipid monolayer structures by integrating into the monolayer, forming aggregates of antimicrobial –lipid complexes, reducing the packing effectiveness of the lipids, increasing the membrane fluidity, and altering the total dipole moment in the monolayer membrane model. The interactions of the five antimicrobial compounds with bacterial phospholipids depended on both the structure of the antimicrobials and the composition of the monolayers. The observed experimental results provide insight into the mechanism of the molecular interactions between naturally-occurring antimicrobial compounds and phospholipids of the bacterial cell membrane that govern activities.

Affinity of alkylphosphocholines to biological membrane of prostate cancer: studies in natural and model systems

The effectiveness of two alkylphosphocholines (APCs), hexadecylphosphocholine (miltefosine) and erucylphosphocholine to combat prostate cancer has been studied in vitro with artificial cancerous membrane, modelled with the Langmuir monolayer technique, and on cell line (Du-145). Studies performed with the Langmuir method indicate that both the investigated drugs have the affinity to the monolayer mimicking prostate cancer membrane (composed of cholesterol:POPC = 0.428) and the drug-membrane interactions are stronger for erucylphosphocholine as compared to hexadecylphosphocholine. Moreover, both studied drugs were found to fluidize the model membrane, which may lead to apoptosis. Indeed, biological studies confirmed that in Du-145 cell line both investigated alkylphosphocholines cause cell death primarily by apoptosis while necrotic cells constitute only a small percentage of APC-treated cells.

Determination and comparison of how the chain number and chain length of a lipid affects its interactions with a phospholipid at an air/water interface

We determined how the number of chains in a lipid and its chain length affects its interactions with a phospholipid model membrane, and whether the number of chains or the chain length of lipids affects their interactions with the phospholipids more. This was achieved by using a Langmuir trough and a fluorescence microscope to study the interactions of mono-, di-, and triglycerides with a phospholipid monolayer at an air/water interface. The effect of the number of chains in a lipid on its interactions with phospholipids at air/water interfaces was shown by surface pressure-area per molecule isotherms and their thermodynamic analysis to worsen as the number of alkyl chains was increased to be greater than one. An increase in the packing density decreased the mixing ability of the lipids with the phospholipids, resulting in the formation of aggregates in the mixed monolayer. The aggregation was explained by the intermolecular hydrophobic and van der Waals attractions between the lipid molecules. Fluorescence microscopy revealed partial mixing without aggregation for monoglycerides, but the presence of lipid aggregation for diglycerides and triglycerides. The effect of decreasing the chain length of triglycerides from a long chain to a medium chain caused the interactions of the lipids with the phospholipid molecules at the air/water interface to significantly improve. Decreasing the chain length of monoglycerides from a long chain to a medium chain worsened their interaction with the phospholipid molecules. The effect of decreasing the triglyceride chain length on their interactions with phospholipids was much greater than the effect of decreasing the number of alkyl chains in the lipid.

Comparison between the behavior of different hydrophobic peptides allowing membrane anchoring of proteins

Membrane binding of proteins such as short chain dehydrogenase reductases or tail-anchored proteins relies on their N- and/or C-terminal hydrophobic transmembrane segment. In this review, we propose guidelines to characterize such hydrophobic peptide segments using spectroscopic and biophysical measurements. The secondary structure content of the C-terminal peptides of retinol dehydrogenase 8, RGS9-1 anchor protein, lecithin retinol acyl transferase, and of the N-terminal peptide of retinol dehydrogenase 11 has been deduced by prediction tools from their primary sequence as well as by using infrared or circular dichroism analyses. Depending on the solvent and the solubilization method, significant structural differences were observed, often involving α-helices. The helical structure of these peptides was found to be consistent with their presumed membrane binding. Langmuir monolayers have been used as membrane models to study lipid-peptide interactions. The values of maximum insertion pressure obtained for all peptides using a monolayer of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-ethanolamine (DOPE) are larger than the estimated lateral pressure of membranes, thus suggesting that they bind membranes. Polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy has been used to determine the structure and orientation of these peptides in the absence and in the presence of a DOPE monolayer. This lipid induced an increase or a decrease in the organization of the peptide secondary structure. Further measurements are necessary using other lipids to better understand the membrane interactions of these peptides.

Vibrational spectroscopy for probing molecular-level interactions in organic films mimicking biointerfaces

Investigation into nanostructured organic films has served many purposes, including the design of functionalized surfaces that may be applied in biomedical devices and tissue engineering and for studying physiological processes depending on the interaction with cell membranes. Of particular relevance are Langmuir monolayers, Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and layer-by-layer (LbL) films used to simulate biological interfaces. In this review, we shall focus on the use of vibrational spectroscopy methods to probe molecular-level interactions at biomimetic interfaces, with special emphasis on three surface-specific techniques, namely sum frequency generation (SFG), polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The two types of systems selected for exemplifying the potential of the methods are the cell membrane models and the functionalized surfaces with biomolecules. Examples will be given on how SFG and PM-IRRAS can be combined to determine the effects from biomolecules on cell membrane models, which include determination of the orientation and preservation of secondary structure. Crucial information for the action of biomolecules on model membranes has also been obtained with PM-IRRAS, as is the case of chitosan removing proteins from the membrane. SERS will be shown as promising for enabling detection limits down to the single-molecule level. The strengths and limitations of these methods will also be discussed, in addition to the prospects for the near future.

Comparison of VILIP-1 and VILIP-3 binding to phospholipid monolayers

The neuronal calcium sensor proteins Visinin-like Proteins 1 (VILIP-1) and 3 (VILIP-3) are effectors of guanylyl cyclase and acetyl choline receptors, and transduce calcium signals in the brain. The “calcium-myristoyl” switch, which involves a post-translationally added myristoyl moiety and calcium binding, is thought to regulate their membrane binding capacity and therefore, play a critical role in their mechanism of action. In the present study, we investigated the effect of membrane composition and solvent conditions on the membrane binding mechanisms of both VILIPs using lipid monolayers at the air/buffer interface. Results based on comparison of the adsorption kinetics of the myristoylated and non-myristoylated proteins confirm the pivotal role of calcium and the exposed myristol moiety for sustaining the membrane-bound state of both VILIPs. However, we also observed binding of both VILIP proteins in the absence of calcium and/or myristoyl conjugation. We propose a two-stage membrane binding mechanism for VILIP-1 and VILIP-3 whereby the proteins are initially attracted to the membrane surface by electrostatic interactions and possibly by specific interactions with highly negatively charged lipids head groups. The extrusion of the conjugated myristoyl group, and the subsequent anchoring in the membrane constitutes the second stage of the binding mechanism, and ensures the sustained membrane-bound form of these proteins.

Membrane binding of human phospholipid scramblase 1 cytoplasmic domain

Human phospholipid scramblase 1 (SCR) consists of a large cytoplasmic domain and a small presumed transmembrane domain near the C-terminal end of the protein. Previous studies with the SCRΔ mutant lacking the C-terminal portion (last 28 aa) revealed the importance of this C-terminal moiety for protein function and calcium-binding affinity. The present contribution is intended to elucidate the effect of the transmembrane domain suppression on SCRΔ binding to model membranes (lipid monolayers and bilayers) and on SCRΔ reconstitution in proteoliposomes. In all cases the protein cytoplasmic domain showed a great affinity for lipid membranes, and behaved in most aspects as an intrinsic membrane protein. Assays have been performed in the presence of phosphatidylserine, presumably important for the SCR cytoplasmic domain to be electrostatically anchored to the plasma membrane inner surface. The fusion protein maltose binding protein-SCR has also been studied as an intermediate case of a molecule that can insert into the bilayer hydrophobic core, yet it is stable in detergent-free buffers. Although the intracellular location of SCR has been the object of debate, the present data support the view of SCR as an integral membrane protein, in which not only the transmembrane domain but also the cytoplasmic moiety play a role in membrane docking of the protein.

Structural properties of POPC monolayers under lateral compression: computer simulations analysis

1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), a lipid comprising a saturated and an unsaturated acyl chain, belongs to the class of glycerophosphatidylcholines, major lipids in eukaryotic cell membranes. To get insight into the structural properties of this lipid within monolayers as membrane models, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of POPC monolayers under compression at the air/water interface. MD simulations were carried out at 300 K and at different surface pressures using the all-atom general Amber force field (GAFF). A good agreement was found between the simulated data and experimental isotherms. At surface pressures greater than 15 mN/m, two orientations of the head groups clearly appear: one nearly parallel to the monolayer interface and another one pointing toward the water. On the basis of the analysis of headgroup dihedral angles, we propose that the conformational variations around the bonds connecting the phosphorus atom to the adjacent oxygens are involved in these two orientations of the headgroup. The glycerol group orientation is characterized by a large distribution centered around 50° with respect to the monolayer normal. The acyl chains are predominantly in trans configuration from 7.5 to 43 mN/m surface pressures. Moreover, the calculated order parameter profiles of both chains suggest an independent behavior of the saturated and unsaturated chains that could be correlated with the formation of chain-type clusters observed along the simulated trajectories.

Validity and applicability of membrane model systems for studying interactions of peripheral membrane proteins with lipids

The cell membrane serves, at the same time, both as a barrier that segregates as well as a functional layer that facilitates selective communication. It is characterized as much by the complexity of its components as by the myriad of signaling process that it supports. And, herein lays the problems in its study and understanding of its behavior - it has a complex and dynamic nature that is further entangled by the fact that many events are both temporal and transient in their nature. Model membrane systems that bypass cellular complexity and compositional diversity have tremendously accelerated our understanding of the mechanisms and biological consequences of lipid-lipid and protein-lipid interactions. Concurrently, in some cases, the validity and applicability of model membrane systems are tarnished by inherent methodical limitations as well as undefined quality criteria. In this review we introduce membrane model systems widely used to study protein-lipid interactions in the context of key parameters of the membrane that govern lipid availability for peripheral membrane proteins. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Tools to study lipid functions.

Penetration of milk-derived antimicrobial peptides into phospholipid monolayers as model biomembranes

Three antimicrobial peptides derived from bovine milk proteins were examined with regard to penetration into insoluble monolayers formed with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) or 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) sodium salt (DPPG). Effects on surface pressure (Π) and electric surface potential (ΔV) were measured, Π with a platinum Wilhelmy plate and ΔV with a vibrating plate. The penetration measurements were performed under stationary diffusion conditions and upon the compression of the monolayers. The two type measurements showed greatly different effects of the peptide-lipid interactions. Results of the stationary penetration show that the peptide interactions with DPPC monolayer are weak, repulsive, and nonspecific while the interactions with DPPG monolayer are significant, attractive, and specific. These results are in accord with the fact that antimicrobial peptides disrupt bacteria membranes (negative) while no significant effect on the host membranes (neutral) is observed. No such discrimination was revealed from the compression isotherms. The latter indicate that squeezing the penetrant out of the monolayer upon compression does not allow for establishing the penetration equilibrium, so the monolayer remains supersaturated with the penetrant and shows an under-equilibrium orientation within the entire compression range, practically.

Pore-forming activity of pestivirus p7 in a minimal model system supports genus-specific viroporin function

Viroporins are small integral membrane proteins functional in viral assembly and egress by promoting permeabilization. Blocking of viroporin function therefore constitutes a target for antiviral development. Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) protein p7 has been recently regarded as a class II viroporin. Here, we sought to establish the determinants of the CSFV p7 permeabilizing activity in a minimal model system. Assessment of an overlapping peptide library mapped the porating domain to the C-terminal hydrophobic stretch (residues 39-67). Pore-opening dependence on pH or sensitivity to channel blockers observed for the full protein required the inclusion of a preceding polar sequence (residues 33-38). Effects of lipid composition and structural data further support that the resulting peptide (residues 33-67), may comprise a bona fide surrogate to assay p7 activity in model membranes. Our observations imply that CSFV p7 relies on genus-specific structures-mechanisms to perform its viroporin function.

Membrane binding and insertion of the predicted transmembrane domain of human scramblase 1

Human phospholipid scramblase 1 (SCR) was originally described as an intrinsic membrane protein catalyzing transbilayer phospholipid transfer in the absence of ATP. More recently, a role as a nuclear transcription factor has been proposed for SCR, either in addition or alternatively to its capacity to facilitate phospholipid flip-flop. Uncertainties exist as well from the structural point of view. A predicted α-helix (aa residues 288-306) located near the C-terminus has been alternatively proposed as a transmembrane domain, or as a protein core structural element. This paper explores the possibilities of the above helical segment as a transmembrane domain. To this aim two peptides were synthesized, one corresponding to the 19 α-helical residues, and one containing both the helix and the subsequent 12-residues constituting the C-end of the protein. The interaction of these peptides with lipid monolayers and bilayers was tested with Langmuir balance surface pressure measurements, proteoliposome reconstitution and analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, tests of bilayer permeability, and fluorescence confocal microscopy. Bilayers of 28 different lipid compositions were examined in which lipid electric charge, bilayer fluidity and lateral heterogeneity (domain formation) were varied. All the results concur in supporting the idea that the 288-306 peptide of SCR becomes membrane inserted in the presence of lipid bilayers. Thus, the data are in agreement with the possibility of SCR as an integral membrane protein, without rejecting alternative cell locations.