Insulin effect on translational diffusion of lipids and proteins in the plasma membrane of isolated rat hepatocytes

Fluorescence study of drug-carrier interactions in CTAB/PBS buffer model systems

The well-known cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as a model carrier to study drug-carrier interactions with fluorescence probes (5-hexadecanoylaminofluorescein (HAF) and 2,10-bis-(3-aminopropyloxy)dibenzo[a,j]perylene-8,16-dione (NIR 628) by applying ensemble as well as single molecule fluorescence techniques. The impact of the probes on the micelle parameters (critical micelle concentration, average aggregation number, hydrodynamic radius) was investigated under physiological conditions. In the presence of additional electrolytes, such as buffer, the critical micelle concentration decreased by a factor of about 10. In contrast, no influence of the probes on the critical micelle concentration and on average aggregation number was observed. The results show that HAF does not affect the characteristics of CTAB micelles. Analyzing fluorescence correlation spectroscopy data and time-resolved anisotropy decays in terms of the "two-step" in combination with the "wobbling-in-cone" model, it was proven that HAF and NIR 628 are differently associated with the micelles. Based on ensemble and single molecule fluorescence experiments, intra- and intermicellar energy transfer process between the two dyes were probed and characterized.

Cytosolic calcium ions regulate lipid mobility in the plasma membrane of the human megakaryoblastic cell line MEG-01

The fluidity of the plasma membrane is thought to play a role in the activation of blood platelets. We investigated the lateral diffusion of the lipophilic probe 1,1'-ditetradecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiIC14) and derivatives in the plasma membrane of the megakaryoblast MEG-01 by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. The lateral diffusion coefficient (D) of DiIC14 in an unstimulated cell was (3.53 +/- 0.06) x 10(-9) cm2/s with a mobile fraction of 75%. Similar data were found with DiIC12 and DiIC18, but lipophilic probes specific for the outer leaflet showed a slower diffusion with a D value of (2.99 +/- 0.31) x 10(-9) cm2/s and a mobile fraction of 58%. Stimulation with platelet-activating agents decreased the diffusion of DiIC14 within 2 min, but left the mobile fraction unchanged. Signal processing was required for the decrease in D as D-Phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-arginyl-chloromethane-treated thrombin, which binds normally to the thrombin receptor but fails to activate the cell, had no effect. The decrease in D was accompanied by an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ content, [Ca2+]i, and studies using different concentrations of thrombin, the Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethylester and the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin revealed that lipid mobilty in the plasma membrane is regulated by Ca2+. In contrast, treatments thought to interfere with the mobility of membrane proteins had little effect. We conclude that the rigidification of the plasma membrane during cell activation is caused by an increase in [Ca2+]i and is therefore a late event and might only contribute to signal transduction at steps downstream of the mobilization/influx of Ca2+.

Increased lipid fluidity in synaptosomes from brains of hyperosmolal rats

Taurine, a product of sulfur amino acid metabolism, is important in cerebral osmoregulation. To understand the adaptive changes in transport which accompany different hyperosmolal states, we determined lipid composition and fluorescence anisotropy of synaptosomal liposomes from rats with chronic hypernatremic dehydration (CHD), streptozocin-induced (STZ) diabetes, and insulin treated diabetes. Induction of CHD increased serum osmolality, and enhanced in vitro synaptosomal taurine uptake (P < 0.01, n = 3, vs. control). Fluorescence anisotropy studies showed that the fluidity of lipids from CHD synaptosomes was higher than control (P < 0.05, n = 3). STZ-diabetes resulted in hyperglycemia, increased serum osmolality, and stimulated synaptosomal taurine uptake (P < 0.01, n = 3, vs. control). Insulin treatment of diabetic rats restored serum osmolality and taurine transport to control values. The fluidity of diabetic rat brain synaptosomal lipids was significantly higher than control (P < 0.05, n = 3); fluidity was normalized by insulin administration to diabetic rats. Total fatty acid, cholesterol, and cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio of CHD, STZ, and insulin treated diabetic rats were similar to control. However, the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was decreased in hyperosmolal states. This suggests that adaptive increases in cerebral taurine transport during hyperosmolality may result from a direct effect on membrane composition that alters fluidity and permits enhanced transmembrane flux of osmoprotective molecules.

Rapid alterations in lateral mobility of lipids in the plasma membrane of activated human megakaryocytes

In the present study we measured membrane fluidity as the lateral mobility of the lipid probe 1,1'-ditetradecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching in the plasma membrane of a single megakaryocyte, the progenitor cell of platelets. Megakaryocytes after 13 days in culture (maturation stage III) had a lateral diffusion coefficient (D) of (4.56 +/- 0.10) x 10(-9) cm2/s and a mobile fraction of 65 +/- 2% (means +/- SEM, n = 140). Megakaryocytes isolated from rib had a similar D and mobile fraction. Stimulation with alpha-thrombin (1-10 U/ml) induced a dose-dependent decrease in D to (3.40 +/- 0.22) x 10(-9) cm2/s between 1-5 min after stimulation (P < 0.001). The mobile fraction did not change. A similar decrease in D was found following stimulation with ADP (20 microM) and ionomycin (100 nM). Modulation of calpain I activity with calpain I inhibitor or tetracain had no effect. Pretreatment with cytochalasin B or colchicine decreased D to (3.64 +/- 0.29) x 10(-9) cm2/s (P < 0.003) and (3.96 +/- 0.18) x 10(-9) cm2/s (P < 0.013) respectively. After stimulation D decreased further in cytochalasin-treated cells (3.37 +/- 0.16) x 10(-9) cm2/s (P < 0.020) but remained at the same level in colchicine-treated cells. Both treatments increased the mobile fraction to 73-75% in stimulated megakaryocytes (P < 0.03). These data indicate that the diffusion velocity of lipids in megakaryocytes is low and decreases further after stimulation. These changes are independent of calpain I. Treatments that decrease the cytoskeletal mass and thereby increase the mobility of proteins in the plasma membrane increase the number of lipids that participate in this process.

On the principles of functional ordering in biological membranes

Integrating the available data on lipid-protein interactions and ordering in lipid mixtures allows to emanate a refined model for the dynamic organization of biomembranes. An important difference to the fluid mosaic model is that a high degree of spatiotemporal order should prevail also in liquid crystalline, "fluid" membranes and membrane domains. The interactions responsible for ordering the membrane lipids and proteins are hydrophobicity, coulombic forces, van der Waals dispersion, hydrogen bonding, hydration forces and steric elastic strain. Specific lipid-lipid and lipid-protein interactions result in a precisely controlled yet highly dynamic architecture of the membrane components, as well as in its selective modulation by the cell and its environment. Different modes of organization of the compositionally and functionally differentiated domains would correspond to different functional states of the membrane. Major regulators of membrane architecture are proposed to be membrane potential controlled by ion channels, intracellular Ca2+, pH, changes in lipid composition due to the action of phospholipase, cell-cell coupling, as well as coupling of the membrane with the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. Membrane architecture is additionally modulated due to the membrane association of ions, lipo- and amphiphilic hormones, metabolites, drugs, lipid-binding peptide hormones and amphitropic proteins. Intermolecular associations in the membrane and in the membrane-cytoskeleton interface are further selectively controlled by specific phosphorylation and dephosphorylation cascades involving both proteins and lipids, and regulated by the extracellular matrix and the binding of growth factors and hormones to their specific receptor tyrosine kinases. A class of proteins coined architectins is proposed, as a notable example the pp60src kinase. The functional role of architectins would be in causing specific changes in the cytoskeleton-membrane interface, leading to specific configurational changes both in the membrane and cytoskeleton architecture and corresponding to (a) distinct metabolic/differentiation states of the cell, and (b) the formation and maintenance of proper three dimensional membrane structures such as neurites and pseudopods.

Chemistry and biology of N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)-labeled lipids: fluorescent probes of biological and model membranes

Lipids that are covalently labeled with the 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl (NBD) group are widely used as fluorescent analogues of native lipids in model and biological membranes to study a variety of processes. The fluorescent NBD group may be attached either to the polar or the apolar regions of a wide variety of lipid molecules. Synthetic routes for preparing the lipids, and spectroscopic and ionization properties of these probes are reviewed in this report. The orientation of various NBD-labeled lipids in membranes, as indicated by the location of the NBD group, is also discussed. The NBD group is uncharged at neutral pH in membranes, but loops up to the surface if attached to acyl chains of phospholipids. These lipids find applications in a variety of membrane-related studies which include membrane fusion, lipid motion and dynamics, organization of lipids and proteins in membranes, intracellular lipid transfer, and bilayer to hexagonal phase transition in liposomes. Use of NBD-labeled lipids as analogues of natural lipids is critically evaluated.

Microscopic imaging of cells

The microworld was revealed to investigators through a glass bead or a hanging water droplet long before optics was understood. The cellular structure of plants was well resolved by such simple magnifying glasses, van Leeuwenhoek, the Dutch merchant and amateur microscopist, was the first to report to the English Royal Society his observations of bacteria with his single-lens microscope in 1665.

Insulin effects on human red blood cells

The effect of insulin on human red blood cells was investigated, both on intact cells and on isolated plasma membranes, testing the responsiveness of membrane-bound enzymes--such as (Na+-K+)-ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase--as well as the ouabain binding and ionic fluxes. It appears that insulin stimulates Na-pumping mechanisms increasing (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity through an enhanced availability of pumping sites, as can be inferred from the increased ouabain binding. The apparent unresponsiveness of fluorescence polarization parameters, following insulin treatment of isolated plasma membranes and intact cells, rules out--at present--an involvement of membrane lipid fluidity in the mechanism of action of insulin on human erythrocytes.