1
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Lucker J, Kio M, Klauda JB. Expanding the CHARMM36 United Atom Chain Model for the Inclusion of Sphingolipids. J Phys Chem B 2024. [PMID: 38688001 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c01404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The inclusion of accurate yet computationally inexpensive lipid force fields (FF) is pertinent for the study of lipids and lipid-containing systems using molecular dynamics (MD). Within the past decade, the implementation and further expansion of a united atom (UA) FF for lipids have been developed in the CHARMM family of FFs. The most recent version of the UA presented more accurate descriptions of lipid properties for several phospholipids with saturated and monounsaturated chains, termed C36UAr. However, the original C36UAr model lacks parameters for an important class of lipids, such as sphingolipids. The focus of this article is to broaden the scope of the C36UAr chain model to incorporate these lipids. In this study, two common sphingolipids, N-palmitoyl sphingomyelin and N-stearoyl sphingomyelin are converted to a UA-chain representation and simulated to investigate the accuracy and speed over the all-atom FF model for sphingolipids. Improvements were found among multiple parameters, for example, in the surface area per lipid (SA/lip) and hydrogen order parameters, over the all-atom simulations of these sphingomyelins in C36, while as much as halving the simulation time for simulations of the same setup otherwise. Thus, the accuracy and efficiency found in this study are consistent with those found in the C36UAr model for phospholipids and expand the application of C36UAr to a wider array of membrane models to better match that in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Lucker
- Institute for Physical Science and Technology, Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Michael Kio
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Jeffery B Klauda
- Institute for Physical Science and Technology, Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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2
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Kashnik AS, Baranov DS, Dzuba SA. Spatial Arrangement of the Drug Ibuprofen in a Model Membrane in the Presence of Lipid Rafts. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:3652-3661. [PMID: 38576273 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c01507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Many pharmaceutical drugs are known to interact with lipid membranes through nonspecific molecular interactions, which affect their therapeutic effect. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and one of the most commonly prescribed. In the presence of cholesterol, lipid bilayers can separate into nanoscale liquid-disordered and liquid-ordered structures, the latter known as lipid rafts. Here, we study spin-labeled ibuprofen (ibuprofen-SL) in the model membrane consisting of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), and cholesterol in the molar ratio of (0.5-0.5xchol)/(0.5-0.5xchol)/xchol. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is employed, along with its pulsed version of double electron-electron resonance (DEER, also known as PELDOR). The data obtained indicate lateral lipid-mediated clustering of ibuprofen-SL molecules with a local surface density noticeably larger than that expected for random lateral distribution. In the absence of cholesterol, the data can be interpreted as indicating alternating clustering in two opposing leaflets of the bilayer. In the presence of cholesterol, for xchol ≥ 20 mol %, the results show that ibuprofen-SL molecules have a quasi-regular lateral distribution, with a "superlattice" parameter of ∼3.0 nm. This regularity can be explained by the entrapment of ibuprofen-SL molecules by lipid rafts known to exist in this system with the additional assumption that lipid rafts have a nanoscale substructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Kashnik
- Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Denis S Baranov
- Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Sergei A Dzuba
- Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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3
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Saha R, Poduval P, Baratam K, Nagesh J, Srivastava A. Membrane Catalyzed Formation of Nucleotide Clusters and Their Role in the Origins of Life: Insights from Molecular Simulations and Lattice Modeling. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:3121-3132. [PMID: 38518175 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c08061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
One of the mysteries in studying the molecular "Origin of Life" is the emergence of RNA and RNA-based life forms, where nonenzymatic polymerization of nucleotides is a crucial hypothesis in formation of large RNA chains. The nonenzymatic polymerization can be mediated by various environmental settings, such as cycles of hydration and dehydration, temperature variations, and proximity to a variety of organizing matrices, such as clay, salt, fatty acids, lipid membrane, and mineral surface. In this work, we explore the influence of different phases of the lipid membrane toward nucleotide organization and polymerization in a simulated prebiotic setting. Our molecular simulations quantify the localization propensity of a mononucleotide, uridine monophosphate (UMP), in distinct membrane settings. We perform all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to estimate the role of the monophasic and biphasic membranes in modifying the behavior of UMPs localization and their clustering mechanism. Based on the interaction energy of mononucleotides with the membrane and their diffusion profile from our MD calculations, we developed a lattice-based model to explore the thermodynamic limits of the observations made from the MD simulations. The mathematical model substantiates our hypothesis that the lipid layers can act as unique substrates for "catalyzing" polymerization of mononucleotides due to the inherent spatiotemporal heterogeneity and phase change behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajlaxmi Saha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata 741246, India
| | - Prathyush Poduval
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Krishnakanth Baratam
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Jayashree Nagesh
- Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Anand Srivastava
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
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4
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Kang C, Fujioka K, Sun R. Atomistic Insight into the Lipid Nanodomains of Synaptic Vesicles. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:2707-2716. [PMID: 38325816 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Membrane curvature, once regarded as a passive consequence of membrane composition and cellular architecture, has been shown to actively modulate various properties of the cellular membrane. These changes could also lead to segregation of the constituents of the membrane, generating nanodomains with precise biological properties. Proteins often linked with neurodegeneration (e.g., tau, alpha-synuclein) exhibit an unintuitive affinity for synaptic vesicles in neurons, which are reported to lack distinct, ordered nanodomains based on their composition. In this study, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations are used to study a full-scale synaptic vesicle of realistic Gaussian curvature and its effect on the membrane dynamics and lipid nanodomain organization. Compelling indicators of nanodomain formation, from the perspective of composition, surface areas per lipid, order parameter, and domain lifetime, are identified in the vesicle membrane, which are absent in a flat bilayer of the same lipid composition. Therefore, our study supports the idea that curvature may induce phase separation in an otherwise fluid, disordered membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Kang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hawai'i, Ma̅noa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
| | - Kazuumi Fujioka
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hawai'i, Ma̅noa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
| | - Rui Sun
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hawai'i, Ma̅noa, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
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5
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Yanagisawa H, Kita Y, Oda T, Kikkawa M. Cryo-EM elucidates the uroplakin complex structure within liquid-crystalline lipids in the porcine urothelial membrane. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1018. [PMID: 37805589 PMCID: PMC10560298 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05393-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The urothelium, a distinct epithelial tissue lining the urinary tract, serves as an essential component in preserving urinary tract integrity and thwarting infections. The asymmetric unit membrane (AUM), primarily composed of the uroplakin complex, constitutes a critical permeability barrier in fulfilling this role. However, the molecular architectures of both the AUM and the uroplakin complex have remained enigmatic due to the paucity of high-resolution structural data. In this study, we utilized cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate the three-dimensional structure of the uroplakin complex within the porcine AUM. While the global resolution achieved was 3.5 Å, we acknowledge that due to orientation bias, the resolution in the vertical direction was determined to be 6.3 Å. Our findings unveiled that the uroplakin complexes are situated within hexagonally arranged crystalline lipid membrane domains, rich in hexosylceramides. Moreover, our research rectifies a misconception in a previous model by confirming the existence of a domain initially believed to be absent, and pinpointing the accurate location of a crucial Escherichia coli binding site implicated in urinary tract infections. These discoveries offer valuable insights into the molecular underpinnings governing the permeability barrier function of the urothelium and the orchestrated lipid phase formation within the plasma membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruaki Yanagisawa
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Kita
- Life Sciences Core Facility, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- Department of Lipidomics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Oda
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan.
| | - Masahide Kikkawa
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
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6
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Lin X, Lin K, He S, Zhou Y, Li X, Lin X. Membrane Domain Anti-Registration Induces an Intrinsic Transmembrane Potential. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:11621-11627. [PMID: 37563986 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Plasma membrane segregation into various nanoscale membrane domains is driven by distinct interactions between diverse lipids and proteins. Among them, liquid-ordered (Lo) membrane domains are defined as "lipid rafts" and liquid-disordered (Ld) ones as "lipid non-rafts". Using model membrane systems, both intra-leaflet and inter-leaflet dynamics of these membrane domains are widely studied. Nevertheless, the biological impact of the latter, which is accompanied by membrane domain registration/anti-registration, is far from clear. Hence, in this work, we studied the biological relevance of the membrane domain anti-registration using both all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and confocal fluorescence microscopy. All-atom MD simulations suggested an intrinsic transmembrane potential for the case of the membrane anti-registration (Lo/Ld). Meanwhile, confocal fluorescence microscopy experiments of HeLa and 293T cell lines indicated that membrane cholesterol depletion could significantly alter the transmembrane potential of cells. Considering differences in the cholesterol content between Lo and Ld membrane domains, our confocal fluorescence microscopy experiments are consistent with our all-atom MD simulations. In short, membrane domain anti-registration induces local membrane asymmetry and, thus, an intrinsic transmembrane potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Lin
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine & School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- Shen Yuan Honors College, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Kaidong Lin
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine & School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Shiqi He
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine & School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yue Zhou
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine & School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiu Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine & School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xubo Lin
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine & School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
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7
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Park S, Levental I, Pastor RW, Im W. Unsaturated Lipids Facilitate Partitioning of Transmembrane Peptides into the Liquid Ordered Phase. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:5303-5314. [PMID: 37417947 PMCID: PMC10413867 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The affinity of single-pass transmembrane (TM) proteins for ordered membrane phases has been reported to depend on their lipidation, TM length, and lipid accessible surface area. In this work, the raft affinities of the TM domain of the linker for activation of T cells and its depalmitoylated variant are assessed using free energy simulations in a binary bilayer system composed of two laterally patched bilayers of ternary liquid ordered (Lo) and liquid disordered (Ld) phases. These phases are modeled by distinct compositions of distearoylphosphatidylcholine, palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC), and cholesterol, and the simulations were carried out for 4.5 μs/window. Both peptides are shown to preferentially partition into the Ld phase in agreement with model membrane experiments and previous simulations on ternary lipid mixtures but not with measurements on giant plasma membrane vesicles where the Lo is slightly preferred. However, the 500 ns average relaxation time of lipid rearrangement around the peptide precluded a quantitative analysis of free energy differences arising from peptide palmitoylation and two different lipid compositions. When in the Lo phase, peptides reside in regions rich in POPC and interact preferentially with its unsaturated tail. Hence, the detailed substructure of the Lo phase is an important modulator of peptide partitioning, in addition to the inherent properties of the peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soohyung Park
- Departments
of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Lehigh
University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Ilya Levental
- Department
of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-1738, United States
| | - Richard W. Pastor
- Laboratory
of Computational Biology, National Heart,
Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Wonpil Im
- Departments
of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Lehigh
University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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8
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Yanagisawa H, Kita Y, Oda T, Kikkawa M. Unveiling Liquid-Crystalline Lipids in the Urothelial Membrane through Cryo-EM. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.29.542358. [PMID: 37398191 PMCID: PMC10312457 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.29.542358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The urothelium, a distinct epithelial tissue lining the urinary tract, serves as an essential component in preserving urinary tract integrity and thwarting infections. The asymmetric unit membrane (AUM), primarily composed of the uroplakin complex, constitutes a critical permeability barrier in fulfilling this role. However, the molecular architectures of both the AUM and the uroplakin complex have remained enigmatic due to the paucity of high-resolution structural data. In this study, we utilized cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate the three-dimensional structure of the uroplakin complex within the porcine AUM. While the global resolution achieved was 3.5 Å, we acknowledge that due to orientation bias, the resolution in the vertical direction was determined to be 6.3 Å. Our findings unveiled that the uroplakin complexes are situated within hexagonally arranged crystalline lipid membrane domains, rich in hexosylceramides. Moreover, our research rectifies a misconception in a previous model by confirming the existence of a domain initially believed to be absent, and pinpointing the accurate location of a crucial Escherichia coli binding site implicated in urinary tract infections. These discoveries offer valuable insights into the molecular underpinnings governing the permeability barrier function of the urothelium and the orchestrated lipid phase formation within the plasma membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruaki Yanagisawa
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Kita
- Life Sciences Core Facility, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Department of Lipidomics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Oda
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan
| | - Masahide Kikkawa
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
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9
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Oda T, Yanagisawa H, Kikkawa M, Kita Y. Unveiling Liquid-Crystalline Lipids in the Urothelial Membrane through Cryo-EM. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3080731. [PMID: 37503277 PMCID: PMC10371089 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3080731/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The urothelium, a distinct epithelial tissue lining the urinary tract, serves as an essential component in preserving urinary tract integrity and thwarting infections. The asymmetric unit membrane (AUM), primarily composed of the uroplakin complex, constitutes a critical permeability barrier in fulfilling this role. However, the molecular architectures of both the AUM and the uroplakin complex have remained enigmatic due to the paucity of high-resolution structural data. In this investigation, we employed cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate the three-dimensional structure of the uroplakin complex embedded within the porcine AUM at a resolution of 3.5 Å. Our findings unveiled that the uroplakin complexes are situated within hexagonally arranged crystalline lipid membrane domains, rich in hexosylceramides. Moreover, our research rectifies a misconception in a previous model by confirming the existence of a domain initially believed to be absent, and pinpointing the accurate location of a crucial Escherichia coli binding site implicated in urinary tract infections. These discoveries offer valuable insights into the molecular underpinnings governing the permeability barrier function of the urothelium and the orchestrated lipid phase formation within the plasma membrane.
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10
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Zhukov A, Popov V. Eukaryotic Cell Membranes: Structure, Composition, Research Methods and Computational Modelling. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11226. [PMID: 37446404 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper deals with the problems encountered in the study of eukaryotic cell membranes. A discussion on the structure and composition of membranes, lateral heterogeneity of membranes, lipid raft formation, and involvement of actin and cytoskeleton networks in the maintenance of membrane structure is included. Modern methods for the study of membranes and their constituent domains are discussed. Various simplified models of biomembranes and lipid rafts are presented. Computer modelling is considered as one of the most important methods. This is stated that from the study of the plasma membrane structure, it is desirable to proceed to the diverse membranes of all organelles of the cell. The qualitative composition and molar content of individual classes of polar lipids, free sterols and proteins in each of these membranes must be considered. A program to create an open access electronic database including results obtained from the membrane modelling of individual cell organelles and the key sites of the membranes, as well as models of individual molecules composing the membranes, has been proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatoly Zhukov
- Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaya Street 35, 127276 Moscow, Russia
| | - Valery Popov
- Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaya Street 35, 127276 Moscow, Russia
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11
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Rathod AK, Chavda D, Manna M. Phase Transition and Phase Separation in Realistic Thylakoid Lipid Membrane of Marine Algae in All-Atom Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2023. [PMID: 37075469 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Thylakoid membranes are specialized membranes predominantly composed of uncommon galacto- and sulfolipids, having distinct roles in photosynthesis. Large acyl chain variety and richness in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of thylakoid lipids further add to the compositional complexity. The function of these membrane systems is intimately dependent on the fluidity of its lipid matrix, which is strongly modulated by the lipid composition and temperature. The present work, employing extensive atomistic simulations, provides the first atomistic view of the phase transition and domain coexistence in a model membrane composed of thylakoid lipids of a commercially important red alga Gracilaria corticata between 10 and 40 °C. The growth and photosynthetic activity of marine algae are greatly influenced by the seawater temperature. So far, little is known about the molecular organization of lipids in thylakoid membranes, in particular their adaptive arrangements under temperature stress. Our simulations show that the algal thylakoid membrane undergoes a transition from a gel-like phase at a low temperature, 10-15 °C, to a homogeneous liquid-crystalline phase at a high temperature, 40 °C. Clear evidence of spontaneous phase separation into coexisting nanoscale domains is detected at intermediate temperatures nearing the optimal growth temperature range. Particularly, at 25-30 °C, we identified the formation of a stable ripple phase, where the gel-like domains rich in saturated and nearly hexagonally packed lipids were separated from fluid-like domains enriched in lipids containing PUFA chains. The phase separation is driven by the spontaneous and preferential segregation of lipids into differentially ordered domains, mainly depending on the acyl chain types. Cholesterol impairs the phase transition and the emergence of domains and induces a fairly uniform liquid-ordered phase in the membrane over the temperatures studied. This work improves the understanding of the properties and reorganization of lipids in the thylakoid membrane in response to temperature variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun K Rathod
- Applied Phycology and Biotechnology Division, CSIR Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar 364002, Gujarat, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Dhruvil Chavda
- Applied Phycology and Biotechnology Division, CSIR Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar 364002, Gujarat, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Moutusi Manna
- Applied Phycology and Biotechnology Division, CSIR Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar 364002, Gujarat, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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12
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Feng S, Park S, Choi YK, Im W. CHARMM-GUI Membrane Builder: Past, Current, and Future Developments and Applications. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:2161-2185. [PMID: 37014931 PMCID: PMC10174225 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c01246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations of membranes and membrane proteins serve as computational microscopes, revealing coordinated events at the membrane interface. As G protein-coupled receptors, ion channels, transporters, and membrane-bound enzymes are important drug targets, understanding their drug binding and action mechanisms in a realistic membrane becomes critical. Advances in materials science and physical chemistry further demand an atomistic understanding of lipid domains and interactions between materials and membranes. Despite a wide range of membrane simulation studies, generating a complex membrane assembly remains challenging. Here, we review the capability of CHARMM-GUI Membrane Builder in the context of emerging research demands, as well as the application examples from the CHARMM-GUI user community, including membrane biophysics, membrane protein drug-binding and dynamics, protein-lipid interactions, and nano-bio interface. We also provide our perspective on future Membrane Builder development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Feng
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Soohyung Park
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Yeol Kyo Choi
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Wonpil Im
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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13
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Regulation of membrane protein structure and function by their lipid nano-environment. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:107-122. [PMID: 36056103 PMCID: PMC9892264 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00524-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 121.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Transmembrane proteins comprise ~30% of the mammalian proteome, mediating metabolism, signalling, transport and many other functions required for cellular life. The microenvironment of integral membrane proteins (IMPs) is intrinsically different from that of cytoplasmic proteins, with IMPs solvated by a compositionally and biophysically complex lipid matrix. These solvating lipids affect protein structure and function in a variety of ways, from stereospecific, high-affinity protein-lipid interactions to modulation by bulk membrane properties. Specific examples of functional modulation of IMPs by their solvating membranes have been reported for various transporters, channels and signal receptors; however, generalizable mechanistic principles governing IMP regulation by lipid environments are neither widely appreciated nor completely understood. Here, we review recent insights into the inter-relationships between complex lipidomes of mammalian membranes, the membrane physicochemical properties resulting from such lipid collectives, and the regulation of IMPs by either or both. The recent proliferation of high-resolution methods to study such lipid-protein interactions has led to generalizable insights, which we synthesize into a general framework termed the 'functional paralipidome' to understand the mutual regulation between membrane proteins and their surrounding lipid microenvironments.
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14
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Baek JM, Jung WH, Yu ES, Ahn DJ, Ryu YS. In Vitro Membrane Platform for the Visualization of Water Impermeability across the Liquid-Ordered Phase under Hypertonic Conditions. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:21887-21896. [PMID: 36367984 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c06626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Passive water penetration across the cell membrane by osmotic diffusion is essential for the homeostasis of cell volume, in addition to the protein-assisted active transportation of water. Since membrane components can regulate water permeability, controlling compositional variation during the volume regulatory process is a prerequisite for investigating the underlying mechanisms of water permeation and related membrane dynamics. However, the lack of a viable in vitro membrane platform in hypertonic solutions impedes advanced knowledge of cell volume regulation processes, especially cholesterol-enriched lipid domains called lipid rafts. By reconstituting the liquid-ordered (Lo) domain as a likeness of lipid rafts, we verified suppressed water permeation across the Lo domains, which had yet to be confirmed with experimental demonstrations despite a simulation approach. With the help of direct transfer of the Lo domains from vesicles to supported lipid membranes, the biological roles of lipid composition in suppressed water translocation were experimentally confirmed. Additionally, the improvement in membrane stability under hypertonic conditions was demonstrated based on molecular dynamics simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Min Baek
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Hyuk Jung
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Eui-Sang Yu
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong June Ahn
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.,KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Sang Ryu
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.,KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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15
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Molugu TR, Thurmond RL, Alam TM, Trouard TP, Brown MF. Phospholipid headgroups govern area per lipid and emergent elastic properties of bilayers. Biophys J 2022; 121:4205-4220. [PMID: 36088534 PMCID: PMC9674990 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Phospholipid bilayers are liquid-crystalline materials whose intermolecular interactions at mesoscopic length scales have key roles in the emergence of membrane physical properties. Here we investigated the combined effects of phospholipid polar headgroups and acyl chains on biophysical functions of membranes with solid-state 2H NMR spectroscopy. We compared the structural and dynamic properties of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine with perdeuterated acyl chains in the solid-ordered (so) and liquid-disordered (ld) phases. Our analysis of spectral lineshapes of 1,2-diperdeuteriopalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPPE-d62) and 1,2-diperdeuteriopalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC-d62) in the so (gel) phase indicated an all-trans rotating chain structure for both lipids. Greater segmental order parameters (SCD) were observed in the ld (liquid-crystalline) phase for DPPE-d62 than for DPPC-d62 membranes, while their mixtures had intermediate values irrespective of the deuterated lipid type. Our results suggest the SCD profiles of the acyl chains are governed by methylation of the headgroups and are averaged over the entire system. Variations in the acyl chain molecular dynamics were further investigated by spin-lattice (R1Z) and quadrupolar-order relaxation (R1Q) measurements. The two acyl-perdeuterated lipids showed distinct differences in relaxation behavior as a function of the order parameter. The R1Z rates had a square-law dependence on SCD, implying collective mesoscopic dynamics, with a higher bending rigidity for DPPE-d62 than for DPPC-d62 lipids. Remodeling of lipid average and dynamic properties by methylation of the headgroups thus provides a mechanism to control the actions of peptides and proteins in biomembranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trivikram R Molugu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | | | - Todd M Alam
- Department of Organic Materials Science, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Theodore P Trouard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Michael F Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; Department of Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
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16
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Foley SL, Hossein A, Deserno M. Fluid-gel coexistence in lipid membranes under differential stress. Biophys J 2022; 121:2997-3009. [PMID: 35859420 PMCID: PMC9463654 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A widely conserved property of many biological lipid bilayers is their asymmetry. In addition to having distinct compositions on its two sides, a membrane can also exhibit different tensions in its two leaflets, a state known as differential stress. Here, we examine how this stress can influence the phase behavior of the constituent lipid monolayers of a single-component membrane. For temperatures sufficiently close to, but still above, the main transition, molecular dynamics simulations show the emergence of finite gel domains within the compressed leaflet. We describe the thermodynamics of this phenomenon by adding two empirical single-leaflet free energies for the fluid-gel transition, each evaluated at its respective asymmetry-dependent lipid density. Finite size effects arising in simulation are included in the theory through a geometry-dependent interfacial term. Our model reproduces the phase coexistence observed in simulation. It could therefore be used to connect the "hidden variable" of differential stress to experimentally observable properties of the main phase transition. These ideas could be generalized to any first-order bilayer phase transition in the presence of asymmetry, including liquid-ordered/liquid-disordered phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel L Foley
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Amirali Hossein
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Markus Deserno
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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17
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Grusky DS, Moss FR, Boxer SG. Recombination between 13C and 2H to Form Acetylide ( 13C 22H -) Probes Nanoscale Interactions in Lipid Bilayers via Dynamic Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry: Cholesterol and GM 1 Clustering. Anal Chem 2022; 94:9750-9757. [PMID: 35759338 PMCID: PMC10075087 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c01336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Although it is thought that there is lateral heterogeneity of lipid and protein components within biological membranes, probing this heterogeneity has proven challenging. The difficulty in such experiments is due to both the small length scale over which such heterogeneity can occur, and the significant perturbation resulting from fluorescent or spin labeling on the delicate interactions within bilayers. Atomic recombination during dynamic nanoscale secondary ion imaging mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) is a non-perturbative method for examining nanoscale bilayer interactions. Atomic recombination is a variation on conventional NanoSIMS imaging, whereby an isotope on one molecule combines with a different isotope on another molecule during the ionization process, forming an isotopically enriched polyatomic ion in a distance-dependent manner. We show that the recombinant ion, 13C22H-, is formed in high yield from 13C- and 2H-labeled lipids. The low natural abundance of triply labeled acetylide also makes it an ideal ion to probe GM1 clusters in model membranes and the effects of cholesterol on lipid-lipid interactions. We find evidence supporting the cholesterol condensation effect as well as the presence of nanoscale GM1 clusters in model membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dashiel S Grusky
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Frank R Moss
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Steven G Boxer
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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18
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DiPasquale M, Deering TG, Desai D, Sharma AK, Amin S, Fox TE, Kester M, Katsaras J, Marquardt D, Heberle FA. Influence of ceramide on lipid domain stability studied with small-angle neutron scattering: The role of acyl chain length and unsaturation. Chem Phys Lipids 2022; 245:105205. [PMID: 35483419 PMCID: PMC9320172 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2022.105205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ceramides and diacylglycerols are groups of lipids capable of nucleating and stabilizing ordered lipid domains, structures that have been implicated in a range of biological processes. Previous studies have used fluorescence reporter molecules to explore the influence of ceramide acyl chain structure on sphingolipid-rich ordered phases. Here, we use small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to examine the ability of ceramides and diacylglycerols to promote lipid domain formation in the well-characterized domain-forming mixture DPPC/DOPC/cholesterol. SANS is a powerful, probe-free technique for interrogating membrane heterogeneity, as it is differentially sensitive to hydrogen's stable isotopes protium and deuterium. Specifically, neutron contrast is generated through selective deuteration of lipid species, thus enabling the detection of nanoscopic domains enriched in deuterated saturated lipids dispersed in a matrix of protiated unsaturated lipids. Using large unilamellar vesicles, we found that upon replacing 10 mol% DPPC with either C16:0 or C18:0 ceramide, or 16:0 diacylglycerol (dag), lipid domains persisted to higher temperatures. However, when DPPC was replaced with short chain (C6:0 or C12:0) or very long chain (C24:0) ceramides, or ceramides with unsaturated acyl chains of any length (C6:1(3), C6:1(5), C18:1, and C24:1), as well as C18:1-dag, lipid domains were destabilized, melting at lower temperatures than those in the DPPC/DOPC/cholesterol system. These results show how ceramide acyl chain length and unsaturation influence lipid domains and have implications for how cell membranes might modify their function through the generation of different ceramide species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell DiPasquale
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor N9B 3P4, ON, Canada
| | - Tye G Deering
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908, VA, USA
| | - Dhimant Desai
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State University, University Park 16801, PA, USA
| | - Arun K Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State University, University Park 16801, PA, USA
| | - Shantu Amin
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State University, University Park 16801, PA, USA
| | - Todd E Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908, VA, USA
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908, VA, USA; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908, VA, USA
| | - John Katsaras
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge 37831, TN, USA; Joint Institute for Neutron Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge 37831, TN, USA; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996, TN, USA.
| | - Drew Marquardt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor N9B 3P4, ON, Canada; Department of Physics, University of Windsor, Windsor N9B 3P4, ON, Canada.
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19
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Murata M, Matsumori N, Kinoshita M, London E. Molecular substructure of the liquid-ordered phase formed by sphingomyelin and cholesterol: sphingomyelin clusters forming nano-subdomains are a characteristic feature. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:655-678. [PMID: 35791389 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-00967-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
As a model of lipid rafts, the liquid-ordered (Lo) phase formed by sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol (Cho) in bilayer membranes has long attracted the attention of biophysics researchers. New approaches and methodologies have led to a better understanding of the molecular basis of the Lo domain structure. This review summarizes studies on model membrane systems consisting of SM/unsaturated phospholipid/Cho implying that the Lo phase contains SM-based nanodomains (or nano-subdomains). Some of the Lo phase properties may be attributed to these nanodomains. Several studies suggest that the nanodomains contain clustered SM molecules packed densely to form gel-phase-like subdomains of single-digit nanometer size at physiological temperatures. Cho and unsaturated lipids located in the Lo phase are likely to be concentrated at the boundaries between the subdomains. These subdomains are not readily detected in the Lo phase formed by saturated phosphatidylcholine (PC) molecules, suggesting that they are strongly stabilized by homophilic interactions specific to SM, e.g., between SM amide groups. This model for the Lo phase is supported by experiments using dihydro-SM, which is thought to have stronger homophilic interactions than SM, as well as by studies using the enantiomer of SM having opposite stereochemistry to SM at the 2 and 3 positions and by some molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of lipid bilayers containing Lo-lipids. Nanosized gel subdomains seem to play an important role in controlling membrane organization and function in biological membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michio Murata
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Osaka, 560-0043 Japan.,ERATO, Lipid Active Structure Project, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Osaka, 560-0043 Japan
| | - Nobuaki Matsumori
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395 Japan
| | - Masanao Kinoshita
- ERATO, Lipid Active Structure Project, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Osaka, 560-0043 Japan.,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395 Japan
| | - Erwin London
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5215 USA
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20
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Design principles of PI(4,5)P 2 clustering under protein-free conditions: Specific cation effects and calcium-potassium synergy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2202647119. [PMID: 35605121 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2202647119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SignificanceClustering of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) with proteins into what are known as "PIP2 rafts" is a critical component of intracellular signaling, yet little is known about PIP2 clusters at the atomic level. Using molecular dynamics simulations and network theory, this paper shows that Ca2+ generates large clusters by linking PIP2 dimers already formed by doubly charged P4/P5 phosphates, while monovalent cations form smaller and less-stable clusters by adding PIP2 monomers preferentially via weaker interactions with P4/P5 (for Na+) or with glycerol P1 (for K+). Synergy arises between K+ and Ca2+ because each ion forms linkages with different phosphates, thereby giving clusters more ways to grow. This explains why Ca2+ is pumped into cells by ion channels to form PIP2 rafts.
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21
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Sharma A, Seal A, Iyer SS, Srivastava A. Enthalpic and entropic contributions to interleaflet coupling drive domain registration and antiregistration in biological membrane. Phys Rev E 2022; 105:044408. [PMID: 35590589 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.105.044408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Biological membrane is a complex self-assembly of lipids, sterols, and proteins organized as a fluid bilayer of two closely stacked lipid leaflets. Differential molecular interactions among its diverse constituents give rise to heterogeneities in the membrane lateral organization. Under certain conditions, heterogeneities in the two leaflets can be spatially synchronized and exist as registered domains across the bilayer. Several contrasting theories behind mechanisms that induce registration of nanoscale domains have been suggested. Following a recent study showing the effect of position of lipid tail unsaturation on domain registration behavior, we decided to develop an analytical theory to elucidate the driving forces that create and maintain domain registry across leaflets. Towards this, we formulated a Hamiltonian for a stacked lattice system where site variables capture the lipid molecular properties such as the position of unsaturation and various other interactions that could drive phase separation and interleaflet coupling. We solve the Hamiltonian using Monte Carlo simulations and create a complete phase diagram that reports the presence or absence of registered domains as a function of various Hamiltonian parameters. We find that the interleaflet coupling should be described as a competing enthalpic contribution due to interaction of lipid tail termini, primarily due to saturated-saturated interactions, and an interleaflet entropic contribution from overlap of unsaturated tail termini. A higher position of unsaturation is seen to provide weaker interleaflet coupling. Thermodynamically stable nanodomains could also be observed for certain points in the parameter space in our bilayer model, which were further verified by carrying out extended Monte Carlo simulations. These persistent noncoalescing registered nanodomains close to the lower end of the accepted nanodomain size range also point towards a possible "nanoscale" emulsion description of lateral heterogeneities in biological membrane leaflets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshara Sharma
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore, C. V. Raman Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Aniruddha Seal
- School of Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Odisha 752050, India
| | - Sahithya S Iyer
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore, C. V. Raman Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Anand Srivastava
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore, C. V. Raman Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
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22
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Schachter I, Paananen RO, Fábián B, Jurkiewicz P, Javanainen M. The Two Faces of the Liquid Ordered Phase. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:1307-1313. [PMID: 35104407 PMCID: PMC8842317 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c03712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Coexisting liquid ordered (Lo) and liquid disordered (Ld) lipid phases in synthetic and plasma membrane-derived vesicles are commonly used to model the heterogeneity of biological membranes, including their putative ordered rafts. However, raft-associated proteins exclusively partition to the Ld and not the Lo phase in these model systems. We believe that the difference stems from the different microscopic structures of the lipid rafts at physiological temperature and the Lo phase studied at room temperature. To probe this structural diversity across temperatures, we performed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, differential scanning calorimetry, and fluorescence spectroscopy on Lo phase membranes. Our results suggest that raft-associated proteins are excluded from the Lo phase at room temperature due to the presence of a stiff, hexagonally packed lipid structure. This structure melts upon heating, which could lead to the preferential solvation of proteins by order-preferring lipids. This structural transition is manifested as a subtle crossover in membrane properties; yet, both temperature regimes still fulfill the definition of the Lo phase. We postulate that in the compositionally complex plasma membrane and in vesicles derived therefrom, both molecular structures can be present depending on the local lipid composition. These structural differences must be taken into account when using synthetic or plasma membrane-derived vesicles as a model for cellular membrane heterogeneity below the physiological temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itay Schachter
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 542/2, CZ-16000 Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Institute
of Chemistry, the Fritz Haber Research Center, and the Harvey M. Kruger
Center for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Riku O. Paananen
- Department
of Chemistry, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department
of Ophthalmology, FI-00014 University of
Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Balázs Fábián
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 542/2, CZ-16000 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Piotr Jurkiewicz
- J.
Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy
of Sciences, Dolejškova
2155/3, CZ-18223 Prague 8, Czech Republic
- E-mail:
| | - Matti Javanainen
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 542/2, CZ-16000 Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Institute
of Biotechnology, FI-00014 University of
Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- E-mail:
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23
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Levic DS, Bagnat M. Self-organization of apical membrane protein sorting in epithelial cells. FEBS J 2022; 289:659-670. [PMID: 33864720 PMCID: PMC8522177 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Polarized epithelial cells are characterized by the asymmetric distribution of proteins between apical and basolateral domains of the plasma membrane. This asymmetry is highly conserved and is fundamental to epithelial cell physiology, development, and homeostasis. How proteins are segregated for apical or basolateral delivery, a process known as sorting, has been the subject of considerable investigation for decades. Despite these efforts, the rules guiding apical sorting are poorly understood and remain controversial. Here, we consider mechanisms of apical membrane protein sorting and argue that they are largely driven by self-organization and biophysical principles. The preponderance of data to date is consistent with the idea that apical sorting is not ruled by a dedicated protein-based sorting machinery and relies instead on the concerted effects of oligomerization, phase separation of lipids and proteins in membranes, and pH-dependent glycan interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S. Levic
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Correspondence to Michel Bagnat: or Dan Levic:
| | - Michel Bagnat
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Correspondence to Michel Bagnat: or Dan Levic:
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24
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Biophysical properties of tear film lipid layer II. Polymorphism of FAHFA. Biophys J 2022; 121:451-458. [PMID: 34968427 PMCID: PMC8822609 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs) are a newly discovered class of endogenous lipids that consist of two acyl chains connected through a single ester bond. Being a unique species of FAHFAs, (O-acyl)-ω-hydroxy fatty acids (OAHFAs) differ from other FAHFAs in that their hydroxy fatty acid backbones are ultralong and their hydroxy esterification is believed to be solely at the terminal (ω-) position. Only in recent years with technological advances in lipidomics have OAHFAs been identified as an important component of the tear film lipid layer (TFLL). It was found that OAHFAs account for approximately 4 mol% of the total lipids and 20 mol% of the polar lipids in the TFLL. However, their biophysical function and contribution to the TFLL is still poorly understood. Here we studied the molecular biophysical mechanisms of OAHFAs using palmitic-acid-9-hydroxy-stearic-acid (PAHSA) as a model. PAHSA and OAHFAs share key structural similarities that could result in comparable biophysical properties and molecular mechanisms. With combined biophysical experiments, atomic force microscopy observations, and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we found that the biophysical properties of a dynamic PAHSA monolayer under physiologically relevant conditions depend on a balance between kinetics and thermal relaxation. PAHSA molecules at the air-water surface demonstrate unique polymorphic behaviors, which can be explained by configurational transitions of the molecules under various lateral pressures. These findings could have novel implications in understanding biophysical functions that FAHFAs, in general, or OAHFAs, specifically, play in the TFLL.
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25
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Tai P, Golding M, Singh H, Everett D. The bovine milk fat globule membrane – Liquid ordered domain formation and anticholesteremic effects during digestion. FOOD REVIEWS INTERNATIONAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/87559129.2021.2015773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Tai
- Riddet Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- School of Food and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Matt Golding
- Riddet Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- School of Food and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | - David Everett
- Riddet Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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26
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Kondrashov OV, Pinigin KV, Akimov SA. Characteristic lengths of transmembrane peptides controlling their tilt and lateral distribution between membrane domains. Phys Rev E 2021; 104:044411. [PMID: 34781459 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.104.044411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Lipids and proteins of plasma membranes of eukaryotic cells are supposed to form protein-lipid domains, characterized by a different molecular order, bilayer thickness, and elastic parameters. Several mechanisms of preferable distribution of transmembrane proteins to the ordered or disordered membrane domains have been revealed. The mismatch between the length of the protein transmembrane domain and hydrophobic thickness of the lipid bilayer is considered to be an important driving force of protein lateral sorting. Utilizing the continuum theory of elasticity, we analyzed optimal configurations and preferable membrane domains for single-pass transmembrane peptides of various hydrophobic lengths and effective molecular shapes. We obtained that short transmembrane peptides stand perpendicularly to the membrane plane. The exceedance of a certain characteristic length leads to the tilt of the peptide. This length depends on the bilayer thickness. Thus, in the membrane with coexisting ordered (thicker) and disordered (thinner) phases tilting of the peptide in each phase is governed by its individual characteristic length. The lateral distribution of the peptides between ordered and disordered membrane domains is shown to be described by two additional characteristic lengths. The exceedance of the smaller one drives the peptide towards a more ordered and thicker membrane, while the exceedance of the larger characteristic length switches the preferable membrane domain from ordered and thicker to disordered and thinner. Thus, membrane proteins with long enough transmembrane domains are predicted to accumulate in the thinner disordered membrane as compared to the thicker ordered bilayer. For hourglass-like and barrel-like shaped transmembrane peptides the specific regime of sorting was obtained: the peptides distributed almost equally between the phases in a wide range of peptide lengths. This finding allowed explaining the experimental data on lateral distribution of transmembrane peptide tLAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg V Kondrashov
- A. N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 31/4 Leninskiy prospekt, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Konstantin V Pinigin
- A. N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 31/4 Leninskiy prospekt, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Sergey A Akimov
- A. N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 31/4 Leninskiy prospekt, Moscow 119071, Russia
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27
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Smith P, Lorenz CD. LiPyphilic: A Python Toolkit for the Analysis of Lipid Membrane Simulations. J Chem Theory Comput 2021; 17:5907-5919. [PMID: 34450002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations are now widely used to study emergent phenomena in lipid membranes with complex compositions. Here, we present LiPyphilic-a fast, fully tested, and easy-to-install Python package for analyzing such simulations. Analysis tools in LiPyphilic include the identification of cholesterol flip-flop events, the classification of local lipid environments, and the degree of interleaflet registration. LiPyphilic is both force field- and resolution-agnostic, and by using the powerful atom selection language of MDAnalysis, it can handle membranes with highly complex compositions. LiPyphilic also offers two on-the-fly trajectory transformations to (i) fix membranes split across periodic boundaries and (ii) perform nojump coordinate unwrapping. Our implementation of nojump unwrapping accounts for fluctuations in the box volume under the NPT ensemble-an issue that most current implementations have overlooked. The full documentation of LiPyphilic, including installation instructions and links to interactive online tutorials, is available at https://lipyphilic.readthedocs.io/en/latest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Smith
- Department of Physics, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, U.K
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28
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Nakhaei P, Margiana R, Bokov DO, Abdelbasset WK, Jadidi Kouhbanani MA, Varma RS, Marofi F, Jarahian M, Beheshtkhoo N. Liposomes: Structure, Biomedical Applications, and Stability Parameters With Emphasis on Cholesterol. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:705886. [PMID: 34568298 PMCID: PMC8459376 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.705886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liposomes are essentially a subtype of nanoparticles comprising a hydrophobic tail and a hydrophilic head constituting a phospholipid membrane. The spherical or multilayered spherical structures of liposomes are highly rich in lipid contents with numerous criteria for their classification, including structural features, structural parameters, and size, synthesis methods, preparation, and drug loading. Despite various liposomal applications, such as drug, vaccine/gene delivery, biosensors fabrication, diagnosis, and food products applications, their use encounters many limitations due to physico-chemical instability as their stability is vigorously affected by the constituting ingredients wherein cholesterol performs a vital role in the stability of the liposomal membrane. It has well established that cholesterol exerts its impact by controlling fluidity, permeability, membrane strength, elasticity and stiffness, transition temperature (Tm), drug retention, phospholipid packing, and plasma stability. Although the undetermined optimum amount of cholesterol for preparing a stable and controlled release vehicle has been the downside, but researchers are still focused on cholesterol as a promising material for the stability of liposomes necessitating explanation for the stability promotion of liposomes. Herein, the prior art pertaining to the liposomal appliances, especially for drug delivery in cancer therapy, and their stability emphasizing the roles of cholesterol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooria Nakhaei
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ria Margiana
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia
- Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, The National Referral Hospital, Central Jakarta, Indonesia
- Master’s Programme Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia
| | - Dmitry O. Bokov
- Institute of Pharmacy, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Federal Research Center of Nutrition, Biotechnology, and Food Safety, Moscow, Russia
| | - Walid Kamal Abdelbasset
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Physical Therapy, Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohammad Amin Jadidi Kouhbanani
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Czechia
| | - Rajender S. Varma
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacký University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Faroogh Marofi
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mostafa Jarahian
- Toxicology and Chemotherapy Unit (G401), German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nasrin Beheshtkhoo
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Czechia
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29
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Siani P, Donadoni E, Ferraro L, Re F, Di Valentin C. Molecular dynamics simulations of doxorubicin in sphingomyelin-based lipid membranes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2021; 1864:183763. [PMID: 34506799 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most efficient antitumor drugs employed in numerous cancer therapies. Its incorporation into lipid-based nanocarriers, such as liposomes, improves the drug targeting into tumor cells and reduces drug side effects. The carriers' lipid composition is expected to affect the interactions of DOX and its partitioning into liposomal membranes. To get a rational insight into this aspect and determine promising lipid compositions, we use numerical simulations, which provide unique information on DOX-membrane interactions at the atomic level of resolution. In particular, we combine classical molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations to elucidate the mechanism of penetration of a protonated Doxorubicin molecule (DOX+) into potential liposome membranes, here modeled as lipid bilayers based on mixtures of phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol lipid molecules, of different compositions and lipid phases. Moreover, we analyze DOX+ partitioning into relevant regions of SM-based lipid bilayer systems using a combination of free energy methods. Our results show that DOX+ penetration and partitioning are facilitated into less tightly packed SM-based membranes and are dependent on lipid composition. This work paves the way to further investigations of optimal formulations for lipid-based carriers, such as those associated with pH-responsive membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Siani
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, via R. Cozzi 55, 20125 Milano, Italy
| | - Edoardo Donadoni
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, via R. Cozzi 55, 20125 Milano, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Ferraro
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, via R. Cozzi 55, 20125 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Re
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Raoul Follereau 3, Vedano al Lambro, MB 20854, Italy; BioNanoMedicine Center NANOMIB, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Cristiana Di Valentin
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, via R. Cozzi 55, 20125 Milano, Italy; BioNanoMedicine Center NANOMIB, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
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30
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Ghysels A. Bringing hidden variables into the open unveils a barrier for lipid insertion into membranes. Biophys J 2021; 120:3542-3543. [PMID: 34407388 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- An Ghysels
- IBiTech - Biommeda research group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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31
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Unguryan VV, Golysheva EA, Dzuba SA. Double Electron-Electron Resonance of Spin-Labeled Cholestane in Model Membranes: Evidence for Substructures inside the Lipid Rafts. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:9557-9563. [PMID: 34387998 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c05215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Plasma membranes are assumed to be highly compartmentalized, which is believed to be important for the membrane protein functionality. The liquid ordered-disordered phase segregation in the membranes results in nanoscale liquid-ordered assemblies-lipid rafts. Double electron-electron resonance spectroscopy (DEER, also known as PELDOR) is sensitive to spin-spin dipolar interactions between spin labels at the nanoscale range of distances. Here, DEER is applied to spin-labeled cholestane, 3β-doxyl-5α-cholestane (DChl), diluted in bilayers composed of an equimolar mixture of dioleoyl-glycero-phosphocholine (DOPC) and dipalmitoyl-glycero-phosphocholine (DPPC) phospholipids, with cholesterol (Chol) added. The DEER data allowed us to detect clustering of the DChl molecules. Their lateral distribution in the clusters in the absence of Chol was found to be random, while in the presence of Chol it became quasi-regular. DEER time traces are fairly well simulated within a simple square superlattice model. For the 20 mol % Chol content, for which at physiological temperatures, the lipid rafts are formed, the found superlattice parameter was 3.7 nm. Assuming that lipid rafts are captioned upon shock freezing at the temperature of investigation (80 K), the found regularity of DChl lateral distribution was interpreted by raft substructuring, with the DChl molecules embedded between the substructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily V Unguryan
- Department of Physics, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.,Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Elena A Golysheva
- Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Sergei A Dzuba
- Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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32
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Kumar N, Sastry GN. Study of lipid heterogeneity on bilayer membranes using molecular dynamics simulations. J Mol Graph Model 2021; 108:108000. [PMID: 34365255 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2021.108000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Human cell membranes consist of various lipids that are essential for their structure and function. It typically comprises phosphatidylcholine (POPC), phosphatidylethanolamine (POPE), phosphatidylserine (POPS), sphingomyelin (PSM), and cholesterol (CHL). Several experimental and computational techniques have been employed to characterize the composition of human cell membranes, however, CHL enriched membrane is still not clearly understood through these techniques. Molecular dynamics simulation results illustrated the biophysical properties of heterogeneous membranes based on the lipid composition as well as the concentration of lipids, exclusively for CHL and PSM. Herein, we have investigated the structure-function relationships of lipids comparatively to delineate the effect of heterogeneity on the biophysical properties of different membranes. It has been observed that the significant fraction of CHL (i.e., ~33% in ternary, ~25% in quaternary, and ~16% in senary type bilayers) in combination with other lipids introduced compactness, and increased the thickness of the membrane. The analysis of lipid mass density stated that the density of lipid head group, phosphate, and glycerol-ester in presence of CHL with or without PSM is an underlying reason for membrane ordering. Results also revealed that the presence of POPI and POPS are the reasons for an adequate drop in the ordering of lipid chain, particularly on POPE chain. The self-interaction of CHL, PSM, POPE and the interaction of CHL and POPC with POPE seem to determine the structure and function of the heterogeneous membrane. Our findings provide a qualitative understanding of the effect of membrane heterogeneity on the physiological properties of membranes. The structures inspected in this study would help to select the heterogeneous bilayer model to mimic the human cell membranes to analyse or characterize the membrane-associated phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandan Kumar
- Centre for Molecular Modelling, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Tarnaka, Hyderabad, 500007, Telangana State, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, U. P., India
| | - G Narahari Sastry
- Centre for Molecular Modelling, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Tarnaka, Hyderabad, 500007, Telangana State, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, U. P., India; Advanced Computation and Data Sciences Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, 785006, Assam, India.
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33
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Abstract
Lateral organization in the plane of the plasma membrane is an important driver of biological processes. The past dozen years have seen increasing experimental support for the notion that lipid organization plays an important role in modulating this heterogeneity. Various biophysical mechanisms rooted in the concept of liquid-liquid phase separation have been proposed to explain diverse experimental observations of heterogeneity in model and cell membranes with distinct but overlapping applicability. In this review, we focus on the evidence for and the consequences of the hypothesis that the plasma membrane is poised near an equilibrium miscibility critical point. Critical phenomena explain certain features of the heterogeneity observed in cells and model systems but also go beyond heterogeneity to predict other interesting phenomena, including responses to perturbations in membrane composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R Shaw
- Program in Applied Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA;
| | - Subhadip Ghosh
- Program in Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Sarah L Veatch
- Program in Applied Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA; .,Program in Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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34
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López CA, Agarwal A, Van QN, Stephen AG, Gnanakaran S. Unveiling the Dynamics of KRAS4b on Lipid Model Membranes. J Membr Biol 2021; 254:201-216. [PMID: 33825026 PMCID: PMC8052243 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-021-00176-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Small GTPase proteins are ubiquitous and responsible for regulating several processes related to cell growth and differentiation. Mutations that stabilize their active state can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and cancer. Although these proteins are well characterized at the cellular scale, the molecular mechanisms governing their functions are still poorly understood. In addition, there is limited information about the regulatory function of the cell membrane which supports their activity. Thus, we have studied the dynamics and conformations of the farnesylated KRAS4b in various membrane model systems, ranging from binary fluid mixtures to heterogeneous raft mimics. Our approach combines long time-scale coarse-grained (CG) simulations and Markov state models to dissect the membrane-supported dynamics of KRAS4b. Our simulations reveal that protein dynamics is mainly modulated by the presence of anionic lipids and to some extent by the nucleotide state (activation) of the protein. In addition, our results suggest that both the farnesyl and the polybasic hypervariable region (HVR) are responsible for its preferential partitioning within the liquid-disordered (Ld) domains in membranes, potentially enhancing the formation of membrane-driven signaling platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar A López
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
| | - Animesh Agarwal
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Que N Van
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Andrew G Stephen
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - S Gnanakaran
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
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35
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Lipid interactions of an actinoporin pore-forming oligomer. Biophys J 2021; 120:1357-1366. [PMID: 33617834 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The actinoporins are cytolytic toxins produced by sea anemones. Upon encountering a membrane, preferably containing sphingomyelin, they oligomerize and insert their N-terminal helix into the membrane, forming a pore. Whether sphingomyelin is specifically recognized by the protein or simply induces phase coexistence in the membrane has been debated. Here, we perform multi-microsecond molecular dynamics simulations of an octamer of fragaceatoxin C, a member of the actinoporin family, in lipid bilayers containing either pure 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) or a 1:1 mixture of DOPC and palmitoyl sphingomyelin (PSM). The complex is highly stable in both environments, with only slight fraying of the inserted helices near their N-termini. Analyzing the structural parameters of the mixed membrane in the course of the simulation, we see signs of a phase transition for PSM in the inner leaflet of the bilayer. In both leaflets, cross-interactions between lipids of different type decrease over time. Surprisingly, the aromatic loop thought to be responsible for sphingomyelin recognition interacts more with DOPC than PSM by the end of the simulation. These results support the notion that the key membrane property that actinoporins recognize is lipid phase coexistence.
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36
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Elkins MR, Bandara A, Pantelopulos GA, Straub JE, Hong M. Direct Observation of Cholesterol Dimers and Tetramers in Lipid Bilayers. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:1825-1837. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c10631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Elkins
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Asanga Bandara
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - George A. Pantelopulos
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - John E. Straub
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Mei Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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37
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Yang J, Jin J, Li S. Role of polyunsaturated phospholipids in liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered phases. RSC Adv 2021; 11:27115-27120. [PMID: 35480686 PMCID: PMC9037819 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra02692e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyunsaturated phospholipids play a strong repulsive role in the liquid-disordered phase but a weak role in the liquid-ordered phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yang
- College of Education, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Jianyu Jin
- College of Education, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Shiben Li
- Department of Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
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38
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Bochicchio A, Brandner AF, Engberg O, Huster D, Böckmann RA. Spontaneous Membrane Nanodomain Formation in the Absence or Presence of the Neurotransmitter Serotonin. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:601145. [PMID: 33330494 PMCID: PMC7734319 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.601145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Detailed knowledge on the formation of biomembrane domains, their structure, composition, and physical characteristics is scarce. Despite its frequently discussed importance in signaling, e.g., in obtaining localized non-homogeneous receptor compositions in the plasma membrane, the nanometer size as well as the dynamic and transient nature of domains impede their experimental characterization. In turn, atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combine both, high spatial and high temporal resolution. Here, using microsecond atomistic MD simulations, we characterize the spontaneous and unbiased formation of nano-domains in a plasma membrane model containing phosphatidylcholine (POPC), palmitoyl-sphingomyelin (PSM), and cholesterol (Chol) in the presence or absence of the neurotransmitter serotonin at different temperatures. In the ternary mixture, highly ordered and highly disordered domains of similar composition coexist at 303 K. The distinction of domains by lipid acyl chain order gets lost at lower temperatures of 298 and 294 K, suggesting a phase transition at ambient temperature. By comparison of domain ordering and composition, we demonstrate how the domain-specific binding of the neurotransmitter serotonin results in a modified domain lipid composition and a substantial downward shift of the phase transition temperature. Our simulations thus suggest a novel mode of action of neurotransmitters possibly of importance in neuronal signal transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bochicchio
- Computational Biology, Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Astrid F Brandner
- Computational Biology, Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Oskar Engberg
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Huster
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Rainer A Böckmann
- Computational Biology, Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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39
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Tripathy M, Thangamani S, Srivastava A. Three-Dimensional Packing Defects in Lipid Membrane as a Function of Membrane Order. J Chem Theory Comput 2020; 16:7800-7816. [PMID: 33226805 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.0c00609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Lipid membrane packing defects are considered to be an essential parameter that regulates specific membrane binding of several peripheral proteins. In the absence of direct experimental characterization, lipid packing defects and their role in the binding of peripheral proteins are generally investigated through computational studies, which have been immensely successful in unraveling the key steps of the membrane-binding process. However, packing defects are calculated using two-dimensional (2D) projections and the crucial information on their depths is generally overlooked. Here, we present a simple yet computationally efficient algorithm, which identifies these defects in three dimensions. We validate the algorithm on a number of model membrane systems that are previously studied using 2D defect calculations and find that the defect size and the defect depth may not always be directly correlated. We employ the algorithm to understand the nature of packing defects in flat bilayer membranes exhibiting liquid-ordered (Lo), liquid-disordered (Ld), and co-existing (Lo/Ld) phases. Our results indicate the presence of shallower, smaller, and spatially localized defects in the Lo phase membranes as compared to the defects in Ld and mixed Lo/Ld phase membranes. Such analyses can elucidate the molecular-scale mechanisms that drive the preferential localization of certain proteins to either of the liquid phases or their interface. We also analyze the membrane sensing and anchoring process of a peptide in terms of the three-dimensional defects, which provides additional insights into the process with respect to depth distributions across the bilayer leaflets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhusmita Tripathy
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore, C.V. Raman Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Subasini Thangamani
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore, C.V. Raman Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Anand Srivastava
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore, C.V. Raman Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
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40
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Wang HY, Bharti D, Levental I. Membrane Heterogeneity Beyond the Plasma Membrane. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:580814. [PMID: 33330457 PMCID: PMC7710808 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.580814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The structure and organization of cellular membranes have received intense interest, particularly in investigations of the raft hypothesis. The vast majority of these investigations have focused on the plasma membrane of mammalian cells, yielding significant progress in understanding membrane heterogeneity in terms of lipid composition, molecular structure, dynamic regulation, and functional relevance. In contrast, investigations on lipid organization in other membrane systems have been comparatively scarce, despite the likely relevance of membrane domains in these contexts. In this review, we summarize recent observations on lipid organization in organellar membranes, including endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, endo-lysosomes, lipid droplets, and secreted membranes like lung surfactant, milk fat globule membranes, and viral membranes. Across these non-plasma membrane systems, it seems that the biophysical principles underlying lipid self-organization contribute to lateral domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Yin Wang
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Deepti Bharti
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.,National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India
| | - Ilya Levental
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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41
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Burns V, Mertz B. Using Simulation to Understand the Role of Titration on the Stability of a Peptide-Lipid Bilayer Complex. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:12272-12280. [PMID: 32988206 PMCID: PMC7778881 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP) is an anionic membrane-active peptide with promising potential for applications in imaging of cancer tumors and targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics. The key advantage of pHLIP lies in its acid sensitivity: in acidic cellular environments, pHLIP can insert unidirectionally into the plasma membrane. Partitioning-folding coupling is triggered by titration of the acidic residues in pHLIP, transforming pHLIP from a hydrophilic to a hydrophobic peptide. Despite this knowledge, the reverse pathway that leads to exit of the peptide from the plasma membrane is poorly understood. Our hypothesis is that sequential deprotonation of pHLIP is a prerequisite for exit of the peptide from the plasma membrane. We carried out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to characterize the effect that deprotonation of the acidic residues of pHLIP has on the stability of the peptide when inserted into a model lipid bilayer of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-3-phosphocholine (POPC). Initiation of the exit mechanism is facilitated by a complex relationship between the peptide, bulk solvent, and the membrane environment. As the N-terminal acidic residues of pHLIP are deprotonated, localized loss of helicity drives unfolding of the peptide and more pronounced interactions with the bilayer at the lipid-water interface. Deprotonation of the C-terminal acidic residues (D25, D31, D33, and E34) leads to further loss of secondary structure distal from the C-terminus, as well as formation of a water channel that stabilizes the orientation of pHLIP parallel to the membrane normal. Together, these results help explain how stabilization of intermediates between the surface-bound and inserted states of pHLIP occur and provide insights into rational design of pHLIP variants with modified abilities of insertion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violetta Burns
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
| | - Blake Mertz
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
- WVU Cancer Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States
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42
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Jones AJY, Gabriel F, Tandale A, Nietlispach D. Structure and Dynamics of GPCRs in Lipid Membranes: Physical Principles and Experimental Approaches. Molecules 2020; 25:E4729. [PMID: 33076366 PMCID: PMC7587580 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, the vast amount of information generated through structural and biophysical studies of GPCRs has provided unprecedented mechanistic insight into the complex signalling behaviour of these receptors. With this recent information surge, it has also become increasingly apparent that in order to reproduce the various effects that lipids and membranes exert on the biological function for these allosteric receptors, in vitro studies of GPCRs need to be conducted under conditions that adequately approximate the native lipid bilayer environment. In the first part of this review, we assess some of the more general effects that a membrane environment exerts on lipid bilayer-embedded proteins such as GPCRs. This is then followed by the consideration of more specific effects, including stoichiometric interactions with specific lipid subtypes. In the final section, we survey a range of different membrane mimetics that are currently used for in vitro studies, with a focus on NMR applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Daniel Nietlispach
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK; (A.J.Y.J.); (F.G.); (A.T.)
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43
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Kinnun JJ, Bolmatov D, Lavrentovich MO, Katsaras J. Lateral heterogeneity and domain formation in cellular membranes. Chem Phys Lipids 2020; 232:104976. [PMID: 32946808 PMCID: PMC7491465 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2020.104976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Review article describing recent experimental and theoretical membrane lateral heterogeneity research. Describes the static and dynamic physical concepts behind domain formation in model membranes. Describes coarse-grained, phenomenological approaches that result in phases associated with lipid lateral heterogeneity.
As early as the development of the fluid mosaic model for cellular membranes, researchers began observing the telltale signs of lateral heterogeneity. Over the decades this has led to the development of the lipid raft hypothesis and the ensuing controversy that has unfolded, as a result. Here, we review the physical concepts behind domain formation in lipid membranes, both of their structural and dynamic origins. This, then leads into a discussion of coarse-grained, phenomenological approaches that describe the wide range of phases associated with lipid lateral heterogeneity. We use these physical concepts to describe the interaction between raft-lipid species, such as long-chain saturated lipids, sphingomyelin, and cholesterol, and non-raft forming lipids, such as those with short acyl chains or unsaturated fatty acids. While debate has persisted on the biological relevance of lipid domains, recent research, described here, continues to identify biological roles for rafts and new experimental approaches have revealed the existence of lipid domains in living systems. Given the recent progress on both the biological and structural aspects of raft formation, the research area of membrane lateral heterogeneity will not only expand, but will continue to produce exciting results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob J Kinnun
- Large Scale Structures Group, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States; Shull-Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.
| | - Dima Bolmatov
- Large Scale Structures Group, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States; Shull-Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States.
| | - Maxim O Lavrentovich
- Shull-Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States.
| | - John Katsaras
- Shull-Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Sample Environment Group, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States.
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44
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Composition dependence of cholesterol flip-flop rates in physiological mixtures. Chem Phys Lipids 2020; 232:104967. [PMID: 32888914 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2020.104967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Unbiased, all-atom simulations of mixtures representative of the inner and outer leaflets of a mammalian red blood cell and a synaptic vesicle reveal many cholesterol flip-flop events over the 5 μsec duration of the simulations. Enough events are observed for a direct estimate of the flip-flop rate. Slower rates are found in more ordered membranes, and faster rates in more disordered membranes, consistent with earlier reports in the literature. However, the rates found here are neither as fast as the fastest nor as slow as the slowest rates obtained by previous simulations. The difference likely stems from the compositions studied here, which unlike previous work include exclusively lipids with differing acyl chains, as observed in mammalian lipidomes.
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Smith P, Quinn PJ, Lorenz CD. Two Coexisting Membrane Structures Are Defined by Lateral and Transbilayer Interactions between Sphingomyelin and Cholesterol. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:9786-9799. [PMID: 32701297 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c01237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The structure of fully hydrated bilayers composed of equimolar proportions of palmitoylsphingomyelin (PSM) and cholesterol has been examined by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Two coexisting bilayer structures, which are distinguished by the transbilayer phosphate-phosphate distance of coupled PSM molecules, are observed by diffraction at 37 °C. The MD simulations reveal that PSM molecules in the thicker membrane are characterized by more ordered, more extended, and less interdigitated hydrocarbon tails compared to those in the thinner membrane. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds further distinguish the two bilayer structures, and we observe the disruption of a sphingomyelin intermolecular hydrogen bond network induced by the proximity of cholesterol. Through an unsupervised clustering of interatomic distances, we show for the first time that the asymmetry of phospholipids is important in driving their interactions with cholesterol. We identify four distinct modes of interaction, two of which lead to the dehydration of cholesterol. These two modes of interaction provide the first description of precise physical mechanisms underlying the umbrella model, which itself explains how phospholipids may shield cholesterol from water. The most dehydrating mode of interaction is particular to the N-acylated fatty acid moiety of PSM and thus may explain the long-held observation that cholesterol preferentially mixes with sphingomyelins over glycerophospholipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Smith
- Department of Physics, King's College London, London, WC2R 2LS, U.K
| | - Peter J Quinn
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London SE1 9NH, U.K
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46
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Iyer SS, Srivastava A. Degeneracy in molecular scale organization of biological membranes. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:6752-6764. [PMID: 32628232 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00619j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The scale-rich spatiotemporal organization in biological membranes has its origin in the differential inter- and intra-molecular interactions among their constituents. In this work, we explore the molecular-origin behind that variety and possible degeneracy in lateral organization in membranes. For our study, we post-process microsecond long all-atom molecular dynamics trajectories for three systems that exhibit fluid phase coexistence: (i) PSM/POPC/Chol (0.47/0.32/0.21), (ii) PSM/DOPC/Chol (0.43/0.38/0.19) and (iii) DPPC/DOPC/Chol (0.37/0.36/0.27). To distinguish the liquid ordered and disordered regions at molecular scales, we calculate the degree of non-affineness of individual lipids in their neighbourhood and track their topological rearrangements. Disconnectivity graph analysis with respect to membrane organization shows that the DPPC/DOPC/Chol and PSM/DOPC/Chol systems exhibit funnel-like energy landscapes as opposed to a highly frustrated energy landscape for the more biomimetic PSM/POPC/Chol system. We use these measurements to develop a continuous lattice Hamiltonian and evolve that using Monte Carlo simulated annealing to explore the possibility of structural degeneracy in membrane organization. Our data show that model membranes with lipid constituents that are biomimetic (PSM/POPC/Chol) have the ability to access a large range of membrane sub-structure space (higher degeneracy) as compared to the other two systems, which form only one kind of substructure even with changing composition. Since the spatiotemporal organization in biological membranes dictates the "molecular encounters" and in turn larger scale biological processes such as molecular transport, trafficking and cellular signalling, we posit that this structural degeneracy could enable access to a larger repository to functionally important molecular organization in systems with physiologically relevant compositions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahithya S Iyer
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
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47
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Garten M, Beck JR, Roth R, Tenkova-Heuser T, Heuser J, Istvan ES, Bleck CKE, Goldberg DE, Zimmerberg J. Contacting domains segregate a lipid transporter from a solute transporter in the malarial host-parasite interface. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3825. [PMID: 32732874 PMCID: PMC7393353 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17506-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite interfaces with its host erythrocyte (RBC) using a unique organelle, the parasitophorous vacuole (PV). The mechanism(s) are obscure by which its limiting membrane, the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM), collaborates with the parasite plasma membrane (PPM) to support the transport of proteins, lipids, nutrients, and metabolites between the cytoplasm of the parasite and the cytoplasm of the RBC. Here, we demonstrate that the PV has structure characterized by micrometer-sized regions of especially close apposition between the PVM and the PPM. To determine if these contact sites are involved in any sort of transport, we localize the PVM nutrient-permeable and protein export channel EXP2, as well as the PPM lipid transporter PfNCR1. We find that EXP2 is excluded from, but PfNCR1 is included within these regions of close apposition. We conclude that the host-parasite interface is structured to segregate those transporters of hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Garten
- Section on Integrative Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Josh R Beck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Robyn Roth
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Tatyana Tenkova-Heuser
- Section on Integrative Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - John Heuser
- Section on Integrative Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Eva S Istvan
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Christopher K E Bleck
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - Joshua Zimmerberg
- Section on Integrative Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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Dorrell MW, Heberle FA, Katsaras J, Maibaum L, Lyman E, Sodt AJ. Laterally Resolved Small-Angle Scattering Intensity from Lipid Bilayer Simulations: An Exact and a Limited-Range Treatment. J Chem Theory Comput 2020; 16:5287-5300. [PMID: 32579370 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.0c00132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
When combined, molecular simulations and small-angle scattering experiments are able to provide molecular-scale resolution of structure. Separately, scattering experiments provide only intermingled pair correlations between atoms, while molecular simulations are limited by model quality and the relatively short time scales that they can access. Their combined strength relies on agreement between the experimental spectra and those computed by simulation. To date, computing the neutron spectra from a molecular simulation of a lipid bilayer is straightforward only if the structure is approximated by laterally averaging the in-plane bilayer structure. However, this neglects all information about lateral heterogeneity, e.g., clustering of components in a lipid mixture. This paper presents two methods for computing the scattering intensity of simulated bilayers with in-plane heterogeneity, enabling a full treatment of both the transverse and lateral bilayer structure for the first time. The first method, termed the Dirac Brush, computes the exact spectra including spurious artifacts resulting from using information from neighboring periodic cells to account for the long-range structure of the bilayer. The second method, termed PFFT, applies a mean-field treatment in the field far from a scattering element, resulting in a correlation range that can be tuned (eliminating correlations with neighboring periodic images), but with computational cost that prohibits obtaining the exact (Dirac Brush) spectra. Following their derivation, the two methods are applied to a coarse-grained molecular simulation of a bilayer inhomogeneity, demonstrating the contributions of lateral correlations to the resulting spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell W Dorrell
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | | | - John Katsaras
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
| | - Lutz Maibaum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | | | - Alexander J Sodt
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
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49
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Doktorova M, Kučerka N, Kinnun JJ, Pan J, Marquardt D, Scott HL, Venable RM, Pastor RW, Wassall SR, Katsaras J, Heberle FA. Molecular Structure of Sphingomyelin in Fluid Phase Bilayers Determined by the Joint Analysis of Small-Angle Neutron and X-ray Scattering Data. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:5186-5200. [PMID: 32468822 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c03389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
We have determined the fluid bilayer structure of palmitoyl sphingomyelin (PSM) and stearoyl sphingomyelin (SSM) by simultaneously analyzing small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering data. Using a newly developed scattering density profile (SDP) model for sphingomyelin lipids, we report structural parameters including the area per lipid, total bilayer thickness, and hydrocarbon thickness, in addition to lipid volumes determined by densitometry. Unconstrained all-atom simulations of PSM bilayers at 55 °C using the C36 CHARMM force field produced a lipid area of 56 Å2, a value that is 10% lower than the one determined experimentally by SDP analysis (61.9 Å2). Furthermore, scattering form factors calculated from the unconstrained simulations were in poor agreement with experimental form factors, even though segmental order parameter (SCD) profiles calculated from the simulations were in relatively good agreement with SCD profiles obtained from NMR experiments. Conversely, constrained area simulations at 61.9 Å2 resulted in good agreement between the simulation and experimental scattering form factors, but not with SCD profiles from NMR. We discuss possible reasons for the discrepancies between these two types of data that are frequently used as validation metrics for molecular dynamics force fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milka Doktorova
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Norbert Kučerka
- Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Russia.,Department of Physical Chemistry of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jacob J Kinnun
- Department of Physics, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - Jianjun Pan
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Drew Marquardt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Haden L Scott
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Richard M Venable
- Laboratory of Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Richard W Pastor
- Laboratory of Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Stephen R Wassall
- Department of Physics, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - John Katsaras
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
| | - Frederick A Heberle
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
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50
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Licari G, Strakova K, Matile S, Tajkhorshid E. Twisting and tilting of a mechanosensitive molecular probe detects order in membranes. Chem Sci 2020; 11:5637-5649. [PMID: 32864081 PMCID: PMC7433777 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc02175j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lateral forces in biological membranes affect a variety of dynamic cellular processes. Recent synthetic efforts have introduced fluorescent "flippers" as environment-sensitive planarizable push-pull probes that can detect lipid packing and membrane tension, and respond to lipid-induced mechanical forces by a shift in their spectroscopic properties. Herein, we investigate the molecular origin of the mechanosensitivity of the best known flipper, Flipper-TR, by an extended set of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in membranes of increasing complexity and under different physicochemical conditions, revealing unprecedented details of the sensing process. Simulations enabled by accurate refinement of Flipper-TR force field using quantum mechanical calculations allowed us to unambiguously correlate the planarization of the two fluorescent flippers to spectroscopic response. In particular, Flipper-TR conformation exhibits bimodal distribution in disordered membranes and a unimodal distribution in highly ordered membranes. Such dramatic change was associated with a shift in Flipper-TR excitation spectra, as supported both by our simulated and experimentally-measured spectra. Flipper-TR sensitivity to phase-transition is confirmed by a temperature-jump protocol that alters the lipid phase of an ordered membrane, triggering an instantaneous mechanical twisting of the probe. Simulations show that the probe is also sensitive to surface tension, since even in a naturally disordered membrane, the unimodal distribution of coplanar flippers can be achieved if a sufficiently negative surface tension is applied to the membrane. MD simulations in ternary mixtures containing raft-like nanodomains show that the probe can discriminate lipid domains in phase-separated complex bilayers. A histogram-based approach, called DOB-phase classification, is introduced that can differentiate regions of disordered and ordered lipid phases by comparing dihedral distributions of Flipper-TR. Moreover, a new sensing mechanism involving the orientation of Flipper-TR is elucidated, corroborating experimental evidence that the probe tilt angle is strongly dependent on lipid ordering. The obtained atomic-resolution description of Flipper-TR mechanosensitivity is key to the interpretation of experimental data and to the design of novel mechanosensors with improved spectroscopic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Licari
- NIH Center for Macromolecular Modeling and Bioinformatics , Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology , Department of Biochemistry , Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , Illinois , USA . ; Tel: +1-217-244-6914
| | - Karolina Strakova
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry , National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology , University of Geneva , Geneva , Switzerland
| | - Stefan Matile
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry , National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology , University of Geneva , Geneva , Switzerland
| | - Emad Tajkhorshid
- NIH Center for Macromolecular Modeling and Bioinformatics , Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology , Department of Biochemistry , Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , Illinois , USA . ; Tel: +1-217-244-6914
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