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Robertson H, Gresham IJ, Nelson ARJ, Prescott SW, Webber GB, Wanless EJ. Illuminating the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces: Recent advances and future directions in reflectometry techniques. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 331:103238. [PMID: 38917595 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Diffuse soft matter interfaces take many forms, from end-tethered polymer brushes or adsorbed surfactants to self-assembled layers of lipids. These interfaces play crucial roles across a multitude of fields, including materials science, biophysics, and nanotechnology. Understanding the nanostructure and properties of these interfaces is fundamental for optimising their performance and designing novel functional materials. In recent years, reflectometry techniques, in particular neutron reflectometry, have emerged as powerful tools for elucidating the intricate nanostructure of soft matter interfaces with remarkable precision and depth. This review provides an overview of selected recent developments in reflectometry and their applications for illuminating the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces. We explore various principles and methods of neutron and X-ray reflectometry, as well as ellipsometry, and discuss advances in their experimental setups and data analysis approaches. Improvements to experimental neutron reflectometry methods have enabled greater time resolution in kinetic measurements and elucidation of diffuse structure under shear or confinement, while innovation in analysis protocols has significantly reduced data processing times, facilitated co-refinement of reflectometry data from multiple instruments and provided greater-than-ever confidence in proposed structural models. Furthermore, we highlight some significant research findings enabled by these techniques, revealing the organisation, dynamics, and interfacial phenomena at the nanoscale. We also discuss future directions and potential advancements in reflectometry techniques. By shedding light on the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces, reflectometry techniques enable the rational design and tailoring of interfaces with enhanced properties and functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayden Robertson
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Soft Matter at Interfaces, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt D-64289, Germany
| | - Isaac J Gresham
- School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Andrew R J Nelson
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, ANSTO, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia
| | - Stuart W Prescott
- School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Grant B Webber
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Erica J Wanless
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
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Robson T, Shah DSH, Welbourn RJL, Phillips SR, Clifton LA, Lakey JH. Fully Aqueous Self-Assembly of a Gold-Nanoparticle-Based Pathogen Sensor. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087599. [PMID: 37108766 PMCID: PMC10145400 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a very sensitive measure of biomolecular interactions but is generally too expensive for routine analysis of clinical samples. Here we demonstrate the simplified formation of virus-detecting gold nanoparticle (AuNP) assemblies on glass using only aqueous buffers at room temperature. The AuNP assembled on silanized glass and displayed a distinctive absorbance peak due to the localized SPR (LSPR) response of the AuNPs. Next, assembly of a protein engineering scaffold was followed using LSPR and a sensitive neutron reflectometry approach, which measured the formation and structure of the biological layer on the spherical AuNP. Finally, the assembly and function of an artificial flu sensor layer consisting of an in vitro-selected single-chain antibody (scFv)-membrane protein fusion was followed using the LSPR response of AuNPs within glass capillaries. In vitro selection avoids the need for separate animal-derived antibodies and allows for the rapid production of low-cost sensor proteins. This work demonstrates a simple approach to forming oriented arrays of protein sensors on nanostructured surfaces that uses (i) an easily assembled AuNP silane layer, (ii) self-assembly of an oriented protein layer on AuNPs, and (iii) simple highly specific artificial receptor proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Robson
- Biosciences Institute, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Deepan S H Shah
- Orla Protein Technologies Ltd., Biosciences Centre, International Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4EP, UK
| | - Rebecca J L Welbourn
- ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 OQX, UK
| | - Sion R Phillips
- Orla Protein Technologies Ltd., Biosciences Centre, International Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4EP, UK
| | - Luke A Clifton
- ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 OQX, UK
| | - Jeremy H Lakey
- Biosciences Institute, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
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Ruane S, Li Z, Hollowell P, Hughes A, Warwicker J, Webster JRP, van der Walle CF, Kalonia C, Lu JR. Investigating the Orientation of an Interfacially Adsorbed Monoclonal Antibody and Its Fragments Using Neutron Reflection. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:1643-1656. [PMID: 36795985 PMCID: PMC9996827 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Interfacial adsorption is a molecular process occurring during the production, purification, transport, and storage of antibodies, with a direct impact on their structural stability and subsequent implications on their bioactivities. While the average conformational orientation of an adsorbed protein can be readily determined, its associated structures are more complex to characterize. Neutron reflection has been used in this work to investigate the conformational orientations of the monoclonal antibody COE-3 and its Fab and Fc fragments at the oil/water and air/water interfaces. Rigid body rotation modeling was found to be suitable for globular and relatively rigid proteins such as the Fab and Fc fragments but less so for relatively flexible proteins such as full COE-3. Fab and Fc fragments adopted a 'flat-on' orientation at the air/water interface, minimizing the thickness of the protein layer, but they adopted a substantially tilted orientation at the oil/water interface with increased layer thickness. In contrast, COE-3 was found to adsorb in tilted orientations at both interfaces, with one fragment protruding into the solution. This work demonstrates that rigid-body modeling can provide additional insights into protein layers at various interfaces relevant to bioprocess engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Ruane
- Biological Physics Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Schuster Building, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Zongyi Li
- Biological Physics Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Schuster Building, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Peter Hollowell
- Biological Physics Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Schuster Building, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Arwel Hughes
- ISIS Neutron Facility, STFC, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QZ, U.K
| | - Jim Warwicker
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | | | | | - Cavan Kalonia
- Dosage Form Design and Development, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Jian R Lu
- Biological Physics Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Schuster Building, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
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Luchini A, Tidemand FG, Araya-Secchi R, Campana M, Cárdenas M, Arleth L. Structural model of tissue factor (TF) and TF-factor VIIa complex in a lipid membrane: A combined experimental and computational study. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 623:294-305. [PMID: 35594588 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.04.147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Tissue factor (TF) is a membrane protein involved in blood coagulation. TF initiates a cascade of proteolytic reactions, ultimately leading to the formation of a blood clot. The first reaction consists of the binding of the coagulation factor VII and its conversion to the activated form, FVIIa. Here, we combined experimental, i.e. quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring and neutron reflectometry, and computational, i.e. molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, methods to derive a complete structural model of TF and TF/FVIIa complex in a lipid bilayer. This model shows that the TF transmembrane domain (TMD), and the flexible linker connecting the TMD to the extracellular domain (ECD), define the location of the ECD on the membrane surface. The average orientation of the ECD relative to the bilayer surface is slightly tilted towards the lipid headgroups, a conformation that we suggest is promoted by phosphatidylserine lipids, and favours the binding of FVIIa. On the other hand, the formation of the TF/FVIIa complex induces minor changes in the TF structure, and reduces the conformational freedom of both TF and FVIIA. Altogether we describe the protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions favouring blood coagulation, but also instrumental to the development of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Luchini
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Raul Araya-Secchi
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mario Campana
- ISIS-STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Oxon OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Marité Cárdenas
- Biofilms Research Center for Biointerfaces and Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Per Albin Hanssons Väg 35, 21432 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Lise Arleth
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Heinrich F, Van QN, Jean-Francois F, Stephen AG, Lösche M. Membrane-bound KRAS approximates an entropic ensemble of configurations. Biophys J 2021; 120:4055-4066. [PMID: 34384763 PMCID: PMC8510975 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
KRAS4B is a membrane-anchored signaling protein and a primary target in cancer research. Predictions from molecular dynamics simulations that have previously shaped our mechanistic understanding of KRAS signaling disagree with recent experimental results from neutron reflectometry, NMR, and thermodynamic binding studies. To gain insight into these discrepancies, we compare this body of biophysical data to back-calculated experimental results from a series of molecular simulations that implement different subsets of molecular interactions. Our results show that KRAS4B approximates an entropic ensemble of configurations at model membranes containing 30% phosphatidylserine lipids, which is not significantly shaped by interactions between the globular G-domain of KRAS4B and the lipid membrane. These findings revise our understanding of KRAS signaling and promote a model in which the protein samples the accessible conformational space in a near-uniform manner while being available to bind to effector proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Heinrich
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
| | - Que N Van
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
| | - Frantz Jean-Francois
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
| | - Andrew G Stephen
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
| | - Mathias Lösche
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland
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Larsen AH, Sansom MSP. Binding of Ca 2+-independent C2 domains to lipid membranes: A multi-scale molecular dynamics study. Structure 2021; 29:1200-1213.e2. [PMID: 34081910 PMCID: PMC8507603 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
C2 domains facilitate protein interactions with lipid bilayers in either a Ca2+-dependent or -independent manner. We used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore six Ca2+-independent C2 domains, from KIBRA, PI3KC2α, RIM2, PTEN, SHIP2, and Smurf2. In coarse-grained MD simulations these C2 domains formed transient interactions with zwitterionic bilayers, compared with longer-lived interactions with anionic bilayers containing phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2). Type I C2 domains bound non-canonically via the front, back, or side of the β sandwich, whereas type II C2 domains bound canonically, via the top loops. C2 domains interacted strongly with membranes containing PIP2, causing bound anionic lipids to cluster around the protein. Binding modes were refined via atomistic simulations. For PTEN and SHIP2, CG simulations of their phosphatase plus C2 domains with PIP2-containing bilayers were also performed, and the roles of the two domains in membrane localization compared. These studies establish a simulation protocol for membrane-recognition proteins. Binding of Ca2+-independent C2 domains to membranes was explored by MD simulation C2 domains from KIBRA, PI3KC2α, RIM2, PTEN, SHIP2, and Smurf2 were compared C2 domains formed longer-lived interactions with lipid bilayers containing PIP2 For PTEN and SHIP2, simulations of their phosphatase plus C2 domains were performed
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Haahr Larsen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Mark S P Sansom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
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Heinrich F, Kienzle PA, Hoogerheide DP, Lösche M. Information gain from isotopic contrast variation in neutron reflectometry on protein-membrane complex structures. J Appl Crystallogr 2020; 53:800-810. [PMID: 32684895 PMCID: PMC7312142 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576720005634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A framework is applied to quantify information gain from neutron or X-ray reflectometry experiments [Treece, Kienzle, Hoogerheide, Majkrzak, Lösche & Heinrich (2019). J. Appl. Cryst. 52, 47-59], in an in-depth investigation into the design of scattering contrast in biological and soft-matter surface architectures. To focus the experimental design on regions of interest, the marginalization of the information gain with respect to a subset of model parameters describing the structure is implemented. Surface architectures of increasing complexity from a simple model system to a protein-lipid membrane complex are simulated. The information gain from virtual surface scattering experiments is quantified as a function of the scattering length density of molecular components of the architecture and the surrounding aqueous bulk solvent. It is concluded that the information gain is mostly determined by the local scattering contrast of a feature of interest with its immediate molecular environment, and experimental design should primarily focus on this region. The overall signal-to-noise ratio of the measured reflectivity modulates the information gain globally and is a second factor to be taken into consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Heinrich
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
- Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-6102, USA
| | - Paul A. Kienzle
- Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-6102, USA
| | - David P. Hoogerheide
- Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-6102, USA
| | - Mathias Lösche
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
- Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-6102, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
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