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Chiu PL, Orjuela JD, de Groot BL, Aponte Santamaría C, Walz T. Structure and dynamics of cholesterol-mediated aquaporin-0 arrays and implications for lipid rafts. eLife 2024; 12:RP90851. [PMID: 39222068 PMCID: PMC11368405 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90851] [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] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Aquaporin-0 (AQP0) tetramers form square arrays in lens membranes through a yet unknown mechanism, but lens membranes are enriched in sphingomyelin and cholesterol. Here, we determined electron crystallographic structures of AQP0 in sphingomyelin/cholesterol membranes and performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to establish that the observed cholesterol positions represent those seen around an isolated AQP0 tetramer and that the AQP0 tetramer largely defines the location and orientation of most of its associated cholesterol molecules. At a high concentration, cholesterol increases the hydrophobic thickness of the annular lipid shell around AQP0 tetramers, which may thus cluster to mitigate the resulting hydrophobic mismatch. Moreover, neighboring AQP0 tetramers sandwich a cholesterol deep in the center of the membrane. MD simulations show that the association of two AQP0 tetramers is necessary to maintain the deep cholesterol in its position and that the deep cholesterol increases the force required to laterally detach two AQP0 tetramers, not only due to protein-protein contacts but also due to increased lipid-protein complementarity. Since each tetramer interacts with four such 'glue' cholesterols, avidity effects may stabilize larger arrays. The principles proposed to drive AQP0 array formation could also underlie protein clustering in lipid rafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Lin Chiu
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Juan D Orjuela
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Computational Biophysics, Universidad de los AndesBogotáColombia
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Universidad de los AndesBogotáColombia
| | - Bert L de Groot
- Computational Biomolecular Dynamics Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Camilo Aponte Santamaría
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Computational Biophysics, Universidad de los AndesBogotáColombia
- Molecular Biomechanics Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical StudiesHeidelbergGermany
| | - Thomas Walz
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
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2
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Hilburg SL, Sokolova A, Cagnes M, Pozzo LD. Time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering for characterization of molecular exchange in lipid nanoparticle therapeutics. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 677:387-395. [PMID: 39153242 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.08.061] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Nano-scale dynamics of self-assembled therapeutics play a large role in their biological function. However, assessment of such dynamics remains absent from conventional pharmaceutical characterization. We hypothesize that time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS) can reveal their kinetic properties. For lipid nanoparticles (LNP), limited molecular motion is important for avoiding degradation prior to entering cells while, intracellularly, enhanced molecular motion is then vital for effective endosomal escape. We propose TR-SANS for quantifying molecular exchange in LNPs and, therefore, enabling optimization of opposing molecular behaviors of a pharmaceutical in two distinct environments. EXPERIMENTS We use TR-SANS in combination with traditional SANS and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) to experimentally quantify nano-scale dynamics and provided unprecedented insight to molecular behavior of LNPs. FINDINGS LNPs have molecular exchange dynamics relevant to storage and delivery which can be captured using TR-SANS. Cholesterol exchanges on the time-scale of hours even at neutral pH. As pH drops below the effective pKa of the ionizable lipid, molecular exchange occurs faster. The results give insight into behavior enabling delivery and provide a quantifiable metric by which to compare formulations. Successful analysis of this multi-component system also expands the opportunities for using TR-SANS to characterize complex therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayna L Hilburg
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
| | - Anna Sokolova
- Australia Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - Marina Cagnes
- Australia Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - Lilo D Pozzo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
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3
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Segars B, Makhoul-Mansour M, Beyrouthy J, Freeman EC. Measuring the Transmembrane Registration of Lipid Domains in Droplet Interface Bilayers through Tensiometry. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:11228-11238. [PMID: 38753461 PMCID: PMC11140749 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Diverse collections of lipids self-assemble into domains within biological membranes, and these domains are typically organized in both the transverse and lateral directions of the membrane. The ability of the membrane to link these domains across the membrane's interior grants cells control over features on the external cellular surface. Numerous hypothesized factors drive the cross-membrane (or transverse) coupling of lipid domains. In this work we seek to isolate these transverse lipid-lipid influences in a simple model system using droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) to better understand the associated mechanics. DIBs enable symmetric and asymmetric combinations of domain-forming lipid mixtures within a model bilayer, and the evolving energetics of the membrane may be tracked using drop-shape analysis. We find that symmetric distributions of domain-forming lipids produce long-lasting, gradual shifts in the DIB membrane energetics that are not observed in asymmetric distributions of the lipids where the domain-forming lipids are only within one leaflet. The approach selected for this work provides experimental measurement of the mismatch penalty associated with antiregistered lipid domains as well as measurements of the influence of rafts on DIB behaviors with suggestions for their future use as a model platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Braydon
G. Segars
- School
of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Georgia, 110 Riverbend Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
| | - Michelle Makhoul-Mansour
- School
of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Georgia, 110 Riverbend Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
- Mechanical,
Agricultural, Biomedical, and Environmental Engineering Department,
Tickle College of Engineering, University
of Tennessee Knoxville, 1512 Middle Dr., Knoxville, Tennessee 37916, United States
| | - Joyce Beyrouthy
- School
of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Georgia, 110 Riverbend Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
| | - Eric C. Freeman
- School
of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Georgia, 110 Riverbend Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
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4
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Ottonelli I, Adani E, Bighinati A, Cuoghi S, Tosi G, Vandelli MA, Ruozi B, Marigo V, Duskey JT. Strategies for Improved pDNA Loading and Protection Using Cationic and Neutral LNPs with Industrial Scalability Potential Using Microfluidic Technology. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:4235-4251. [PMID: 38766661 PMCID: PMC11102183 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s457302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose In recent years, microfluidic technologies have become mainstream in producing gene therapy nanomedicines (NMeds) following the Covid-19 vaccine; however, extensive optimizations are needed for each NMed type and genetic material. This article strives to improve LNPs for pDNA loading, protection, and delivery, while minimizing toxicity. Methods The microfluidic technique was optimized to form cationic or neutral LNPs to load pDNA. Classical "post-formulation" DNA addition vs "pre" addition in the aqueous phase were compared. All formulations were characterized (size, homogeneity, zeta potential, morphology, weight yield, and stability), then tested for loading efficiency, nuclease protection, toxicity, and cell uptake. Results Optimized LNPs formulated with DPPC: Chol:DOTAP 1:1:0.1 molar ratio and 10 µg of DOPE-Rhod, had a size of 160 nm and good homogeneity. The chemico-physical characteristics of cationic LNPs worsened when adding 15 µg/mL of pDNA with the "post" method, while maintaining their characteristics up to 100 µg/mL of pDNA with the "pre" addition remaining stable for 30 days. Interestingly, neutral LNPs formulated with the same method loaded up to 50% of the DNA. Both particles could protect the DNA from nucleases even after one month of storage, and low cell toxicity was found up to 40 µg/mL LNPs. Cell uptake occurred within 2 hours for both formulations with the DNA intact in the cytoplasm, outside of the lysosomes. Conclusion In this study, the upcoming microfluidic technique was applied to two strategies to generate pDNA-LNPs. Cationic LNPs could load 10x the amount of DNA as the classical approach, while neutral LNPs, which also loaded and protected DNA, showed lower toxicity and good DNA protection. This is a big step forward at minimizing doses and toxicity of LNP-based gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Ottonelli
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Elisa Adani
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Andrea Bighinati
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Sabrina Cuoghi
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tosi
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, Modena, Italy
| | - Maria Angela Vandelli
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Barbara Ruozi
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Valeria Marigo
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, Modena, Italy
| | - Jason Thomas Duskey
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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5
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Rice A, Prasad S, Brooks BR, Pastor RW. Simulating asymmetric membranes using P2 1 periodic boundary conditions. Methods Enzymol 2024; 701:309-358. [PMID: 39025575 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2024.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of symmetric lipid bilayers are now well established, while those of asymmetric ones are considerably less developed. This disjunction arises in part because the surface tensions of leaflets in asymmetric bilayers can differ (unlike those of symmetric ones), and there is no simple way to determine them without assumptions. This chapter describes the use of P21 periodic boundary conditions (PBC), which allow lipids to switch leaflets, to generate asymmetric bilayers under the assumption of equal chemical potentials of lipids in opposing leaflets. A series of examples, ranging from bilayers with one lipid type to those with peptides and proteins, provides a guide for the use of P21 PBC. Critical properties of asymmetric membranes, such as spontaneous curvature, are highly sensitive to differences in the leaflet surface tensions (or differential stress), and equilibration with P21 PBC substantially reduces differential stress of asymmetric bilayers assembled with surface area-based methods. Limitations of the method are discussed. Technically, the nonstandard unit cell is difficult to parallelize and to incorporate restraints. Inherently, the assumption of equal chemical potentials, and therefore the method itself, is not applicable to all target systems. Despite these limitations, it is argued that P21 simulations should be considered when designing equilibration protocols for MD studies of most asymmetric membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Rice
- Laboratory of Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Samarjeet Prasad
- Laboratory of Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Bernard R Brooks
- Laboratory of Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Richard W Pastor
- Laboratory of Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
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6
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Pabst G, Keller S. Exploring membrane asymmetry and its effects on membrane proteins. Trends Biochem Sci 2024; 49:333-345. [PMID: 38355393 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2024.01.007] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Plasma membranes utilize free energy to maintain highly asymmetric, non-equilibrium distributions of lipids and proteins between their two leaflets. In this review we discuss recent progress in quantitative research enabled by using compositionally controlled asymmetric model membranes. Both experimental and computational studies have shed light on the nuanced mechanisms that govern the structural and dynamic coupling between compositionally distinct bilayer leaflets. This coupling can increase the membrane bending rigidity and induce order - or lipid domains - across the membrane. Furthermore, emerging evidence indicates that integral membrane proteins not only respond to asymmetric lipid distributions but also exhibit intriguing asymmetric properties themselves. We propose strategies to advance experimental research, aiming for a deeper, quantitative understanding of membrane asymmetry, which carries profound implications for cellular physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Pabst
- Biophysics, Institute of Molecular Bioscience (IMB), NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Graz 8010, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria; Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
| | - Sandro Keller
- Biophysics, Institute of Molecular Bioscience (IMB), NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Graz 8010, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria; Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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7
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Dziura D, Dziura M, Marquardt D. Studying lipid flip-flop in asymmetric liposomes using 1H NMR and TR-SANS. Methods Enzymol 2024; 700:295-328. [PMID: 38971604 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2024.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
The specific spatial and temporal distribution of lipids in membranes play a crucial role in determining the biochemical and biophysical properties of the system. In nature, the asymmetric distribution of lipids is a dynamic process with ATP-dependent lipid transporters maintaining asymmetry, and passive transbilayer diffusion, that is, flip-flop, counteracting it. In this chapter, two probe-free techniques, 1H NMR and time-resolved small angle neutron scattering, are described in detail as methods of investigating lipid flip-flop rates in synthetic liposomes that have been generated with an asymmetric bilayer composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Dziura
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Maksymilian Dziura
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Drew Marquardt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada; Department of Physics, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.
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8
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Kiirikki AM, Antila HS, Bort LS, Buslaev P, Favela-Rosales F, Ferreira TM, Fuchs PFJ, Garcia-Fandino R, Gushchin I, Kav B, Kučerka N, Kula P, Kurki M, Kuzmin A, Lalitha A, Lolicato F, Madsen JJ, Miettinen MS, Mingham C, Monticelli L, Nencini R, Nesterenko AM, Piggot TJ, Piñeiro Á, Reuter N, Samantray S, Suárez-Lestón F, Talandashti R, Ollila OHS. Overlay databank unlocks data-driven analyses of biomolecules for all. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1136. [PMID: 38326316 PMCID: PMC10850068 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45189-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Tools based on artificial intelligence (AI) are currently revolutionising many fields, yet their applications are often limited by the lack of suitable training data in programmatically accessible format. Here we propose an effective solution to make data scattered in various locations and formats accessible for data-driven and machine learning applications using the overlay databank format. To demonstrate the practical relevance of such approach, we present the NMRlipids Databank-a community-driven, open-for-all database featuring programmatic access to quality-evaluated atom-resolution molecular dynamics simulations of cellular membranes. Cellular membrane lipid composition is implicated in diseases and controls major biological functions, but membranes are difficult to study experimentally due to their intrinsic disorder and complex phase behaviour. While MD simulations have been useful in understanding membrane systems, they require significant computational resources and often suffer from inaccuracies in model parameters. Here, we demonstrate how programmable interface for flexible implementation of data-driven and machine learning applications, and rapid access to simulation data through a graphical user interface, unlock possibilities beyond current MD simulation and experimental studies to understand cellular membranes. The proposed overlay databank concept can be further applied to other biomolecules, as well as in other fields where similar barriers hinder the AI revolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Kiirikki
- University of Helsinki, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanne S Antila
- Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lara S Bort
- Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
- University of Potsdam, Institute of Physics and Astronomy, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Pavel Buslaev
- Nanoscience Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Fernando Favela-Rosales
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Tecnológico Nacional de México - ITS Zacatecas Occidente, Sombrerete, 99102, Zacatecas, Mexico
| | - Tiago Mendes Ferreira
- NMR group - Institute for Physics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Patrick F J Fuchs
- Sorbonne Université, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Laboratoire des Biomolécules (LBM), F-75005, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, F-75006, Paris, France
| | - Rebeca Garcia-Fandino
- Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - Batuhan Kav
- Institute of Biological Information Processing: Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- ariadne.ai GmbH (Germany), Häusserstraße 3, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Norbert Kučerka
- Department of Physical Chemistry of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University Bratislava, 832 32, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Patrik Kula
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 542/2, CZ-16610, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milla Kurki
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Anusha Lalitha
- Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier (UMR CNRS 5253), Université Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier, Cedex 05, France
| | - Fabio Lolicato
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jesper J Madsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 33612, Tampa, FL, USA
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Global and Planetary Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 33612, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Markus S Miettinen
- Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, 5007, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Informatics, Computational Biology Unit, University of Bergen, 5008, Bergen, Norway
| | - Cedric Mingham
- Hochschule Mannheim, University of Applied Sciences, 68163, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Luca Monticelli
- University of Lyon, CNRS, Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB, UMR 5086), F-69007, Lyon, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Lyon, France
| | - Ricky Nencini
- University of Helsinki, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki, Finland
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alexey M Nesterenko
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, 5007, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Informatics, Computational Biology Unit, University of Bergen, 5008, Bergen, Norway
| | - Thomas J Piggot
- Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, SO17 1BJ, Southampton, UK
| | - Ángel Piñeiro
- Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Santiago de Compostela, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Nathalie Reuter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, 5007, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Informatics, Computational Biology Unit, University of Bergen, 5008, Bergen, Norway
| | - Suman Samantray
- Institute of Biological Information Processing: Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Fabián Suárez-Lestón
- Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Santiago de Compostela, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- MD.USE Innovations S.L., Edificio Emprendia, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Reza Talandashti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, 5007, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Informatics, Computational Biology Unit, University of Bergen, 5008, Bergen, Norway
| | - O H Samuli Ollila
- University of Helsinki, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki, Finland.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Espoo, Finland.
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9
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Cao Z, Zhao L, Chen M, Shi Z, Liu L. Molecular mechanism of calcitriol enhances membrane water permeability. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2024; 1869:159430. [PMID: 37979445 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2023.159430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) exhibits a unique membrane lipid composition, including dimyristoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE) and cholesterol, unlike other Gram-negative bacteria. Calcitriol has antimicrobial activity against H. pylori, but cholesterol enhances antibiotics resistance in H. pylori. This study explored the changes in membrane structure and the molecular mechanisms of cholesterol/calcitriol translocation using well-tempered metadynamics (WT-MetaD) simulations and microsecond conventional molecular dynamics (CMD) simulations. Calcitriol facilitated water transport across the membrane, while cholesterol had the opposite effect. The differing effects might result from the tail 25-hydroxyl group and a wider range of orientations of calcitriol in the DMPE/dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) (3:1) membrane. Calcitriol moves across the bilayer center without changing its orientation along the membrane Z-axis, becomes parallel to the membrane surface at the membrane-water interface, and then rotates approximately 90° in this interface. The translocation mechanism of calcitriol is quite different from the flip-flop of cholesterol. Moreover, calcitriol crossed from one layer to another more easily than cholesterol, causing successive perturbations to the hydrophobic core and increasing water permeation. These results improve our understanding of the relationship between cholesterol/calcitriol concentrations and the lipid bilayer structure and the role of lipid composition in water permeation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zanxia Cao
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, Dezhou University, Dezhou 253023, China.
| | - Liling Zhao
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, Dezhou University, Dezhou 253023, China
| | - Mingcui Chen
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, Dezhou University, Dezhou 253023, China
| | - Zhihong Shi
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, Dezhou University, Dezhou 253023, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Institute of Biophysics, Dezhou University, Dezhou 253023, China.
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10
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Wnętrzak A, Chachaj-Brekiesz A, Kobierski J, Dynarowicz-Latka P. The Structure of Oxysterols Determines Their Behavior at Phase Boundaries: Implications for Model Membranes and Structure-Activity Relationships. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1440:3-29. [PMID: 38036872 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-43883-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The presence of an additional polar group in the cholesterol backbone increases the hydrophilicity of resulting compounds (oxysterols), determines their arrangement at the phase boundary, and interactions with other lipids and proteins. As a result, physicochemical properties of biomembranes (i.e., elasticity, permeability, and ability to bind proteins) are modified, which in turn may affect their functioning. The observed effect depends on the type of oxysterol and its concentration and can be both positive (e.g., antiviral activity) or negative (disturbance of cholesterol homeostasis, signal transduction, and protein segregation). The membrane activity of oxysterols has been successfully studied using membrane models (vesicles, monolayers, and solid supported films). Membrane models, in contrast to the natural systems, provide the possibility to selectively examine the specific aspect of biomolecule-membrane interactions. Moreover, the gradual increase in the complexity of the used model allows to understand the molecular phenomena occurring at the membrane level. The interest in research on artificial membranes has increased significantly in recent years, mainly due to the development of modern and sophisticated physicochemical methods (static and dynamic) in both the micro- and nanoscale, which are applied with the assistance of powerful theoretical calculations. This review provides an overview of the most important findings on this topic in the current literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Wnętrzak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
| | | | - Jan Kobierski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biophysics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
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11
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Poruthoor AJ, Sharma A, Grossfield A. Understanding the free-energy landscape of phase separation in lipid bilayers using molecular dynamics. Biophys J 2023; 122:4144-4159. [PMID: 37742069 PMCID: PMC10645549 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.09.012] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation inside the cell often results in biological condensates that can critically affect cell homeostasis. Such phase separation events occur in multiple parts of cells, including the cell membranes, where the "lipid raft" hypothesis posits the formation of ordered domains floating in a sea of disordered lipids. The resulting lipid domains often have functional roles. However, the thermodynamics of lipid phase separation and their resulting mechanistic effects on cell function and dysfunction are poorly understood. Understanding such complex phenomena in cell membranes, with their diverse lipid compositions, is exceptionally difficult. For these reasons, simple model systems that can recapitulate similar behavior are widely used to study this phenomenon. Despite these simplifications, the timescale and length scales of domain formation pose a challenge for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Thus, most MD studies focus on spontaneous lipid phase separation-essentially measuring the sign (but not the amplitude) of the free-energy change upon separation-rather than directly interrogating the thermodynamics. Here, we propose a proof-of-concept pipeline that can directly measure this free energy by combining coarse-grained MD with enhanced sampling protocols using a novel collective variable. This approach will be a useful tool to help connect the thermodynamics of phase separation with the mechanistic insights already available from MD simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashlin J Poruthoor
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Akshara Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Alan Grossfield
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
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12
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Poruthoor AJ, Sharma A, Grossfield A. Understanding the Free Energy Landscape of Phase Separation in Lipid Bilayers using Molecular Dynamics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.31.526537. [PMID: 36778479 PMCID: PMC9915641 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.31.526537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) inside the cell often results in biological condensates that can critically impact cell homeostasis. Such phase separation events occur in multiple parts of cells, including the cell membranes, where the so-called "lipid raft" hypothesis posits the formation of ordered domains floating in a sea of disordered lipids. The resulting lipid domains often have functional roles. However, the thermodynamics of lipid phase separation and their resulting mechanistic effects on cell function and dysfunction are poorly understood. Understanding such complex phenomena in cell membranes, with their diverse lipid compositions, is exceptionally difficult. For this reasons, simple model systems that can recapitulate similar behavior are widely used to study this phenomenon. Despite these simplifications, the timescale and and length scales of domain formation pose a challenge for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Thus, most MD studies focus on spontaneous lipid phase separation - essentially measuring the sign (but not the amplitude) of the free energy change upon separation - rather than directly interrogating the thermodynamics. Here, we propose a proof-of-concept pipeline that can directly measure this free energy by combining coarse-grained MD with enhanced sampling protocols using a novel collective variable. This approach will be a useful tool to help connect the thermodynamics of phase separation with the mechanistic insights already available from molecular dynamics simulations. SIGNIFICANCE Standard molecular dynamics simulations can determine the sign the free energy change upon phase separation, but not the amplitude. We present a new method to determine the phase separation free energy for lipid membranes, based on a enhanced sampling using the weighted ensemble method combined with a novel collective variable, validated using coarse-grained simulations applied to several simple systems. The new method will be valuable as a way to develop models that connect molecular-level structural features to the thermodynamics of phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashlin J. Poruthoor
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Akshara Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Alan Grossfield
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642
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13
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Beaven AH, Sapp K, Sodt AJ. Simulated dynamic cholesterol redistribution favors membrane fusion pore constriction. Biophys J 2023; 122:2162-2175. [PMID: 36588341 PMCID: PMC10257089 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.12.024] [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: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Endo- and exocytosis proceed through a highly strained membrane fusion pore topology regardless of the aiding protein machinery. The membrane's lipid components bias fusion pores toward expansion or closure, modifying the necessary work done by proteins. Cholesterol, a key component of plasma membranes, promotes both inverted lipid phases with concave leaflets (i.e., negative total curvature, which thins the leaflet) and flat bilayer phases with thick, ordered hydrophobic interiors. We demonstrate by theory and simulation that both leaflets of nascent catenoidal fusion pores have negative total curvature. Furthermore, the hydrophobic core of bilayers with strong negative Gaussian curvature is thinned. Therefore, it is an open question whether cholesterol will be enriched in these regions because of the negative total curvature or depleted because of the membrane thinning. Here, we compare all-atom molecular dynamics simulations (built using a procedure to create specific fusion pore geometries) and theory to understand the underlying reasons for lipid redistribution on fusion pores. Our all-atom molecular dynamics simulations resolve this question by showing that cholesterol is strongly excluded from the thinned neck of fusion and fission pores, revealing that thickness (and/or lipid order) influences cholesterol distributions more than curvature. The results imply that cholesterol exclusion can drive fusion pore closure by creating a small, cholesterol-depleted zone in the neck. This model agrees with literature evidence that membrane reshaping is connected to cholesterol-dependent lateral phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew H Beaven
- Unit on Membrane Chemical Physics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Postdoctoral Research Associate Program, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Kayla Sapp
- Unit on Membrane Chemical Physics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Alexander J Sodt
- Unit on Membrane Chemical Physics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
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14
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Salehi N, Lohrasebi A, Bordbar AK. Preventing the amyloid-beta peptides accumulation on the cell membrane by applying GHz electric fields: A molecular dynamic simulation. J Mol Graph Model 2023; 123:108516. [PMID: 37216829 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2023.108516] [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: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is associated with accumulating different amyloid peptides on the nerve cell membranes. The non-thermal effects of the GHz electric fields in this topic have yet to be well recognized. Hence, in this study, the impacts of 1 and 5 GHz electric fields on the amyloid peptide proteins accumulation on the cell membrane have been investigated, utilizing molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The obtained results indicated that this range of electric fields did not significantly affect the peptide structure. Moreover, it was found that the peptide penetration into the membrane was increased as the field frequency was increased when the system was exposed to a 20 mv/nm oscillating electric field. In addition, it was observed that the protein-membrane interaction is reduced significantly in the presence of the 70 mv/nm electric field. The molecular level results reported in this study could be helpful in better understanding Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Salehi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, 81746-73441, Iran
| | - A Lohrasebi
- Department of Physics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, 81746-73441, Iran.
| | - A K Bordbar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA.
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15
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Gul G, Faller R, Ileri-Ercan N. Coarse-grained modeling of polystyrene-modified CNTs and their interactions with lipid bilayers. Biophys J 2023; 122:1748-1761. [PMID: 37056052 PMCID: PMC10209035 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present work, we describe Martini3 coarse-grained models of polystyrene and carboxyl-terminated polystyrene functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and investigate their interactions with lipid bilayers with and without cholesterol (CHOL) using molecular dynamics simulations. By changing the polystyrene chain length and grafting density at the end ring of the CNTs at two different nanotube concentrations, we observe the translocation of nanoparticles as well as changes in the lipid bilayer properties. Our results show that all developed models passively diffuse into the membranes without causing any damage to the membrane integrity, although high concentrations of CNTs induce structural and elastic changes in lipid bilayers. In the presence of CHOL, increasing CNT concentration results in decreased rates of CHOL transmembrane motions. On the other hand, CNTs are prone to lipid and polystyrene blockage, which affects their equilibrated configurations, and tilting behavior within the membranes. Hence, we demonstrate that polystyrene-functionalized CNTs are promising drug-carrier agents. However, polystyrene chain length and grafting density are important factors to consider to enhance the efficiency of drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulsah Gul
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Roland Faller
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Nazar Ileri-Ercan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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16
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Ermilova I, Swenson J. Ionizable lipids penetrate phospholipid bilayers with high phase transition temperatures: perspectives from free energy calculations. Chem Phys Lipids 2023; 253:105294. [PMID: 37003484 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2023.105294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The efficacies of modern gene-therapies strongly depend on their contents. At the same time the most potent formulations might not contain the best compounds. In this work we investigated the effect of phospholipids and their saturation on the binding ability of (6Z,9Z,28Z,31Z)-heptatriacont-6,9,28,31-tetraene-19-yl 4-(dimethylamino) butanoate (DLin-MC3-DMA) to model membranes at the neutral pH. We discovered that DLin-MC3-DMA has affinity to the most saturated monocomponent lipid bilayer 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and an aversion to the unsaturated one 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC). The preference to a certain membrane was also well-correlated to the phase transition temperatures of phospholipid bilayers, and to their structural and dynamical properties. Additionally, in the case of the presence of DLin-MC3-DMA in the membrane with DOPC the ionizable lipid penetrated it, which indicates possible synergistic effects. Comparisons with other ionizable lipids were performed using a model lipid bilayer of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC). Particularly, the lipids heptadecan-9-yl 8-[2-hydroxyethyl-(6-oxo-6-undecoxyhexyl)amino]octanoate (SM-102) and [(4-Hydroxybutyl) azanediyl] di(hexane-6,1-diyl) bis(2-hexyldecanoate) (ALC-0315) from modern mRNA-vaccines against COVID-19 were investigated and force fields parameters were derived for those new lipids. It was discovered that ALC-0315 binds strongest to the membrane, while DLin-MC3-DMA is not able to reside in the bilayer center. The ability to penetrate the membrane POPC by SM-102 and ALC-0315 can be related to their saturation, comparing to DLin-MC3-DMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna Ermilova
- Department of Physics, Chalmers Uiversity of Technology, SE 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Jan Swenson
- Department of Physics, Chalmers Uiversity of Technology, SE 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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17
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Klein S, Golani G, Lolicato F, Lahr C, Beyer D, Herrmann A, Wachsmuth-Melm M, Reddmann N, Brecht R, Hosseinzadeh M, Kolovou A, Makroczyova J, Peterl S, Schorb M, Schwab Y, Brügger B, Nickel W, Schwarz US, Chlanda P. IFITM3 blocks influenza virus entry by sorting lipids and stabilizing hemifusion. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:616-633.e20. [PMID: 37003257 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) inhibits the entry of numerous viruses through undefined molecular mechanisms. IFITM3 localizes in the endosomal-lysosomal system and specifically affects virus fusion with target cell membranes. We found that IFITM3 induces local lipid sorting, resulting in an increased concentration of lipids disfavoring viral fusion at the hemifusion site. This increases the energy barrier for fusion pore formation and the hemifusion dwell time, promoting viral degradation in lysosomes. In situ cryo-electron tomography captured IFITM3-mediated arrest of influenza A virus membrane fusion. Observation of hemifusion diaphragms between viral particles and late endosomal membranes confirmed hemifusion stabilization as a molecular mechanism of IFITM3. The presence of the influenza fusion protein hemagglutinin in post-fusion conformation close to hemifusion sites further indicated that IFITM3 does not interfere with the viral fusion machinery. Collectively, these findings show that IFITM3 induces lipid sorting to stabilize hemifusion and prevent virus entry into target cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Klein
- Schaller Research Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gonen Golani
- BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Institute for Theoretical Physics, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabio Lolicato
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Carmen Lahr
- Schaller Research Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Beyer
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexia Herrmann
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Moritz Wachsmuth-Melm
- Schaller Research Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nina Reddmann
- Schaller Research Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Romy Brecht
- Schaller Research Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mehdi Hosseinzadeh
- Schaller Research Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Androniki Kolovou
- Schaller Research Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jana Makroczyova
- Schaller Research Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sarah Peterl
- Schaller Research Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Schorb
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yannick Schwab
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Britta Brügger
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Walter Nickel
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich S Schwarz
- BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Institute for Theoretical Physics, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Petr Chlanda
- Schaller Research Group, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; BioQuant Center for Quantitative Biology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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18
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Barrantes FJ. Structure and function meet at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-lipid interface. Pharmacol Res 2023; 190:106729. [PMID: 36931540 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a transmembrane protein that mediates fast intercellular communication in response to the endogenous neurotransmitter acetylcholine. It is the best characterized and archetypal molecule in the superfamily of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs). As a typical transmembrane macromolecule, it interacts extensively with its vicinal lipid microenvironment. Experimental evidence provides a wealth of information on receptor-lipid crosstalk: the nAChR exerts influence on its immediate membrane environment and conversely, the lipid moiety modulates ligand binding, affinity state transitions and gating of ion translocation functions of the receptor protein. Recent cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies have unveiled the occurrence of sites for phospholipids and cholesterol on the lipid-exposed regions of neuronal and electroplax nAChRs, confirming early spectroscopic and affinity labeling studies demonstrating the close contact of lipid molecules with the receptor transmembrane segments. This new data provides structural support to the postulated "lipid sensor" ability displayed by the outer ring of M4 transmembrane domains and their modulatory role on nAChR function, as we postulated a decade ago. Borrowing from the best characterized nAChR, the electroplax (muscle-type) receptor, and exploiting new structural information on the neuronal nAChR, it is now possible to achieve an improved depiction of these sites. In combination with site-directed mutagenesis, single-channel electrophysiology, and molecular dynamics studies, the new structural information delivers a more comprehensive portrayal of these lipid-sensitive loci, providing mechanistic explanations for their ability to modulate nAChR properties and raising the possibility of targetting them in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Barrantes
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) - Argentine Scientific & Technol. Research Council (CONICET), Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, C1107AAZ Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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19
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The Relationship of Cholesterol Responses to Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Lung Inflammation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:medicina59020253. [PMID: 36837454 PMCID: PMC9958740 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59020253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hyperlipidemia is frequently reported in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and is linked to the progression of the disease and its comorbidities. Hypercholesterolemia leads to cholesterol accumulation in many cell types, especially immune cells, and some recent studies suggest that cholesterol impacts lung epithelial cells' inflammatory responses and mitochondrial responses. Several studies also indicate that targeting cholesterol responses with either statins or liver X receptor (LXR) agonists may be plausible means of improving pulmonary outcomes. Equally, cholesterol metabolism and signaling are linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation attributed to COPD progression. Here, we review the current literature focusing on the impact of cigarette smoke on cholesterol levels, cholesterol efflux, and the influence of cholesterol on immune and mitochondrial responses within the lungs.
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20
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Rodríguez-Moraga N, Ramos-Martín F, Buchoux S, Rippa S, D'Amelio N, Sarazin C. The effect of rhamnolipids on fungal membrane models as described by their interactions with phospholipids and sterols: An in silico study. Front Chem 2023; 11:1124129. [PMID: 36895318 PMCID: PMC9989204 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1124129] [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: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Rhamnolipids (RLs) are secondary metabolites naturally produced by bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas and Burkholderia with biosurfactant properties. A specific interest raised from their potential as biocontrol agents for crop culture protection in regard to direct antifungal and elicitor activities. As for other amphiphilic compounds, a direct interaction with membrane lipids has been suggested as the key feature for the perception and subsequent activity of RLs. Methods: Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations are used in this work to provide an atomistic description of their interactions with different membranous lipids and focusing on their antifungal properties. Results and discussion: Our results suggest the insertion of RLs into the modelled bilayers just below the plane drawn by lipid phosphate groups, a placement that is effective in promoting significant membrane fluidification of the hydrophobic core. This localization is promoted by the formation of ionic bonds between the carboxylate group of RLs and the amino group of the phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) or phosphatidylserine (PS) headgroups. Moreover, RL acyl chains adhere to the ergosterol structure, forming a significantly higher number of van der Waals contact with respect to what is observed for phospholipid acyl chains. All these interactions might be essential for the membranotropic-driven biological actions of RLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nely Rodríguez-Moraga
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire UMR 7025 CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Francisco Ramos-Martín
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire UMR 7025 CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Sébastien Buchoux
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire UMR 7025 CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Sonia Rippa
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire, CNRS UMR 7025, Sorbonne Universités, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, France
| | - Nicola D'Amelio
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire UMR 7025 CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Catherine Sarazin
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire UMR 7025 CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
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21
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Rosenhouse-Dantsker A, Gazgalis D, Logothetis DE. PI(4,5)P 2 and Cholesterol: Synthesis, Regulation, and Functions. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1422:3-59. [PMID: 36988876 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-21547-6_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) is the most abundant membrane phosphoinositide and cholesterol is an essential component of the plasma membrane (PM). Both lipids play key roles in a variety of cellular functions including as signaling molecules and major regulators of protein function. This chapter provides an overview of these two important lipids. Starting from a brief description of their structure, synthesis, and regulation, the chapter continues to describe the primary functions and signaling processes in which PI(4,5)P2 and cholesterol are involved. While PI(4,5)P2 and cholesterol can act independently, they often act in concert or affect each other's impact. The chapters in this volume on "Cholesterol and PI(4,5)P2 in Vital Biological Functions: From Coexistence to Crosstalk" focus on the emerging relationship between cholesterol and PI(4,5)P2 in a variety of biological systems and processes. In this chapter, the next section provides examples from the ion channel field demonstrating that PI(4,5)P2 and cholesterol can act via common mechanisms. The chapter ends with a discussion of future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dimitris Gazgalis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Diomedes E Logothetis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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22
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Rezaei F, Farhat D, Gursu G, Samnani S, Lee JY. Snapshots of ABCG1 and ABCG5/G8: A Sterol's Journey to Cross the Cellular Membranes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010484. [PMID: 36613930 PMCID: PMC9820320 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The subfamily-G ATP-binding cassette (ABCG) transporters play important roles in regulating cholesterol homeostasis. Recent progress in the structural data of ABCG1 and ABCG5/G8 disclose putative sterol binding sites that suggest the possible cholesterol translocation pathway. ABCG1 and ABCG5/G8 share high similarity in the overall molecular architecture, and both transporters appear to use several unique structural motifs to facilitate cholesterol transport along this pathway, including the phenylalanine highway and the hydrophobic valve. Interestingly, ABCG5/G8 is known to transport cholesterol and phytosterols, whereas ABCG1 seems to exclusively transport cholesterol. Ligand docking analysis indeed suggests a difference in recruiting sterol molecules to the known sterol-binding sites. Here, we further discuss how the different and shared structural features are relevant to their physiological functions, and finally provide our perspective on future studies in ABCG cholesterol transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Rezaei
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Danny Farhat
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Gonca Gursu
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Biochemistry Program, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 6N5, Canada
| | - Sabrina Samnani
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Biochemistry Program, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 6N5, Canada
| | - Jyh-Yeuan Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Correspondence:
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23
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Braithwaite IM, Davis JH. Orientation of Cholesterol in Polyunsaturated Lipid Bilayers. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:15804-15816. [PMID: 36480923 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The local normal to the fluid liquid crystalline phase of the lipid membrane is an axis of motional symmetry for the molecules that make up the bilayer. The presence of cholesterol in the membrane increases not only the lipid hydrocarbon chain order but also the strength of the membrane's orienting potential. Cholesterol undergoes rapid reorientation about a diffusion axis that is roughly aligned with the long molecular axis, but there is also a slower reorientation of the diffusion axis, or "wobble", relative to the local bilayer normal. The extent of this second, slower motion depends on the degree of order of the lipids that make up the bilayer. We use 2H nuclear magnetic resonance of deuterium-labeled cholesterol to investigate quantitatively the effect of lipid chain unsaturation on cholesterol orientation in a series of phospholipid bilayers. We find that the hydrocarbon chains in membranes composed of polyunsaturated lipids are much more highly disordered than those in membranes composed of saturated lipids but that cholesterol remains aligned roughly along the bilayer normal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James H Davis
- Department of Physics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, CanadaN1G 2W1
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24
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Kawaguchi K, Nagao H, Shindou H, Noguchi H. Conformations of Three Types of Ultra-Long-Chain Fatty Acids in Multicomponent Lipid Bilayers. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:9316-9324. [PMID: 36334092 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c06189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Ultra-long-chain fatty acids (ULCFAs) are biosynthesized in certain types of tissues, but their biological roles remain unknown. Here, we report how the conformation of ULCFAs depends on the length and unsaturated-bond ratio of the ultra-long chains and the composition of the host bilayer membrane using molecular dynamics simulations. The ultra-long chain of ULCFAs flips between the two leaflets and fluctuates among three conformations: elongated, L-shaped, and turned. Furthermore, we found that the saturated ultra-long chain exhibited an elongated conformation more frequently than the unsaturated chain. In addition, the truncation of the ultra-long chain at C26 had little effect on the remaining ULCFAs. ULCFAs respond to lipid-density differences in the two leaflets, and the ratio of the elongated and turned conformations changed to reduce this difference. However, in cholesterol-containing membranes, ULCFAs exhibit no density difference after the flip-flop of cholesterol removes the difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazutomo Kawaguchi
- Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa920-1192, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Hidemi Nagao
- Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa920-1192, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Hideo Shindou
- Department of Lipid Life Science, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo162-8655, Japan.,Department of Medical Lipid Science, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Noguchi
- Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa277-8581, Chiba, Japan
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25
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Varma M, Deserno M. Distribution of cholesterol in asymmetric membranes driven by composition and differential stress. Biophys J 2022; 121:4001-4018. [PMID: 35927954 PMCID: PMC9674969 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Many lipid membranes of eukaryotic cells are asymmetric, which means the two leaflets differ in at least one physical property, such as lipid composition or lateral stress. Maintaining this asymmetry is helped by the fact that ordinary phospholipids rarely transition between leaflets, but cholesterol is an exception: its flip-flop times are in the microsecond range, so that its distribution between leaflets is determined by a chemical equilibrium. In particular, preferential partitioning can draw cholesterol into a more saturated leaflet, and phospholipid number asymmetry can force it out of a compressed leaflet. Combining highly coarse-grained membrane simulations with theoretical modeling, we investigate how these two driving forces play against each other until cholesterol's chemical potential is equilibrated. The theory includes two coupled elastic sheets and a Flory-Huggins mixing free energy with a χ parameter. We obtain a relationship between χ and the interaction strength between cholesterol and lipids in either of the two leaflets, and we find that it depends, albeit weakly, on lipid number asymmetry. The differential stress measurements under various asymmetry conditions agree with our theoretical predictions. Using the two kinds of asymmetries in combination, we find that it is possible to counteract the phospholipid number bias, and the resultant stress in the membrane, via the control of cholesterol mixing in the leaflets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malavika Varma
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Markus Deserno
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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26
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Enoki TA, Feigenson GW. Improving our picture of the plasma membrane: Rafts induce ordered domains in a simplified model cytoplasmic leaflet. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:183995. [PMID: 35753393 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.183995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
By study of asymmetric membranes, models of the cell plasma membrane (PM) have improved, with more realistic properties of the asymmetric lipid composition of the membrane being explored. We used hemifusion of symmetric giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) with a supported lipid bilayer (SLB) to engineer bilayer leaflets of different composition. During hemifusion, only the outer leaflets of GUV and SLB are connected, exchanging lipids by simple diffusion. aGUVs were detached from the SLB for study. In general these aGUVs are formed with one leaflet that phase-separates into Ld (liquid disordered) + Lo (liquid ordered) phases, and another leaflet with lipid composition that would form a single fluid phase in a symmetric bilayer. We observed that ordered phases of either Lo or Lβ (gel phase) induce an ordered domain in the apposed fluid leaflet that lacks high melting lipids. Results suggest both an inter-leaflet and an intra-leaflet redistribution of cholesterol. We used C-Laurdan spectral images to investigate the lipid packing/order of aGUVs, finding that cholesterol partitions into the induced ordered domains. We suggest this behavior to be commonplace, that when Ld + Lo phase separation occurs in a cell PM exoplasmic leaflet, an induced order domain forms in the cytoplasmic leaflet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais A Enoki
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Gerald W Feigenson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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27
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Himbert S, Rheinstädter MC. Structural and mechanical properties of the red blood cell's cytoplasmic membrane seen through the lens of biophysics. Front Physiol 2022; 13:953257. [PMID: 36171967 PMCID: PMC9510598 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.953257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Red blood cells (RBCs) are the most abundant cell type in the human body and critical suppliers of oxygen. The cells are characterized by a simple structure with no internal organelles. Their two-layered outer shell is composed of a cytoplasmic membrane (RBC cm ) tethered to a spectrin cytoskeleton allowing the cell to be both flexible yet resistant against shear stress. These mechanical properties are intrinsically linked to the molecular composition and organization of their shell. The cytoplasmic membrane is expected to dominate the elastic behavior on small, nanometer length scales, which are most relevant for cellular processes that take place between the fibrils of the cytoskeleton. Several pathologies have been linked to structural and compositional changes within the RBC cm and the cell's mechanical properties. We review current findings in terms of RBC lipidomics, lipid organization and elastic properties with a focus on biophysical techniques, such as X-ray and neutron scattering, and Molecular Dynamics simulations, and their biological relevance. In our current understanding, the RBC cm 's structure is patchy, with nanometer sized liquid ordered and disordered lipid, and peptide domains. At the same time, it is surprisingly soft, with bending rigidities κ of 2-4 kBT. This is in strong contrast to the current belief that a high concentration of cholesterol results in stiff membranes. This extreme softness is likely the result of an interaction between polyunsaturated lipids and cholesterol, which may also occur in other biological membranes. There is strong evidence in the literature that there is no length scale dependence of κ of whole RBCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Himbert
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Origins Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Maikel C. Rheinstädter
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Origins Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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28
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Nasrollahpour M, Vafaee M, Razzaghi S. Structural and Dynamical Properties of Palmitoyl-Oleoyl Phosphatidylserine Lipid Nanotubes Containing Cholesterols and PEGylated Dioleoyl Phosphatidylethanolamine: A Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulation. Chem Eng Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2022.117848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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29
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Bryer AJ, Reddy T, Lyman E, Perilla JR. Full scale structural, mechanical and dynamical properties of HIV-1 liposomes. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1009781. [PMID: 35041642 PMCID: PMC8797243 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Enveloped viruses are enclosed by a lipid membrane inside of which are all of the components necessary for the virus life cycle; viral proteins, the viral genome and metabolites. Viral envelopes are lipid bilayers that adopt morphologies ranging from spheres to tubes. The envelope is derived from the host cell during viral replication. Thus, the composition of the bilayer depends on the complex constitution of lipids from the host-cell's organelle(s) where assembly and/or budding of the viral particle occurs. Here, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of authentic, asymmetric HIV-1 liposomes are used to derive a unique level of resolution of its full-scale structure, mechanics and dynamics. Analysis of the structural properties reveal the distribution of thicknesses of the bilayers over the entire liposome as well as its global fluctuations. Moreover, full-scale mechanical analyses are employed to derive the global bending rigidity of HIV-1 liposomes. Finally, dynamical properties of the lipid molecules reveal important relationships between their 3D diffusion, the location of lipid-rafts and the asymmetrical composition of the envelope. Overall, our simulations reveal complex relationships between the rich lipid composition of the HIV-1 liposome and its structural, mechanical and dynamical properties with critical consequences to different stages of HIV-1's life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. Bryer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Tyler Reddy
- CCS-7 Applied Computer Science, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Edward Lyman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Juan R. Perilla
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America
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30
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Canner SW, Feller SE, Wassall SR. Molecular Organization of a Raft-like Domain in a Polyunsaturated Phospholipid Bilayer: A Supervised Machine Learning Analysis of Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:13158-13167. [PMID: 34812629 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c06511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Numerous health benefits are associated with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) consumed in fish oils. An understanding of the mechanism remains elusive. The plasma membrane as a site of action is the focus in this study. With large-scale all-atom MD simulations run on a model membrane (1050 lipid molecules), we observed the evolution over time (6 μs) of a circular (raft-like) domain composed of N-palmitoylsphingomyelin (PSM) and cholesterol embedded into a surrounding (non-raft) patch composed of polyunsaturated 1-palmitoyl-2-docosahexaenoylphosphatylcholine (PDPC) (1:1:1 mol). A supervised machine learning algorithm was developed to characterize the migration of each lipid based on molecular conformation and the local environment. PDPC molecules were seen to infiltrate the ordered raft-like domain in a small amount, while a small concentration of PSM and cholesterol molecules was seen to migrate into the disordered non-raft region. Enclosing the raft-like domain, a narrow (∼2 nm in width) interfacial zone composed of PDPC, PSM, and cholesterol that buffers the substantial difference in order (ΔSCD ≈ 0.12) between raft-like and non-raft environments was seen to form. Our results suggest that n-3 PUFA regulate the architecture of lipid rafts enriched in sphingolipids and cholesterol with a minimal effect on order within their interior in membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel W Canner
- Department of Physics, IUPUI, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-3273, United States.,Department of Computer and Information Science, IUPUI, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5132, United States
| | - Scott E Feller
- Department of Chemistry, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana 47933, United States
| | - Stephen R Wassall
- Department of Physics, IUPUI, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-3273, United States
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31
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Perez-Salas U, Garg S, Gerelli Y, Porcar L. Deciphering lipid transfer between and within membranes with time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering. CURRENT TOPICS IN MEMBRANES 2021; 88:359-412. [PMID: 34862031 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctm.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This review focuses on time-resolved neutron scattering, particularly time-resolved small angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS), as a powerful in situ noninvasive technique to investigate intra- and intermembrane transport and distribution of lipids and sterols in lipid membranes. In contrast to using molecular analogues with potentially large chemical tags that can significantly alter transport properties, small angle neutron scattering relies on the relative amounts of the two most abundant isotope forms of hydrogen: protium and deuterium to detect complex membrane architectures and transport processes unambiguously. This review discusses advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that sustain lipid asymmetry in membranes-a key feature of the plasma membrane of cells-as well as the transport of lipids between membranes, which is an essential metabolic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Perez-Salas
- Physics Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
| | - Sumit Garg
- Physics Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Yuri Gerelli
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Universita` Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
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32
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Singhal A, Agur Sevink GJ. The role of size and nature in nanoparticle binding to a model lung membrane: an atomistic study. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:6635-6648. [PMID: 36132649 PMCID: PMC9417560 DOI: 10.1039/d1na00578b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the uptake of nanoparticles (NPs) by different types of cellular membranes plays a pivotal role in the design of NPs for medical applications and in avoiding adverse effects that result in nanotoxicity. Yet, the role of key design parameters, such as the bare NP material, NP size and surface reactivity, and the nature of NP coatings, in membrane remodelling and uptake mechanisms is still very poorly understood, particularly towards the lower range of NP dimensions that are beyond the experimental imaging resolution. The same can be said about the role of a particular membrane composition. Here, we systematically employ biased and unbiased molecular dynamics simulations to calculate the binding energy for three bare materials (Ag/SiO2/TiO2) and three NP sizes (1/3/5 nm diameter) with a representative lung surfactant membrane, and to study their binding kinetics. The calculated binding energies show that irrespective of size, Ag nanoparticles bind very strongly to the bilayer, while the NPs made of SiO2 or TiO2 experience very low to no binding. The unbiased simulations provide insight into how the NPs and membrane affect each other in terms of the solvent-accessible surface area (SASA) of the NPs and the defect types and fluidity of the membrane. Using these systematic fine-grained results in coarsening procedures will pave the way for simulations considering NP sizes that are well beyond the membrane thickness, i.e. closer to experimental dimensions, for which different binding characteristics and more significant membrane remodelling are expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankush Singhal
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University P.O. Box 9502 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands
| | - G J Agur Sevink
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University P.O. Box 9502 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands
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33
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Song ES, Oh Y, Sung BJ. Interdomain exchange and the flip-flop of cholesterol in ternary component lipid membranes and their effects on heterogeneous cholesterol diffusion. Phys Rev E 2021; 104:044402. [PMID: 34781553 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.104.044402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Cell membranes are heterogeneous with a variety of lipids, cholesterol, and proteins and are composed of domains of different compositions. Such heterogeneous environments make the transport of cholesterol complicated: cholesterol not only diffuses within a particular domain but also travels between domains. Cholesterol also flip-flops between upper and lower leaflets such that cholesterol may reside both within leaflets and in the central region between two leaflets. How the presence of multiple domains and the interdomain exchange of cholesterol would affect the cholesterol transport, however, remains elusive. In this study, therefore, we perform molecular dynamics simulations up to 100μs for ternary component lipid membranes, which consist of saturated lipids (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, DPPC), unsaturated lipids (dilinoleylphosphatidylcholine, DIPC), and cholesterol. The ternary component membranes in our simulations form two domains readily: DPPC and DIPC domains. We find that the diffusion of cholesterol molecules is much more heterogeneous and non-Gaussian than expected for binary component lipid membranes of lipids and cholesterol. The non-Gaussian parameter of the cholesterol molecules is about four times larger in the ternary component lipid membranes than in the binary component lipid membranes. Such non-Gaussian and heterogeneous transport of cholesterol arises from the interplay among the interdomain kinetics, the different diffusivity of cholesterol in different domains, and the flip-flop of cholesterol. This suggests that in cell membranes that consist of various domains and proteins, the cholesterol transport can be very heterogeneous. We also find that the mechanism of the interdomain exchange differs for different domains: cholesterol tends to exit the DIPC domain along the central region of the membrane for the DIPC-to-DPPC transition, while the cholesterol is likely to exit the DPPC domain within the membrane leaflet for the DPPC-to-DIPC transition. Also, the interdomain exchange kinetics of cholesterol for the DPPC-to-DIPC transition is up to 7.9 times slower than the DIPC-to-DPPC transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Sub Song
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Younghoon Oh
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong June Sung
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
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34
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Boonnoy P, Jarerattanachat V, Karttunen M, Wong-Ekkabut J. Role of cholesterol flip-flop in oxidized lipid bilayers. Biophys J 2021; 120:4525-4535. [PMID: 34478697 PMCID: PMC8553637 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We performed a series of molecular dynamics simulations of cholesterol (Chol) in nonoxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (PLPC) bilayer and in binary mixtures of PLPC-oxidized-lipid-bilayers with 0-50% Chol concentration and oxidized lipids with hydroperoxide and aldehyde oxidized functional groups. From the 60 unbiased molecular dynamics simulations (total of 161 μs), we found that Chol inhibited pore formation in the aldehyde-containing oxidized lipid bilayers at concentrations greater than 11%. For both pure PLPC bilayer and bilayers with hydroperoxide lipids, no pores were observed at any Chol concentration. Furthermore, increasing cholesterol concentration led to a change of phase state from the liquid-disordered to the liquid-ordered phase. This condensing effect of Chol was observed in all systems. Data analysis shows that the addition of Chol results in an increase in bilayer thickness. Interestingly, we observed Chol flip-flop only in the aldehyde-containing lipid bilayer but neither in the PLPC nor the hydroperoxide bilayers. Umbrella-sampling simulations were performed to calculate the translocation free energies and the Chol flip-flop rates. The results show that Chol's flip-flop rate depends on the lipid bilayer type, and the highest rate are found in aldehyde bilayers. As the main finding, we shown that Chol stabilizes the oxidized lipid bilayer by confining the distribution of the oxidized functional groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phansiri Boonnoy
- Department of Physics, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Computational Biomodelling Laboratory for Agricultural Science and Technology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Viwan Jarerattanachat
- Computational Biomodelling Laboratory for Agricultural Science and Technology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Thailand Center of Excellence in Physics, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Bangkok, Thailand; NSTDA Supercomputer Center, National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khlong Luang, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | - Mikko Karttunen
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; The Centre for Advanced Materials Research, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jirasak Wong-Ekkabut
- Department of Physics, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Computational Biomodelling Laboratory for Agricultural Science and Technology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Thailand Center of Excellence in Physics, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Bangkok, Thailand; Specialized Center of Rubber and Polymer Materials for Agriculture and Industry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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35
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Cino EA, Borbuliak M, Hu S, Tieleman DP. Lipid distributions and transleaflet cholesterol migration near heterogeneous surfaces in asymmetric bilayers. Faraday Discuss 2021; 232:103-113. [PMID: 34549760 DOI: 10.1039/d1fd00003a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Specific and nonspecific protein-lipid interactions in cell membranes have important roles in an abundance of biological functions. We have used coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to assess lipid distributions and cholesterol flipping dynamics around surfaces in a model asymmetric plasma membrane containing one of six structurally distinct entities: aquaporin-1 (AQP1), the bacterial β-barrel outer membrane proteins OmpF and OmpX, the KcsA potassium channel, the WALP23 peptide and a carbon nanotube (CNT). Our findings revealed varied lipid partitioning and cholesterol flipping times around the different solutes and putative cholesterol binding sites in AQP1 and KcsA. The results suggest that protein-lipid interactions can be highly variable, and that surface-dependent lipid profiles are effectively manifested in CG simulations with the Martini force field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elio A Cino
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada. .,Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Mariia Borbuliak
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Shangnong Hu
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - D Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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36
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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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37
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Thallmair S, Javanainen M, Fábián B, Martinez-Seara H, Marrink SJ. Nonconverged Constraints Cause Artificial Temperature Gradients in Lipid Bilayer Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:9537-9546. [PMID: 34398598 PMCID: PMC8404198 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c03665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Molecular dynamics
(MD) simulations have become an indispensable
tool to investigate phase separation in model membrane systems. In
particular, simulations based on coarse-grained (CG) models have found
widespread use due to their increased computational efficiency, allowing
for simulations of multicomponent lipid bilayers undergoing phase
separation into liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered domains. Here,
we show that a significant temperature difference between molecule
types can artificially arise in CG MD membrane simulations with the
standard Martini simulation parameters in GROMACS. In particular,
the linear constraint solver (LINCS) algorithm does not converge with
its default settings, resulting in serious temperature differences
between molecules in a time step-dependent manner. We demonstrate
that the underlying reason for this behavior is the presence of highly
constrained moieties, such as cholesterol. Their presence can critically
impact numerous structural and dynamic membrane properties obtained
from such simulations. Furthermore, any preference of these molecules
toward a certain membrane phase can lead to spatial temperature gradients,
which can amplify the degree of phase separation or even induce it
in compositions that would otherwise mix well. We systematically investigated
the effect of the integration time step and LINCS settings on membrane
properties. Our data show that for cholesterol-containing membranes,
a time step of 20 fs should be combined with at least lincs_iter = 2 and lincs_order = 12, while using a time
step of 30 fs requires at least lincs_iter =
3 and lincs_order = 12 to bring the temperature
differences to a level where they do not perturb central membrane
properties. Moreover, we show that in cases where stricter LINCS settings
are computationally too demanding, coupling the lipids in multiple
groups to the temperature bath offers a practical workaround to the
problem, although the validity of this approach should be further
verified. Finally, we show that similar temperature gradients can
also emerge in atomistic simulations using the CHARMM force field
in combination with settings that allow for a 5 fs integration step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Thallmair
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.,Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Ruth-Moufang-Straße 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Matti Javanainen
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 542/2, CZ-16000 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Balázs Fábián
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 542/2, CZ-16000 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Hector Martinez-Seara
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 542/2, CZ-16000 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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38
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Wilson KA, Fairweather SJ, MacDermott-Opeskin HI, Wang L, Morris RA, O'Mara ML. The role of plasmalogens, Forssman lipids, and sphingolipid hydroxylation in modulating the biophysical properties of the epithelial plasma membrane. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:095101. [PMID: 33685172 DOI: 10.1063/5.0040887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A coarse-grain model of the epithelial plasma membrane was developed from high-resolution lipidomic data and simulated using the MARTINI force field to characterize its biophysical properties. Plasmalogen lipids, Forssman glycosphingolipids, and hydroxylated Forssman glycosphingolipids and sphingomyelin were systematically added to determine their structural effects. Plasmalogen lipids have a minimal effect on the overall biophysical properties of the epithelial plasma membrane. In line with the hypothesized role of Forssman lipids in the epithelial apical membrane, the introduction of Forssman lipids initiates the formation of glycosphingolipid-rich nanoscale lipid domains, which also include phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), sphingomyelin (SM), and cholesterol (CHOL). This decreases the lateral diffusion in the extracellular leaflet, as well as the area per lipid of domain forming lipids, most notably PE. Finally, hydroxylation of the Forssman glycosphingolipids and sphingomyelin further modulates the lateral organization of the membrane. Through comparison to the previously studied average and neuronal plasma membranes, the impact of membrane lipid composition on membrane properties was characterized. Overall, this study furthers our understanding of the biophysical properties of complex membranes and the impact of lipid diversity in modulating membrane properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie A Wilson
- Research School of Chemistry, College of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Stephen J Fairweather
- Research School of Chemistry, College of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Hugo I MacDermott-Opeskin
- Research School of Chemistry, College of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Lily Wang
- Research School of Chemistry, College of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Richard A Morris
- Research School of Chemistry, College of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Megan L O'Mara
- Research School of Chemistry, College of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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39
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Lind C, Pandey P, Pastor RW, MacKerell AD. Functional Group Distributions, Partition Coefficients, and Resistance Factors in Lipid Bilayers Using Site Identification by Ligand Competitive Saturation. J Chem Theory Comput 2021; 17:3188-3202. [PMID: 33929848 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Small molecules such as metabolites and drugs must pass through the membrane of the cell, a barrier primarily comprising phospholipid bilayers and embedded proteins. To better understand the process of passive diffusion, knowledge of the ability of various functional groups to partition across bilayers and the associated energetics would be of utility. In the present study, the site identification by ligand competitive saturation (SILCS) methodology has been applied to sample the distributions of a diverse set of chemical solutes representing the functional groups of small molecules across phospholipid bilayers composed of 0.9:0.1 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/cholesterol and a mixture of 0.52:0.18:0.3 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine/1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/cholesterol used in parallel artificial membrane permeability assay experiments. A combination of oscillating chemical potential grand canonical Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics in the SILCS simulations was applied to achieve solute sampling through the bilayers and surrounding aqueous environment from which the distribution of solutes and the functional groups they represent were obtained. Results show differential distribution of aliphatic versus aromatic groups with the former having increased sampling in the center of the bilayers versus in the region of the glycerol linker for the latter. Variations in the distribution of different polar groups are evident, with large differences between negative acetate and positive methylammonium with accumulation of the polar-neutral and acetate solutes above the bilayer head groups. Conversion of the distributions to absolute free energies allows for a detailed understanding of energetics of functional groups in different regions of the bilayers and for calculation of absolute free-energy profiles of multifunctional drug-like molecules across the bilayers from which partition coefficients and resistance factors suitable for insertion into the homogenous solubility-diffusion equation for calculation of permeability were obtained. Comparisons of the calculated bilayer/solution partition coefficients with 1-octanol/water experimental data for both drug-like molecules and the solutes show overall good agreement, validating the calculated distributions and associated absolute free-energy profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoffer Lind
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Poonam Pandey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Richard W Pastor
- Laboratory of Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Alexander D MacKerell
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
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40
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Ahmadi D, Ledder R, Mahmoudi N, Li P, Tellam J, Robinson D, Heenan RK, Smith P, Lorenz CD, Barlow DJ, Lawrence MJ. Supramolecular architecture of a multi-component biomimetic lipid barrier formulation. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 587:597-612. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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41
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Bukiya AN, Leo MD, Jaggar JH, Dopico AM. Cholesterol activates BK channels by increasing KCNMB1 protein levels in the plasmalemma. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100381. [PMID: 33556372 PMCID: PMC7950327 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium-/voltage-gated, large-conductance potassium channels (BKs) control critical physiological processes, including smooth muscle contraction. Numerous observations concur that elevated membrane cholesterol (CLR) inhibits the activity of homomeric BKs consisting of channel-forming alpha subunits. In mammalian smooth muscle, however, native BKs include accessory KCNMB1 (β1) subunits, which enable BK activation at physiological intracellular calcium. Here, we studied the effect of CLR enrichment on BK currents from rat cerebral artery myocytes. Using inside-out patches from middle cerebral artery (MCA) myocytes at [Ca2+]free=30 μM, we detected BK activation in response to in vivo and in vitro CLR enrichment of myocytes. While a significant increase in myocyte CLR was achieved within 5 min of CLR in vitro loading, this brief CLR enrichment of membrane patches decreased BK currents, indicating that BK activation by CLR requires a protracted cellular process. Indeed, blocking intracellular protein trafficking with brefeldin A (BFA) not only prevented BK activation but led to channel inhibition upon CLR enrichment. Surface protein biotinylation followed by Western blotting showed that BFA blocked the increase in plasmalemmal KCNMB1 levels achieved via CLR enrichment. Moreover, CLR enrichment of arteries with naturally high KCNMB1 levels, such as basilar and coronary arteries, failed to activate BK currents. Finally, CLR enrichment failed to activate BK channels in MCA myocytes from KCNMB1-/- mouse while activation was detected in their wild-type (C57BL/6) counterparts. In conclusion, the switch in CLR regulation of BK from inhibition to activation is determined by a trafficking-dependent increase in membrane levels of KCNMB1 subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna N Bukiya
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
| | - M Dennis Leo
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jonathan H Jaggar
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Alex M Dopico
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
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42
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Ludwig J, Maibaum L. Effect of alcohol on the phase separation in model membranes. Chem Phys Lipids 2020; 233:104986. [PMID: 33080278 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2020.104986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of coexisting liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered phases in multicomponent lipid bilayers has received widespread attention due to its potential relevance for biological systems. One of the many open questions is how the presence of additional components affects the nature of the coexisting phases. Of particular interest is the addition of alcohols because their anesthetic properties may arise from modulating bilayer behavior. We use coarse-grained Molecular Dynamics simulations to gain insight into the partitioning preferences of linear n-alcohols into ordered and disordered bilayers alongside their effects on local membrane structure. We find that alcohols cause only small changes to membrane composition alongside a lack of significant effects on membrane thickness and lipid tail order. Cholesterol and n-alcohol trans-bilayer motion is measured and found to be near or within the range of previous atomistic results. The cholesterol flip-flop rates increase with both n-alcohol length and concentration for octanol, dodecanol, and hexadecanol, indicating a decrease in lipid order. Umbrella sampling simulations of removing cholesterol from tertiary membranes find no significant difference with or without n-alcohols at various concentrations. Simulations of a phase-separated bilayer show that octanol preferentially partitions into the liquid-disordered phase in a ratio of approximately 3:1 over the liquid-ordered phase. Furthermore, partition coefficients of alcohol in single-phase membranes show a preference for longer alcohols (dodecanol and hexadecanol) to partition preferentially into the liquid-ordered phase, while decreasing the length of the alcohol reverses this trend. Our work tests experimental results while also investigating the ability for coarse-grained MARTINI simulations to capture minute differences in model membrane spatial arrangements on the nanoscale level.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Ludwig
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Lutz Maibaum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States.
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43
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Lange Y, Steck TL. Active cholesterol 20 years on. Traffic 2020; 21:662-674. [PMID: 32930466 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This review considers the following hypotheses, some well-supported and some speculative. Almost all of the sterol molecules in plasma membranes are associated with bilayer phospholipids in complexes of varied strength and stoichiometry. These complexes underlie many of the material properties of the bilayer. The small fraction of cholesterol molecules exceeding the binding capacity of the phospholipids is thermodynamically active and serves diverse functions. It circulates briskly among the cell membranes, particularly through contact sites linking the organelles. Active cholesterol provides the upstream feedback signal to multiple mechanisms governing plasma membrane homeostasis, pegging the sterol level to a threshold set by its phospholipids. Active cholesterol could also be the cargo for various inter-organelle transporters and the form excreted from cells by reverse transport. Furthermore, it is integral to the function of caveolae; a mediator of Hedgehog regulation; and a ligand for the binding of cytolytic toxins to membranes. Active cholesterol modulates a variety of plasma membrane proteins-receptors, channels and transporters-at least in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Lange
- Department of Pathology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Theodore L Steck
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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44
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Abstract
With advancements of modern biophysical tools and superresolution imaging, cell biology is entering a new phase of research with technological power fitting for membrane dynamics analyses. However, our current knowledge base of cellular signaling events is mostly built on a network of protein interactions, which is incompatible with the essential roles of membrane activities in those events. The lack of a theoretical platform is rendering biophysical analyses of membrane biology supplementary to the protein-centric paradigm. We hypothesize a framework of signaling events mediated by lipid dynamics and argue that this is the evolutionarily obligatory developmental path of cellular complexity buildup. In this framework, receptors are the late comers, integrating into the pre-existing membrane based signaling events using their lipid interface as the point of entry. We further suggest that the reason for cell surface receptors to remain silent at the resting state is via the suppression effects of their surrounding lipids. The avoidance of such a suppression, via ligand binding or lipid domain disruption, enables the receptors to autonomously integrate themselves into the preexisting networks of signaling cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Shi
- Tsinghua-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Hefei Ruan
- Tsinghua-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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45
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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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46
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Porcar L, Gerelli Y. On the lipid flip-flop and phase transition coupling. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:7696-7703. [PMID: 32789357 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01161d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
We measured the passive lipid flip-flop of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) in solid supported lipid bilayers across their main gel to fluid (Lβ → Lα) phase transition. By performing time and temperature resolved neutron reflectometry experiments, we demonstrated that asymmetric systems prepared in the gel phase are stable for at least 24 hours. Lipid flip-flop was found to be intrinsically linked to the amount of lipid molecules in the fluid phase. Moreover, the increase of this amount during the broad phase transition was found to be the main key factor for the timing of the flip-flop process. By measuring different temperature scan rate, we could demonstrate that, in the case of supported bilayers and for the temperature investigated, the lipid flip flop is characterised by an activation energy of 50 kJ mol-1 and a timescale on the order of few hours. Our results demonstrate the origin on the discrepancies between passive flip-flop in bulk systems and at interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Porcar
- Institut Laue-Langevin, avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Yuri Gerelli
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
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47
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Direct and indirect cholesterol effects on membrane proteins with special focus on potassium channels. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2020; 1865:158706. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2020.158706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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48
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Carter JW, Gonzalez MA, Brooks NJ, Seddon JM, Bresme F. Flip-flop asymmetry of cholesterol in model membranes induced by thermal gradients. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:5925-5932. [PMID: 32538402 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00546k] [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
Lipid asymmetry is a crucial property of biological membranes and significantly influences their physical and mechanical properties. It is responsible for maintaining different chemical environments on the external and internal surfaces of cells and organelles and plays a vital role in many biological processes such as cell signalling and budding. In this work we show, using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations, that thermal fields can induce lipid asymmetry in biological membranes. We focus our investigation on cholesterol, an abundant lipid in the plasma membrane, with a rapid flip-flop rate, significantly influencing membrane properties. We demonstrate that thermal fields induce membrane asymmetry with cholesterol showing thermophobic behaviour and therefore accumulating on the cold side of the membrane. This work highlights a possible experimental route to preparing and controlling asymmetry in synthetic membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W Carter
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, MSRH building, 80 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.
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49
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Sejdiu BI, Tieleman DP. Lipid-Protein Interactions Are a Unique Property and Defining Feature of G Protein-Coupled Receptors. Biophys J 2020; 118:1887-1900. [PMID: 32272057 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-bound proteins that depend on their lipid environment to carry out their physiological function. Combined efforts from many theoretical and experimental studies on the lipid-protein interaction profile of several GPCRs hint at an intricate relationship of these receptors with their surrounding membrane environment, with several lipids emerging as particularly important. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we explore the lipid-protein interaction profiles of 28 different GPCRs, spanning different levels of classification and conformational states and totaling to 1 ms of simulation time. We find a close relationship with lipids for all GPCRs simulated, in particular, cholesterol and phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP) lipids, but the number, location, and estimated strength of these interactions is dependent on the specific GPCR as well as its conformational state. Although both cholesterol and PIP lipids bind specifically to GPCRs, they utilize distinct mechanisms. Interactions with PIP lipids are mediated by charge-charge interactions with intracellular loop residues and stabilized by one or both of the transmembrane helices linked by the loop. Interactions with cholesterol, on the other hand, are mediated by a hydrophobic environment, usually made up of residues from more than one helix, capable of accommodating its ring structure and stabilized by interactions with aromatic and charged/polar residues. Cholesterol binding to GPCRs occurs in a small number of sites, some of which (like the binding site on the extracellular side of transmembrane 6/7) are shared among many class A GPCRs. Combined with a thorough investigation of the local membrane structure, our results provide a detailed picture of GPCR-lipid interactions. Additionally, we provide an accompanying website to interactively explore the lipid-protein interaction profile of all GPCRs simulated to facilitate analysis and comparison of our data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Besian I Sejdiu
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - D Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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50
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Gu RX, Baoukina S, Tieleman DP. Phase Separation in Atomistic Simulations of Model Membranes. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:2844-2856. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b11057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ruo-Xu Gu
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Svetlana Baoukina
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - D. Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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