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Erguven H, Wang L, Gutierrez B, Beaven AH, Sodt AJ, Izgu EC. Biomimetic Vesicles with Designer Phospholipids Can Sense Environmental Redox Cues. JACS AU 2024; 4:1841-1853. [PMID: 38818047 PMCID: PMC11134385 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Cell-like materials that sense environmental cues can serve as next-generation biosensors and help advance the understanding of intercellular communication. Currently, bottom-up engineering of protocell models from molecular building blocks remains a grand challenge chemists face. Herein, we describe giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) with biomimetic lipid membranes capable of sensing environmental redox cues. The GUVs employ activity-based sensing through designer phospholipids that are fluorescently activated in response to specific reductive (hydrogen sulfide) or oxidative (hydrogen peroxide) conditions. These synthetic phospholipids are derived from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine and they possess a headgroup with heterocyclic aromatic motifs. Despite their structural deviation from the phosphocholine headgroup, the designer phospholipids (0.5-1.0 mol %) mixed with natural lipids can vesiculate, and the resulting GUVs (7-20 μm in diameter) remain intact over the course of redox sensing. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations gave insight into how these lipids are positioned within the hydrophobic core of the membrane bilayer and at the membrane-water interface. This work provides a purely chemical method to investigate potential redox signaling and opens up new design opportunities for soft materials that mimic protocells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huseyin Erguven
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers
University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Liming Wang
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers
University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Bryan Gutierrez
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers
University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - 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 20892, United States
- Postdoctoral
Research Associate Program, National Institute
of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - 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 20892, United States
| | - Enver Cagri Izgu
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers
University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, United States
- Cancer
Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
- Rutgers
Center for Lipid Research, New Jersey Institute
for Food, Nutrition, and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
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Gutierrez B, Aggarwal T, Erguven H, Stone MRL, Guo C, Bellomo A, Abramova E, Stevenson ER, Laskin DL, Gow AJ, Izgu EC. Direct assessment of nitrative stress in lipid environments: Applications of a designer lipid-based biosensor for peroxynitrite. iScience 2023; 26:108567. [PMID: 38144454 PMCID: PMC10746523 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid membranes and lipid-rich organelles are targets of peroxynitrite (ONOO-), a highly reactive species generated under nitrative stress. We report a membrane-localized phospholipid (DPPC-TC-ONOO-) that allows the detection of ONOO- in diverse lipid environments: biomimetic vesicles, mammalian cell compartments, and within the lung lining. DPPC-TC-ONOO- and POPC self-assemble to membrane vesicles that fluorogenically and selectively respond to ONOO-. DPPC-TC-ONOO-, delivered through lipid nanoparticles, allowed for ONOO- detection in the endoplasmic reticulum upon cytokine-induced nitrative stress in live mammalian cells. It also responded to ONOO- within lung tissue murine models upon acute lung injury. We observed nitrative stress around bronchioles in precision cut lung slices exposed to nitrogen mustard and in pulmonary macrophages following intratracheal bleomycin challenge. Results showed that DPPC-TC-ONOO- functions specifically toward iNOS, a key enzyme modulating nitrative stress, and offers significant advantages over its hydrophilic analog in terms of localization and signal generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Gutierrez
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Tushar Aggarwal
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Huseyin Erguven
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, USA
| | - M. Rhia L. Stone
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Changjiang Guo
- Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Alyssa Bellomo
- Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Elena Abramova
- Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Emily R. Stevenson
- Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Debra L. Laskin
- Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Andrew J. Gow
- Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Enver Cagri Izgu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, USA
- Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Rutgers Center for Lipid Research, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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Van de Cauter L, van Buren L, Koenderink GH, Ganzinger KA. Exploring Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Production for Artificial Cells - Current Challenges and Future Directions. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300416. [PMID: 37464561 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Creating an artificial cell from the bottom up is a long-standing challenge and, while significant progress has been made, the full realization of this goal remains elusive. Arguably, one of the biggest hurdles that researchers are facing now is the assembly of different modules of cell function inside a single container. Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) have emerged as a suitable container with many methods available for their production. Well-studied swelling-based methods offer a wide range of lipid compositions but at the expense of limited encapsulation efficiency. Emulsion-based methods, on the other hand, excel at encapsulation but are only effective with a limited set of membrane compositions and may entrap residual additives in the lipid bilayer. Since the ultimate artificial cell will need to comply with both specific membrane and encapsulation requirements, there is still no one-method-fits-all solution for GUV formation available today. This review discusses the state of the art in different GUV production methods and their compatibility with GUV requirements and operational requirements such as reproducibility and ease of use. It concludes by identifying the most pressing issues and proposes potential avenues for future research to bring us one step closer to turning artificial cells into a reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori Van de Cauter
- Autonomous Matter Department, AMOLF, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, The Netherlands
| | - Lennard van Buren
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Gijsje H Koenderink
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
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Tosaka T, Kamiya K. Function Investigations and Applications of Membrane Proteins on Artificial Lipid Membranes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087231. [PMID: 37108393 PMCID: PMC10138308 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane proteins play an important role in key cellular functions, such as signal transduction, apoptosis, and metabolism. Therefore, structural and functional studies of these proteins are essential in fields such as fundamental biology, medical science, pharmacology, biotechnology, and bioengineering. However, observing the precise elemental reactions and structures of membrane proteins is difficult, despite their functioning through interactions with various biomolecules in living cells. To investigate these properties, methodologies have been developed to study the functions of membrane proteins that have been purified from biological cells. In this paper, we introduce various methods for creating liposomes or lipid vesicles, from conventional to recent approaches, as well as techniques for reconstituting membrane proteins into artificial membranes. We also cover the different types of artificial membranes that can be used to observe the functions of reconstituted membrane proteins, including their structure, number of transmembrane domains, and functional type. Finally, we discuss the reconstitution of membrane proteins using a cell-free synthesis system and the reconstitution and function of multiple membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiyuki Tosaka
- Division of Molecular Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, Gunma 376-8515, Japan
| | - Koki Kamiya
- Division of Molecular Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, Gunma 376-8515, Japan
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Shimomura A, Ina S, Oki M, Tsuji G. Effects of Charged Lipids on Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Fusion and Inner Content Mixing via Freeze-Thawing. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200550. [PMID: 36321751 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200550] [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: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Fusion between giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) can incorporate and mix components of biochemical reactions. Recently, GUV fusion induced by freeze-thawing (F/T) was employed to construct artificial cells that can easily and repeatedly fuse GUVs with efficient content mixing. However, GUVs were ruptured during F/T, and the inner contents leaked. Herein, we investigated the effects of charged lipids on GUV fusion via F/T. The presence of 10 %-50 % (w/w%) negatively charged lipids in GUV membranes, mainly composed of the neutral charged lipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), improved resistance to GUV rupture and decreased inner content leakage. Furthermore, we found that the presence of positively charged lipids in GUV membranes elevated GUV rupture compared with F/T between GUVs containing POPC alone. Modified GUVs may better incorporate nutrients and lipid membranes with less damage following GUV fusion via F/T, providing an improved artificial model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayu Shimomura
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Fukui, 3-9-1 Bunkyo, Fukui-shi, Fukui, 910-8507, Japan
| | - Shiori Ina
- Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, University of Fukui, 3-9-1 Bunkyo, Fukui-shi, Fukui, 910-8507, Japan
| | - Masaya Oki
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Fukui, 3-9-1 Bunkyo, Fukui-shi, Fukui, 910-8507, Japan.,Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, University of Fukui, 3-9-1 Bunkyo, Fukui-shi, Fukui, 910-8507, Japan.,Life Science Innovation Center, University of Fukui, 3-9-1 Bunkyo, Fukui-shi, Fukui, 910-8507, Japan
| | - Gakushi Tsuji
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Fukui, 3-9-1 Bunkyo, Fukui-shi, Fukui, 910-8507, Japan.,Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, University of Fukui, 3-9-1 Bunkyo, Fukui-shi, Fukui, 910-8507, Japan.,Life Science Innovation Center, University of Fukui, 3-9-1 Bunkyo, Fukui-shi, Fukui, 910-8507, Japan
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