1
|
Terenzi L, Gao Z, Ravandeh M, Fedele C, Klausen LH, Bovio CL, Priimagi A, Santoro F. Engineering Lipid-Based Pop-up Conductive Interfaces with PEDOT:PSS and Light-Responsive Azopolymer Films. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2303812. [PMID: 39126173 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303812] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Significant challenges have emerged in the development of biomimetic electronic interfaces capable of dynamic interaction with living organisms and biological systems, including neurons, muscles, and sensory organs. Yet, there remains a need for interfaces that can function on demand, facilitating communication and biorecognition with living cells in bioelectronic systems. In this study, the design and engineering of a responsive and conductive material with cell-instructive properties, allowing for the modification of its topography through light irradiation, resulting in the formation of "pop-up structures", is presented. A deformable substrate, composed of a bilayer comprising a light-responsive, azobenzene-containing polymer, pDR1m, and a conductive polymer, PEDOT:PSS, is fabricated and characterized. Moreover, the successful formation of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) and the maintenance of integrity while deforming the pDR1m/PEDOT:PSS films represent promising advancements for future applications in responsive bioelectronics and neuroelectronic interfaces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Terenzi
- Institute of Biological Information Processing - Bioelectronics, IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Neuroelectronic Interfaces, RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ziyu Gao
- Institute of Biological Information Processing - Bioelectronics, IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Neuroelectronic Interfaces, RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mehdi Ravandeh
- Institute of Biological Information Processing - Bioelectronics, IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Neuroelectronic Interfaces, RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Chiara Fedele
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, FI-33720, Finland
| | - Lasse Hyldgaard Klausen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center - INANO-Fysik, Aarhus University, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Claudia Latte Bovio
- Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare, Italian Institute of Technology, Naples, 80125, Italy
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Produzione Industriale, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, 80125, Italy
| | - Arri Priimagi
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, FI-33720, Finland
| | - Francesca Santoro
- Institute of Biological Information Processing - Bioelectronics, IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428, Jülich, Germany
- Neuroelectronic Interfaces, RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare, Italian Institute of Technology, Naples, 80125, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Maiti A, Daschakraborty S. Investigating the Influence of Photoswitchable Lipids on the Structure and Dynamics of Lipid Membranes: Fundamentals and Potential Applications. J Phys Chem B 2024. [PMID: 39066711 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c03004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
In this work, we delve into the impact of photoisomerization of photoswitchable lipids (PSLs) on the membrane structure and dynamics at a molecular level. Through all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we explore how UV irradiation-induced trans-to-cis isomerization of these lipids, particularly the azobenzene-derivatized phosphatidylcholine (AzoPC) lipid, influences the structure and dynamics of a simplified lipid membrane, mimicking those of E. coli bacteria across different temperatures. Our findings align with previous experimental observations regarding membrane properties and offer insights into localized effects and microscopic heterogeneity. Additionally, we estimate the relaxation time scale of the lipid membrane following AzoPC photoisomerization. Moreover, we demonstrate the feasibility of photoactivated drug release, exemplified by the controlled liberation of doxorubicin, an anticancer agent, through the membrane, suggesting the potential of PSLs in engineering photoactivated liposomes, coined as photoazosomes, for precise targeted drug delivery applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Archita Maiti
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Patna, Bihar 801106, India
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Johnson TG, Sadeghi-Kelishadi A, Langton MJ. Length dependent reversible off-on activation of photo-switchable relay anion transporters. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:7160-7163. [PMID: 38910566 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc02603a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
A homologous series of azobenzene-derived photo-switchable ion relay transporters is reported. We reveal that both the length and geometry of the relay strongly affect transport rate, allowing the relative activity of the E and Z isomers to be reversed and hence the wavelengths of light used for on and off switching to be exchanged.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Toby G Johnson
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mangiarotti A, Aleksanyan M, Siri M, Sun T, Lipowsky R, Dimova R. Photoswitchable Endocytosis of Biomolecular Condensates in Giant Vesicles. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2309864. [PMID: 38582523 PMCID: PMC11187966 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Interactions between membranes and biomolecular condensates can give rise to complex phenomena such as wetting transitions, mutual remodeling, and endocytosis. In this study, light-triggered manipulation of condensate engulfment is demonstrated using giant vesicles containing photoswitchable lipids. UV irradiation increases the membrane area, which can be stored in nanotubes. When in contact with a condensate droplet, the UV light triggers rapid condensate endocytosis, which can be reverted by blue light. The affinity of the protein-rich condensates to the membrane and the reversibility of the engulfment processes is quantified from confocal microscopy images. The degree of photo-induced engulfment, whether partial or complete, depends on the vesicle excess area and the relative sizes of vesicles and condensates. Theoretical estimates suggest that utilizing the light-induced excess area to increase the vesicle-condensate adhesion interface is energetically more favorable than the energy gain from folding the membrane into invaginations and tubes. The overall findings demonstrate that membrane-condensate interactions can be easily and quickly modulated via light, providing a versatile system for building platforms to control cellular events and design intelligent drug delivery systems for cell repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Mangiarotti
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
| | - Mina Aleksanyan
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
- Institute for Chemistry and BiochemistryFree University of BerlinTakustraße 314195BerlinGermany
| | - Macarena Siri
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
- Max Planck Queensland CentreScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
| | - Tsu‐Wang Sun
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
| | - Reinhard Lipowsky
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Huster D, Maiti S, Herrmann A. Phospholipid Membranes as Chemically and Functionally Tunable Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2312898. [PMID: 38456771 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The sheet-like lipid bilayer is the fundamental structural component of all cell membranes. Its building blocks are phospholipids and cholesterol. Their amphiphilic structure spontaneously leads to the formation of a bilayer in aqueous environment. Lipids are not just structural elements. Individual lipid species, the lipid membrane structure, and lipid dynamics influence and regulate membrane protein function. An exciting field is emerging where the membrane-associated material properties of different bilayer systems are used in designing innovative solutions for widespread applications across various fields, such as the food industry, cosmetics, nano- and biomedicine, drug storage and delivery, biotechnology, nano- and biosensors, and computing. Here, the authors summarize what is known about how lipids determine the properties and functions of biological membranes and how this has been or can be translated into innovative applications. Based on recent progress in the understanding of membrane structure, dynamics, and physical properties, a perspective is provided on how membrane-controlled regulation of protein functions can extend current applications and even offer new applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Huster
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstr. 16/18, D-04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sudipta Maiti
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai, 400 005, India
| | - Andreas Herrmann
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department Chemistry and Biochemistry, SupraFAB, Altensteinstr. 23a, D-14195, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Barkey M, Büchner R, Wester A, Pritzl SD, Makarenko M, Wang Q, Weber T, Trauner D, Maier SA, Fratalocchi A, Lohmüller T, Tittl A. Pixelated High- Q Metasurfaces for in Situ Biospectroscopy and Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Classification of Lipid Membrane Photoswitching Dynamics. ACS NANO 2024; 18:11644-11654. [PMID: 38653474 PMCID: PMC11080459 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Nanophotonic devices excel at confining light into intense hot spots of electromagnetic near fields, creating exceptional opportunities for light-matter coupling and surface-enhanced sensing. Recently, all-dielectric metasurfaces with ultrasharp resonances enabled by photonic bound states in the continuum (BICs) have unlocked additional functionalities for surface-enhanced biospectroscopy by precisely targeting and reading out the molecular absorption signatures of diverse molecular systems. However, BIC-driven molecular spectroscopy has so far focused on end point measurements in dry conditions, neglecting the crucial interaction dynamics of biological systems. Here, we combine the advantages of pixelated all-dielectric metasurfaces with deep learning-enabled feature extraction and prediction to realize an integrated optofluidic platform for time-resolved in situ biospectroscopy. Our approach harnesses high-Q metasurfaces specifically designed for operation in a lossy aqueous environment together with advanced spectral sampling techniques to temporally resolve the dynamic behavior of photoswitchable lipid membranes. Enabled by a software convolutional neural network, we further demonstrate the real-time classification of the characteristic cis and trans membrane conformations with 98% accuracy. Our synergistic sensing platform incorporating metasurfaces, optofluidics, and deep learning reveals exciting possibilities for studying multimolecular biological systems, ranging from the behavior of transmembrane proteins to the dynamic processes associated with cellular communication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Barkey
- Chair
in Hybrid Nanosystems, Nano-Institute Munich, Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universtität München, Königinstraße 10, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Rebecca Büchner
- Chair
in Hybrid Nanosystems, Nano-Institute Munich, Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universtität München, Königinstraße 10, 80539 München, Germany
- Nanophotonic
Systems Laboratory, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Alwin Wester
- Chair
in Hybrid Nanosystems, Nano-Institute Munich, Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universtität München, Königinstraße 10, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Stefanie D. Pritzl
- Chair
for Photonics and Optoelectronics, Nano-Institute Munich, Faculty
of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universtität
München, Königinstraße
10, 80539 München, Germany
- Department
of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maksim Makarenko
- PRIMALIGHT,
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Qizhou Wang
- PRIMALIGHT,
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thomas Weber
- Chair
in Hybrid Nanosystems, Nano-Institute Munich, Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universtität München, Königinstraße 10, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United
States
| | - Stefan A. Maier
- Chair
in Hybrid Nanosystems, Nano-Institute Munich, Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universtität München, Königinstraße 10, 80539 München, Germany
- School of
Physics and Astronomy, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- The Blackett
Laboratory, Department of Physics, Imperial
College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Fratalocchi
- PRIMALIGHT,
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Theobald Lohmüller
- Chair
for Photonics and Optoelectronics, Nano-Institute Munich, Faculty
of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universtität
München, Königinstraße
10, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Andreas Tittl
- Chair
in Hybrid Nanosystems, Nano-Institute Munich, Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universtität München, Königinstraße 10, 80539 München, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bassetto CAZ, Pfeffermann J, Yadav R, Strassgschwandtner S, Glasnov T, Bezanilla F, Pohl P. Photolipid excitation triggers depolarizing optocapacitive currents and action potentials. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1139. [PMID: 38326372 PMCID: PMC10850502 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45403-y] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Optically-induced changes in membrane capacitance may regulate neuronal activity without requiring genetic modifications. Previously, they mainly relied on sudden temperature jumps due to light absorption by membrane-associated nanomaterials or water. Yet, nanomaterial targeting or the required high infrared light intensities obstruct broad applicability. Now, we propose a very versatile approach: photolipids (azobenzene-containing diacylglycerols) mediate light-triggered cellular de- or hyperpolarization. As planar bilayer experiments show, the respective currents emerge from millisecond-timescale changes in bilayer capacitance. UV light changes photolipid conformation, which awards embedding plasma membranes with increased capacitance and evokes depolarizing currents. They open voltage-gated sodium channels in cells, generating action potentials. Blue light reduces the area per photolipid, decreasing membrane capacitance and eliciting hyperpolarization. If present, mechanosensitive channels respond to the increased mechanical membrane tension, generating large depolarizing currents that elicit action potentials. Membrane self-insertion of administered photolipids and focused illumination allows cell excitation with high spatiotemporal control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Z Bassetto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Juergen Pfeffermann
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Gruberstraße 40, 4020, Linz, Austria
| | - Rohit Yadav
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Gruberstraße 40, 4020, Linz, Austria
| | | | - Toma Glasnov
- Institute of Chemistry, Karl-Franzens-University, Graz, Austria
| | - Francisco Bezanilla
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Peter Pohl
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Gruberstraße 40, 4020, Linz, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Socrier L, Steinem C. Photo-Lipids: Light-Sensitive Nano-Switches to Control Membrane Properties. Chempluschem 2023; 88:e202300203. [PMID: 37395458 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300203] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Biological membranes are described as a complex mixture of lipids and proteins organized according to thermodynamic principles. This chemical and spatial complexity can lead to specialized functional membrane domains enriched with specific lipids and proteins. The interaction between lipids and proteins restricts their lateral diffusion and range of motion, thus altering their function. One approach to investigating these membrane properties is to use chemically accessible probes. In particular, photo-lipids, which contain a light-sensitive azobenzene moiety that changes its configuration from trans- to cis- upon light irradiation, have recently gained popularity for modifying membrane properties. These azobenzene-derived lipids serve as nanotools for manipulating lipid membranes in vitro and in vivo. Here, we will discuss the use of these compounds in artificial and biological membranes as well as their application in drug delivery. We will focus mainly on changes in the membrane's physical properties as well as lipid membrane domains in phase-separated liquid-ordered/liquid-disordered bilayers driven by light, and how these changes in membrane physical properties alter transmembrane protein function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Socrier
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Faßberg 17, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Steinem
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, Georg-August-Universität, Tammannstraße 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ventura CR, Wiedman GR. WITHDRAWN: Photobuforin II, a fluorescent photoswitchable peptide. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023:130468. [PMID: 37783292 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadva.2023.100106. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/article-withdrawal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina R Ventura
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA
| | - Gregory R Wiedman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ventura CR, Wiedman GR. Photobuforin II, a fluorescent photoswitchable peptide. BBA ADVANCES 2023; 4:100106. [PMID: 37842183 PMCID: PMC10568295 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadva.2023.100106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptide buforin II translocates across the cell membrane and binds to DNA. Its sequence is identical to a portion of core histone protein H2A making it a highly charged peptide. Buforin II has a proline residue in the middle of its sequence that creates a helix-hinge-helix motif which has been found to play a key role in its ability to translocate across the cell membrane. To explore the structure-function relationship of this proline residue this study has replaced P11 with a meta-substituted azobenzene amino acid (Z). The resultant peptide, photobuforin II, retained the secondary structure and membrane activity of the naturally occurring peptide while gaining new spectroscopic properties. Photobuforin II can be isomerized from its trans to cis isomer upon irradiation with ultra-violet (UV) light and from its cis to trans isomer upon irradiation with visible (VL). Photobuforin II is also fluorescent with an emission peak at 390 nm. The intrinsic fluorescence of the peptide was used to determine binding to the membrane and to DNA. VL-treated photobuforin II has a 2-fold lower binding constant compared to UV-treated photobuforin and causes 11-fold more membrane leakage in 3:1 POPC:POPG vesicles. Photobuforin II provides insights into the importance of structure function relationships in membrane active peptides while also demonstrating that azobenzene can be used in certain peptide sequences to produce intrinsic fluorescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina R. Ventura
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA
| | - Gregory R. Wiedman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Adrion DM, Lopez SA. Design rules for optimization of photophysical and kinetic properties of azoarene photoswitches. Org Biomol Chem 2023; 21:7351-7357. [PMID: 37646103 DOI: 10.1039/d3ob01298k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Azoarenes are an important class of molecular photoswitches that often undergo E → Z isomerization with ultraviolet light and have short Z-isomer lifetimes. Azobenzene has been a widely studied photoswitch for decades but can be poorly suited for photopharmacological applications due to its UV-light absorption and short-lived Z-isomer half-life (t1/2). Recently, diazo photoswitches with one or more thiophene rings in place of a phenyl ring have emerged as promising candidates, as they exhibit a stable photostationary state (98% E → Z conversion) and E-isomer absorption (λmax) in the visible light range (405 nm). In this work, we performed density functional theory calculations [PBE0-D3BJ/6-31+G(d,p)] on 26 hemi-azothiophenes, substituted with one phenyl ring and one thiophene ring on the diazo bond. We calculated the E-isomer absorption (λmax) and Z-isomer t1/2 for a set of 26 hemi-azothiophenes. We compared their properties to thiophene-based photoswitches that have been studied previously. We separated the 26 proposed photoswitches into four quadrants based on their λmax and t1/2 relative to past generations of hemi-azothiophene photoswitches. We note 8 hemi-azothiophenes with redshifted λmax and longer t1/2 than previous systems. Our top candidate has λmax and a t1/2 approaching 360 nm and 279 years, respectively. The results here present a pathway towards leveraging and optimizing two properties of photoswitches previously thought to be inversely related.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Adrion
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.
| | - Steven A Lopez
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bassetto CAZ, Pfeffermann J, Yadav R, Strassgschwandtner S, Glasnov T, Bezanilla F, Pohl P. Photolipid excitation triggers depolarizing optocapacitive currents and action potentials. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.11.552849. [PMID: 37645959 PMCID: PMC10462005 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.11.552849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Optically-induced changes in membrane capacitance may regulate neuronal activity without requiring genetic modifications. Previously, they mainly relied on sudden temperature jumps due to light absorption by membrane-associated nanomaterials or water. Yet, nanomaterial targeting or the required high infrared light intensities obstruct broad applicability. Now, we propose a very versatile approach: photolipids (azobenzene-containing diacylglycerols) mediate light-triggered cellular de- or hyperpolarization. As planar bilayer experiments show, the respective currents emerge from millisecond-timescale changes in bilayer capacitance. UV light changes photolipid conformation, which awards embedding plasma membranes with increased capacitance and evokes depolarizing currents. They open voltage-gated sodium channels in cells, generating action potentials. Blue light reduces the area per photolipid, decreasing membrane capacitance and eliciting hyperpolarization. If present, mechanosensitive channels respond to the increased mechanical membrane tension, generating large depolarizing currents that elicit action potentials. Membrane self-insertion of administered photolipids and focused illumination allows cell excitation with high spatiotemporal control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A. Z. Bassetto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Juergen Pfeffermann
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Gruberstraße 40, 4020 Linz, Austria
| | - Rohit Yadav
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Gruberstraße 40, 4020 Linz, Austria
| | | | - Toma Glasnov
- Institute of Chemistry, Karl-Franzens-University, Graz, Austria
| | - Francisco Bezanilla
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Peter Pohl
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Gruberstraße 40, 4020 Linz, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Melero A, Jiménez-Rojo N. Cracking the membrane lipid code. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 83:102203. [PMID: 37437490 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102203] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Why has nature acquired such a huge lipid repertoire? Although it would be theoretically possible to make a lipid bilayer fulfilling barrier functions with only one glycerophospholipid, there are diverse and numerous different lipid species. Lipids are heterogeneously distributed across the evolutionary tree with lipidomes evolving in parallel to organismal complexity. Moreover, lipids are different between organs and tissues and even within the same cell, different organelles have characteristic lipid signatures. At the molecular level, membranes are asymmetric and laterally heterogeneous. This lipid asymmetry at different scales indicates that these molecules may play very specific molecular functions in biology. Some of these roles have been recently uncovered: lipids have been shown to be essential in processes such as hypoxia and ferroptosis or in protein sorting and trafficking but many of them remain still unknown. In this review we will discuss the importance of understanding lipid diversity in biology across scales and we will share a toolbox with some of the emerging technologies that are helping us to uncover new lipid molecular functions in cell biology and, step by step, crack the membrane lipid code.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Melero
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Noemi Jiménez-Rojo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940, Leioa, Spain; Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), 48940, Leioa, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bohg C, Öster C, Türkaydin B, Lisurek M, Sanchez-Carranza P, Lange S, Utesch T, Sun H, Lange A. The opening dynamics of the lateral gate regulates the activity of rhomboid proteases. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh3858. [PMID: 37467320 PMCID: PMC10355837 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh3858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Rhomboid proteases hydrolyze substrate helices within the lipid bilayer to release soluble domains from the membrane. Here, we investigate the mechanism of activity regulation for this unique but wide-spread protein family. In the model rhomboid GlpG, a lateral gate formed by transmembrane helices TM2 and TM5 was previously proposed to allow access of the hydrophobic substrate to the shielded hydrophilic active site. In our study, we modified the gate region and either immobilized the gate by introducing a maleimide-maleimide (M2M) crosslink or weakened the TM2/TM5 interaction network through mutations. We used solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and molecular docking to investigate the resulting effects on structure and dynamics on the atomic level. We find that variants with increased dynamics at TM5 also exhibit enhanced activity, whereas introduction of a crosslink close to the active site strongly reduces activity. Our study therefore establishes a strong link between the opening dynamics of the lateral gate in rhomboid proteases and their enzymatic activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Bohg
- Research Unit Molecular Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Carl Öster
- Research Unit Molecular Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Berke Türkaydin
- Research Unit Structural Chemistry & Computational Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Lisurek
- Research Unit Structural Chemistry & Computational Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Pascal Sanchez-Carranza
- Research Unit Molecular Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sascha Lange
- Research Unit Molecular Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tillmann Utesch
- Research Unit Structural Chemistry & Computational Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Han Sun
- Research Unit Structural Chemistry & Computational Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Adam Lange
- Research Unit Molecular Biophysics, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstraße 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Warias JE, Reise F, Hövelmann SC, Giri RP, Röhrl M, Kuhn J, Jacobsen M, Chatterjee K, Arnold T, Shen C, Festersen S, Sartori A, Jordt P, Magnussen OM, Lindhorst TK, Murphy BM. Photoinduced bidirectional switching in lipid membranes containing azobenzene glycolipids. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11480. [PMID: 37455299 PMCID: PMC10350456 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38336-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the reaction of biological membranes to external stimuli reveals fundamental insights into cellular function. Here, self-assembled lipid monolayers act as model membranes containing photoswitchable azobenzene glycolipids for investigating structural response during isomerization by combining Langmuir isotherms with X-ray scattering. Controlled in-situ trans/cis photoswitching of the azobenzene N = N double bond alters the DPPC monolayer structure, causing reproducible changes in surface pressure and layer thickness, indicating monolayer reorientation. Interestingly, for monolayers containing azobenzene glycolipids, along with the expected DPPC phase transitions an additional discontinuity is observed. The associated reorintation represents a crossover point, with the surface pressure and layer thickness changing in opposite directions above and below. This is evidence that the azobenzene glycolipids themselves change orientation within the monolayer. Such behaviour suggests that azobenzene glycolipids can act as a bidirectional switch in DPPC monolayers providing a tool to investigate membrane structure-function relationships in depth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas E Warias
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Franziska Reise
- Otto Diels Institute of Organic Chemistry, Kiel University, Otto-Hahn-Platz 3-4, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Svenja C Hövelmann
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24118, Kiel, Germany
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- Ruprecht Haensel Laboratory, Kiel University, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Rajendra P Giri
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24118, Kiel, Germany
- Ruprecht Haensel Laboratory, Kiel University, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Michael Röhrl
- Otto Diels Institute of Organic Chemistry, Kiel University, Otto-Hahn-Platz 3-4, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jule Kuhn
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Malte Jacobsen
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Kuntal Chatterjee
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24118, Kiel, Germany
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Barkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Thomas Arnold
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 ODE, UK
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
- European Spallation Source ERIC, P.O Box 176, 221 00, Lund, Sweden
| | - Chen Shen
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sven Festersen
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Andrea Sartori
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24118, Kiel, Germany
- ESRF-The European Synchrotron, 38043, Grenoble, France
| | - Philipp Jordt
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Olaf M Magnussen
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24118, Kiel, Germany
- Ruprecht Haensel Laboratory, Kiel University, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Thisbe K Lindhorst
- Otto Diels Institute of Organic Chemistry, Kiel University, Otto-Hahn-Platz 3-4, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Bridget M Murphy
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Kiel University, Leibnizstr. 19, 24118, Kiel, Germany.
- Ruprecht Haensel Laboratory, Kiel University, 24118, Kiel, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Socrier L, Ahadi S, Bosse M, Montag C, Werz DB, Steinem C. Optical Manipulation of Gb 3 Enriched Lipid Domains: Impact of Isomerization on Gb 3 -Shiga Toxin B Interaction. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202202766. [PMID: 36279320 PMCID: PMC10099549 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202202766] [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: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The plasma membrane is a complex assembly of proteins and lipids that can self-assemble in submicroscopic domains commonly termed "lipid rafts", which are implicated in membrane signaling and trafficking. Recently, photo-sensitive lipids were introduced to study membrane domain organization, and photo-isomerization was shown to trigger the mixing and de-mixing of liquid-ordered (lo ) domains in artificial phase-separated membranes. Here, we synthesized globotriaosylceramide (Gb3 ) glycosphingolipids that harbor an azobenzene moiety at different positions of the fatty acid to investigate light-induced membrane domain reorganization, and that serve as specific receptors for the protein Shiga toxin (STx). Using phase-separated supported lipid bilayers on mica surfaces doped with four different photo-Gb3 molecules, we found by fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy that liquid disordered (ld ) domains were formed within lo domains upon trans-cis photo-isomerization. The fraction and size of these ld domains were largest for Gb3 molecules with the azobenzene group at the end of the fatty acid. We further investigated the impact of domain reorganization on the interaction of the B-subunits of STx with the photo-Gb3 . Fluorescence and atomic force micrographs clearly demonstrated that STxB binds to the lo phase if Gb3 is in the trans-configuration, whereas two STxB populations are formed if the photo-Gb3 is switched to the cis-configuration highlighting the idea of manipulating lipid-protein interactions with a light stimulus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Socrier
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Faßberg 17, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, Georg-August-Universität, Tammannstraße 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Somayeh Ahadi
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Mathias Bosse
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, 04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Cindy Montag
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, 04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel B Werz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany.,Institute of Organic Chemistry, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstraße 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Steinem
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Faßberg 17, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, Georg-August-Universität, Tammannstraße 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Light-Switchable Membrane Permeability in Giant Unilamellar Vesicles. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122777. [PMID: 36559270 PMCID: PMC9780837 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) were synthesized by blending the natural phospholipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) with a photoswitchable amphiphile (1) that undergoes photoisomerization upon irradiation with UV-A (E to Z) and blue (Z to E) light. The mixed vesicles showed marked changes in behavior in response to UV light, including changes in morphology and the opening of pores. The fine control of membrane permeability with consequent cargo release could be attained by modulating either the UV irradiation intensity or the membrane composition. As a proof of concept, the photocontrolled release of sucrose from mixed GUVs is demonstrated using microscopy (phase contrast) and confocal studies. The permeability of the GUVs to sucrose could be increased to ~4 × 10-2 μm/s when the system was illuminated by UV light. With respect to previously reported systems (entirely composed of synthetic amphiphiles), our findings demonstrate the potential of photosensitive GUVs that are mainly composed of natural lipids to be used in medical and biomedical applications, such as targeted drug delivery and localized topical treatments.
Collapse
|
18
|
Wegner T, Laskar R, Glorius F. Lipid mimetics: A versatile toolbox for lipid biology and beyond. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 71:102209. [PMID: 36122522 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Being the principal component of biological membranes lipids are essential building blocks of life. Given their huge biological importance, the investigation of lipids, their properties, interactions and metabolic pathways is of prime importance for the fundamental understanding of living cells and organisms as well as the emergence of diseases. Different strategies have been applied to investigate lipid-mediated biological processes, one of them being the use of lipid mimetics. They structurally resemble their natural counterparts but are equipped with functionality that can be used to probe or manipulate lipid-mediated biological processes and biomembranes. Lipid mimetics therefore constitute an indispensable toolbox for lipid biology and membrane research but also beyond for potential applications in medicine or synthetic biology. Herein, we highlight recent advances in the development and application of lipid-mimicking compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Wegner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Ranjini Laskar
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Frank Glorius
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Knittel CH, Devaraj NK. Bioconjugation Strategies for Revealing the Roles of Lipids in Living Cells. Acc Chem Res 2022; 55:3099-3109. [PMID: 36215688 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.2c00511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The structural boundaries of living cells are composed of numerous membrane-forming lipids. Lipids not only are crucial for the cellular compartmentalization but also are involved in cell signaling as well as energy storage. Abnormal lipid levels have been linked to severe human diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, as well as lysosomal storage disorders. Given their biological significance, there is immense interest in studying lipids and their effect on cells. However, limiting factors include the low solubility of lipids, their structural complexity, and the challenge of using genetic techniques to directly manipulate lipid structure. Current methods to study lipids rely mostly on lipidomics, which analyzes the composition of lipid extracts using mass spectrometry. Although, these efforts have successfully catalogued and profiled a great number of lipids in cells, many aspects about their exact functional role and subcellular distribution remain enigmatic.In this Account, we outline how our laboratory developed and applied different bioconjugation strategies to study the role of lipids and lipid modifications in cells. Inspired by our ongoing work on developing lipid bioconjugation strategies to generate artificial cell membranes, we developed a ceramide synthesis method in live cells using a salicylaldehyde ester that readily reacts with sphingosine in form of a traceless ceramide ligation. Our study not only confirmed existing knowledge about the association of ceramides with cell death, but also gave interesting new findings about the structure-function relationship of ceramides in apoptosis. Our initial efforts led us to investigate probes that detect endogenous sphingolipids using live cell imaging. We describe the development of a fluorogenic probe that reacts chemoselectively with sphingosine in living cells, enabling the detection of elevated endogenous levels of this biomarker in human disease. Building on our interest in the fluorescence labeling of lipids, we have also explored the use of bioorthogonal reactions to label chemically synthesized lipid probes. We discuss the development of photocaged dihydrotetrazine lipids, where the initiation of the bioorthogonal reaction can be triggered by visible light, allowing for live cell modification of membranes with spatiotemporal control.Finally, proteins are often post-translationally modified by lipids, which have important effects on protein subcellular localization and function. Controlling lipid modifications with small molecule probes could help reveal the function of lipid post-translational modifications and could potentially inspire novel therapeutic strategies. We describe how our previous studies on synthetic membrane formation inspired us to develop an amphiphilic cysteine derivative that depalmitoylates membrane-bound S-acylated proteins in live cells. Ultimately, we applied this amphiphile mediated depalmitoylation (AMD) in studies investigating the palmitoylation of cancer relevant palmitoylated proteins in healthy and diseased cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline H Knittel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Neal K Devaraj
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Morstein J, Bader T, Cardillo AL, Schackmann J, Ashok S, Hougland JL, Hrycyna CA, Trauner DH, Distefano MD. Photoswitchable Isoprenoid Lipids Enable Optical Control of Peptide Lipidation. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2945-2953. [PMID: 36194691 PMCID: PMC9799063 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Photoswitchable lipids have emerged as attractive tools for the optical control of lipid bioactivity, metabolism, and biophysical properties. Their design is typically based on the incorporation of an azobenzene photoswitch into the hydrophobic lipid tail, which can be switched between its trans- and cis-form using two different wavelengths of light. While glycero- and sphingolipids have been successfully designed to be photoswitchable, isoprenoid lipids have not yet been investigated. Herein, we describe the development of photoswitchable analogs of an isoprenoid lipid and systematically assess their potential for the optical control of various steps in the isoprenylation processing pathway of CaaX proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One photoswitchable analog of farnesyl diphosphate (AzoFPP-1) allowed effective optical control of substrate prenylation by farnesyltransferase. The subsequent steps of isoprenylation processing (proteolysis by either Ste24 or Rce1 and carboxyl methylation by Ste14) were less affected by photoisomerization of the group introduced into the lipid moiety of the substrate a-factor, a mating pheromone from yeast. We assessed both proteolysis and methylation of the a-factor analogs in vitro and the bioactivity of a fully processed a-factor analog containing the photoswitch, exogenously added to cognate yeast cells. Combined, these data describe the first successful conversion of an isoprenoid lipid into a photolipid and suggest the utility of this approach for the optical control of protein prenylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Morstein
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
| | - Taysir Bader
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Ariana L. Cardillo
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Julian Schackmann
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
| | - Sudhat Ashok
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA
| | - James L. Hougland
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA
- BioInspired Syracuse: Institute for Material and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA
| | | | - Dirk H. Trauner
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Mark D. Distefano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Pritzl SD, Morstein J, Kahler S, Konrad DB, Trauner D, Lohmüller T. Postsynthetic Photocontrol of Giant Liposomes via Fusion-Based Photolipid Doping. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:11941-11949. [PMID: 36130117 PMCID: PMC9536078 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We report on photolipid doping of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) via vesicle fusion with small unilamellar photolipid vesicles (pSUVs), which enables retroactive optical control of the membrane properties. We observe that vesicle fusion is light-dependent, if the phospholipids are neutral. Charge-mediated fusion involving anionic and cationic lipid molecules augments the overall fusion performance and doping efficiency, even in the absence of light exposure. Using phosphatidylcholine analogs with one or two azobenzene photoswitches (azo-PC and dazo-PC) affects domain formation, bending stiffness, and shape of the resulting vesicles in response to irradiation. Moreover, we show that optical membrane control can be extended to long wavelengths using red-absorbing photolipids (red-azo-PC). Combined, our findings present an attractive and practical method for the precise delivery of photolipids, which offers new prospects for the optical control of membrane function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie D. Pritzl
- Chair
for Photonics and Optoelectronics, Nano-Institute Munich, Department
of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
(LMU), 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Morstein
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, Silver Center, New York 10003, United States
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, UCSF, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Sophia Kahler
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, Silver Center, New York 10003, United States
| | - David B. Konrad
- Department
of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
(LMU), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, Silver Center, New York 10003, United States
| | - Theobald Lohmüller
- Chair
for Photonics and Optoelectronics, Nano-Institute Munich, Department
of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
(LMU), 80539 Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Azobenzene as Antimicrobial Molecules. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175643. [PMID: 36080413 PMCID: PMC9457709 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Azo molecules, characterized by the presence of a -N=N- double bond, are widely used in various fields due to their sensitivity to external stimuli, ch as light. The emergence of bacterial resistance has pushed research towards designing new antimicrobial molecules that are more efficient than those currently in use. Many authors have attempted to exploit the antimicrobial activity of azobenzene and to utilize their photoisomerization for selective control of the bioactivities of antimicrobial molecules, which is necessary for antibacterial therapy. This review will provide a systematic and consequential approach to coupling azobenzene moiety with active antimicrobial molecules and drugs, including small and large organic molecules, such as peptides. A selection of significant cutting-edge articles collected in recent years has been discussed, based on the structural pattern and antimicrobial performance, focusing especially on the photoactivity of azobenzene and the design of smart materials as the most targeted and desirable application.
Collapse
|
23
|
Young M, Lewis AH, Grandl J. Physics of mechanotransduction by Piezo ion channels. J Gen Physiol 2022; 154:213231. [PMID: 35593732 PMCID: PMC9127981 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202113044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Piezo ion channels are sensors of mechanical forces and mediate a wide range of physiological mechanotransduction processes. More than a decade of intense research has elucidated much of the structural and mechanistic principles underlying Piezo gating and its roles in physiology, although wide gaps of knowledge continue to exist. Here, we review the forces and energies involved in mechanical activation of Piezo ion channels and their functional modulation by other chemical and physical stimuli including lipids, voltage, and temperature. We compare the three predominant mechanisms likely to explain Piezo activation—the force-from-lipids mechanism, the tether model, and the membrane footprint theory. Additional sections shine light on how Piezo ion channels may affect each other through spatial clustering and functional cooperativity, and how substantial functional heterogeneity of Piezo ion channels arises as a byproduct of the precise physical environment each channel experiences. Finally, our review concludes by pointing out major research questions and technological limitations that future research can address.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Young
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Amanda H Lewis
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Jörg Grandl
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Crea F, Vorkas A, Redlich A, Cruz R, Shi C, Trauner D, Lange A, Schlesinger R, Heberle J. Photoactivation of a Mechanosensitive Channel. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:905306. [PMID: 35836929 PMCID: PMC9273776 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.905306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Optogenetics in the conventional sense, i.e. the use of engineered proteins that gain their light sensitivity from naturally abundant chromophores, represents an exciting means to trigger and control biological activity by light. As an alternate approach, photopharmacology controls biological activity with the help of synthetic photoswitches. Here, we used an azobenzene-derived lipid analogue to optically activate the transmembrane mechanosensitive channel MscL which responds to changes in the lateral pressure of the lipid bilayer. In this work, MscL has been reconstituted in nanodiscs, which provide a native-like environment to the protein and a physical constraint to membrane expansion. We characterized this photomechanical system by FTIR spectroscopy and assigned the vibrational bands of the light-induced FTIR difference spectra of the trans and cis states of the azobenzene photolipid by DFT calculations. Differences in the amide I range indicated reversible conformational changes in MscL as a direct consequence of light switching. With the mediation of nanodiscs, we inserted the transmembrane protein in a free standing photoswitchable lipid bilayer, where electrophysiological recordings confirmed that the ion channel could be set to one of its sub-conducting states upon light illumination. In conclusion, a novel approach is presented to photoactivate and control cellular processes as complex and intricate as gravitropism and turgor sensing in plants, contractility of the heart, as well as sensing pain, hearing, and touch in animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fucsia Crea
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antreas Vorkas
- Department of Physics, Genetic Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aoife Redlich
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rubén Cruz
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chaowei Shi
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, Germany
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Adam Lange
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, Germany
| | - Ramona Schlesinger
- Department of Physics, Genetic Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Heberle
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Joachim Heberle,
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Baserga F, Vorkas A, Crea F, Schubert L, Chen JL, Redlich A, La Greca M, Storm J, Oldemeyer S, Hoffmann K, Schlesinger R, Heberle J. Membrane Protein Activity Induces Specific Molecular Changes in Nanodiscs Monitored by FTIR Difference Spectroscopy. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:915328. [PMID: 35769914 PMCID: PMC9234331 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.915328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that lipids neighboring integral membrane proteins directly influence their function. The opposite effect is true as well, as membrane proteins undergo structural changes after activation and thus perturb the lipidic environment. Here, we studied the interaction between these molecular machines and the lipid bilayer by observing changes in the lipid vibrational bands via FTIR spectroscopy. Membrane proteins with different functionalities have been reconstituted into lipid nanodiscs: Microbial rhodopsins that act as light-activated ion pumps (the proton pumps NsXeR and UmRh1, and the chloride pump NmHR) or as sensors (NpSRII), as well as the electron-driven cytochrome c oxidase RsCcO. The effects of the structural changes on the surrounding lipid phase are compared to mechanically induced lateral tension exerted by the light-activatable lipid analogue AzoPC. With the help of isotopologues, we show that the ν(C = O) ester band of the glycerol backbone reports on changes in the lipids’ collective state induced by mechanical changes in the transmembrane proteins. The perturbation of the nanodisc lipids seems to involve their phase and/or packing state. 13C-labeling of the scaffold protein shows that its structure also responds to the mechanical expansion of the lipid bilayer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Baserga
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antreas Vorkas
- Department of Physics, Genetic Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fucsia Crea
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luiz Schubert
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jheng-Liang Chen
- Department of Physics, Genetic Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aoife Redlich
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Julian Storm
- Department of Physics, Genetic Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabine Oldemeyer
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kirsten Hoffmann
- Department of Physics, Genetic Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ramona Schlesinger
- Department of Physics, Genetic Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Ramona Schlesinger, ; Joachim Heberle,
| | - Joachim Heberle
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Ramona Schlesinger, ; Joachim Heberle,
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Adrion DM, Lopez SA. Cross-conjugation controls the stabilities and photophysical properties of heteroazoarene photoswitches. Org Biomol Chem 2022; 20:5989-5998. [PMID: 35014651 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob02026a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Azoarene photoswitches are versatile molecules that interconvert from their E-isomer to their Z-isomer with light. Azobenzene is a prototypical photoswitch but its derivatives can be poorly suited for in vivo applications such as photopharmacology due to undesired photochemical reactions promoted by ultraviolet light and the relatively short half-life (t1/2) of the Z-isomer (2 days). Experimental and computational studies suggest that these properties (λmax of the E isomer and t1/2 of the Z-isomer) are inversely related. We identified isomeric azobisthiophenes and azobisfurans from a high-throughput screening study of 1540 azoarenes as photoswitch candidates with improved λmax and t1/2 values relative to azobenzene. We used density functional theory to predict the activation free energies and vertical excitation energies of the E- and Z-isomers of 2,2- and 3,3-substituted azobisthiophenes and azobisfurans. The half-lives depend on whether the heterocycles are π-conjugated or cross-conjugated with the diazo π-bond. The 2,2-substituted azoarenes both have t1/2 values on the scale of 1 hour, while the 3,3-analogues have computed half-lives of 40 and 230 years (thiophene and furan, respectively). The 2,2-substituted heteroazoarenes have significantly higher λmax absorptions than their 3,3-substituted analogues: 76 nm for azofuran and 77 nm for azothiophene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Adrion
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.
| | - Steven A Lopez
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Abstract
Glycerolipids, sphingolipids, and sterols are the three major classes of membrane lipids. Both glycerolipids and sphingolipids are comprised of combinations of polar headgroups and fatty acid tails. The fatty acid tail can be chemically modified with an azobenzene photoswitch giving rise to photoswitchable lipids. This approach has yielded a number of photopharmacological tools that allow for the control various of aspects of lipid assembly, metabolism, and physiology with light.
Collapse
|
28
|
Bryan AM, You JK, Li G, Kim J, Singh A, Morstein J, Trauner D, Pereira de Sá N, Normile TG, Farnoud AM, London E, Del Poeta M. Cholesterol and sphingomyelin are critical for Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by macrophages. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101411. [PMID: 34793834 PMCID: PMC8661020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in lymphopenic patients. Pulmonary macrophages comprise the first line of host defense upon inhalation of fungal spores by aiding in clearance but can also potentially serve as a niche for their dissemination. Given that macrophages play a key role in the outcome of a cryptococcal infection, it is crucial to understand factors that mediate phagocytosis of C. neoformans. Since lipid rafts (high-order plasma membrane domains enriched in cholesterol and sphingomyelin [SM]) have been implicated in facilitating phagocytosis, we evaluated whether these ordered domains govern macrophages' ability to phagocytose C. neoformans. We found that cholesterol or SM depletion resulted in significantly deficient immunoglobulin G (IgG)-mediated phagocytosis of fungus. Moreover, repletion of macrophage cells with a raft-promoting sterol (7-dehydrocholesterol) rescued this phagocytic deficiency, whereas a raft-inhibiting sterol (coprostanol) significantly decreased IgG-mediated phagocytosis of C. neoformans. Using a photoswitchable SM (AzoSM), we observed that the raft-promoting conformation (trans-AzoSM) resulted in efficient phagocytosis, whereas the raft-inhibiting conformation (cis-AzoSM) significantly but reversibly blunted phagocytosis. We observed that the effect on phagocytosis may be facilitated by Fcγ receptor (FcγR) function, whereby IgG immune complexes crosslink to FcγRIII, resulting in tyrosine phosphorylation of FcR γ-subunit (FcRγ), an important accessory protein in the FcγR signaling cascade. Correspondingly, cholesterol or SM depletion resulted in decreased FcRγ phosphorylation. Repletion with 7-dehydrocholesterol restored phosphorylation, whereas repletion with coprostanol showed FcRγ phosphorylation comparable to unstimulated cells. Together, these data suggest that lipid rafts are critical for facilitating FcγRIII-mediated phagocytosis of C. neoformans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arielle M Bryan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jeehyun Karen You
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Guangtao Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - JiHyun Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Ashutosh Singh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Johannes Morstein
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nívea Pereira de Sá
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Tyler G Normile
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Amir M Farnoud
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Erwin London
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York, USA.
| |
Collapse
|