Efficient orthogonal integration of the bacteriophage ϕ29 DNA-portal connector protein in engineered lipid bilayers

Permeability modes in fluctuating lipid membranes with DNA-translocating pores

Membrane pores can significantly alter not only the permeation dynamics of biological membranes but also their elasticity. Large membrane pores able to transport macromolecular contents represent an interesting model to test theoretical predictions that assign active-like (non-equilibrium) behavior to the permeability contributions to the enhanced membrane fluctuations existing in permeable membranes [Maneville et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 4356 (1999)]. Such high-amplitude active contributions arise from the forced transport of solvent and solutes through the open pores, which becomes even dominant at large permeability. In this paper, we present a detailed experimental analysis of the active shape fluctuations that appear in highly permeable lipid vesicles with large macromolecular pores inserted in the lipid membrane, which are a consequence of transport permeability events occurred in an osmotic gradient. The experimental results are found in quantitative agreement with theory, showing a remarkable dependence with the density of membrane pores and giving account of mechanical compliances and permeability rates that are compatible with the large size of the membrane pore considered. The presence of individual permeation events has been detected in the fluctuation time-series, from which a stochastic distribution of the permeation events compatible with a shot-noise has been deduced. The non-equilibrium character of the membrane fluctuations in a permeation field, even if the membrane pores are mere passive transporters, is clearly demonstrated. Finally, a bio-nano-technology outlook of the proposed synthetic concept is given on the context of prospective uses as active membrane DNA-pores exploitable in gen-delivery applications based on lipid vesicles.

Highly efficient integration of the viral portal proteins from different types of phages into planar bilayers for the black lipid membrane analysis

The planar lipid bilayer technology is a technique that yields incredibly useful structural function information about a single channel protein. It is also currently actively utilized as a powerful platform using biological protein nanopores for the development of single-molecule nanopore sensing technology, as well as ultrafast DNA sequencing technology. The portal protein, GP10, from the bacteriophage Φ29 was the first phage portal protein shown to be successfully inserted into planar bilayer membranes, thereby it may inspire more researchers to apply the techniques to portal proteins from the other bacteriophages. However, the technology is far from perfect since the insertion of the channel proteins into planar bilayer membranes is not only technically difficult but also time-consuming. For the fusion of phage portal proteins, vesicles are typically needed to be reconstituted with the portal proteins to form proteoliposomes. However, most of the phage portal proteins have low solubility, and may self-aggregate during the preparation of the proteoliposomes. Furthermore, the fusion of the formed proteoliposomes is sporadic, unpredictable and varied from person to person. Due to the lack of experimental consistency between labs, the results from different methodologies reported for generating fusible proteoliposomes are highly variable. In this research, we propose a new method for the preparation of the fusible proteoliposomes containing portal proteins from bacteriophages, to circumvent the problems aforementioned. Compared to the conventional methods, this method was able to avoid the protein aggregation issues during the vesicle preparation by eliminating the need for detergents and the subsequent time-consuming step for detergent removal. The proteoliposomes prepared by the method were shown to be more efficiently and rapidly inserted into planar bilayer membranes bathed in different conducting buffer solutions including those with nonelectrolytes such as glycerol and PEG. In addition, the method of forming proteoliposomes has significantly extended the shelf life of the proteoliposomes. To further explore its potentials, we have successfully applied the method to the insertion of a mutant portal protein, GP20, from T4 bacteriophage, a hydrophobic portal protein that has not been explored using the planar lipid bilayer membrane technique. The results suggest that this method could be used to prepare proteoliposomes formed by hydrophobic portal proteins from other bacteriophages.

Membrane reconstitution of FtsZ-ZipA complex inside giant spherical vesicles made of E. coli lipids: large membrane dilation and analysis of membrane plasticity

During the division process of Escherichia coli, the globular protein FtsZ is early recruited at the constriction site. The Z-ring, based on FtsZ filaments associated to the inner cell membrane, has been postulated to exert constriction forces. Membrane anchoring is mediated by ZipA, an essential transmembrane protein able to specifically bind FtsZ. In this work, an artificial complex of FtsZ-ZipA has been reconstituted at the inner side of spherical giant unilamellar vesicles made of E. coli lipids. Under these conditions, FtsZ polymerization, triggered when a caged GTP analogue is UV-irradiated, was followed by up to 40% vesicle inflation. The homogeneous membrane dilation was accompanied by the visualization of discrete FtsZ assemblies at the membrane. Complementary rheological data revealed enhanced elasticity under lateral dilation. This explains why vesicles can undergo large dilations in the regime of mechanical stability. A mechanical role for FtsZ polymers as promoters of membrane softening and plasticization is hypothesized.