Human islet amyloid polypeptide at the air-aqueous interface: a Langmuir monolayer approach

A Sigma1 Receptor Agonist Alters Fluidity and Stability of Lipid Monolayers

Interactions between the sigma1 receptor agonist PRE-084 and various lipid monolayers, including dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), DPP-ethanolamine (DPPE), DPP-glycerol (DPPG), DPP-serine (DPPS), palmitoylsphingomyelin (PSM), and cholesterol (Ch), were investigated to elucidate the effects of PRE-084 on membrane fluidity and stability. Their interactions with sigma1 receptor agonists have potential implications for neuroprotection, antidepressant, analgesic, and cognitive enhancement effects. In this study, we observed that the presence of PRE-084 in the subphase led to increased fluidity in DPPC and DPPE monolayers, whereas decreasing fluidity was observed in DPPG, DPPS, and PSM monolayers. The interaction of PRE-084 with Ch monolayers was found to be distinct from its interaction with other lipids. Fluorescence microscopy images revealed changes in the size and shape of liquid-condensed domains in the presence of PRE-084, supporting the notion of altered membrane fluidity. Our findings provide new insights into the interaction of PRE-084 with lipid monolayers and its potential implications for biological and membrane science.

Surface characterization and interfacial activity of chitinase chi18-5 against chitosan in langmuir monolayers

One of the challenges for producing active chitinase formulations relies on the gap between the laboratory tests and the biological scenarios where the enzyme will perform its function. In this work, we have employed different Langmuir monolayer arrays to evaluate the interfacial behavior of a recently purified recombinant chitinase, Chi18-5. We have demonstrated that two conformations exist for the chitinase at pH values close to its pI, showing very distinct structural properties at the air/aqueous interface. Enzyme activity was assessed by implementing different kinetic approaches and using a chitosan-1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) mixed film as organized substrate model membrane. Combining these strategies, we demonstrated that better catalytic efficiencies can be obtained for Chi18-5 at pH 5. Moreover, the chitinase activity at the air/aqueous interface can be tuned by introducing in situ pH modifications over the surrounding milieu. We also studied the changes in the topography at the mesoscale level using Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM). We found that Chi18-5 segregated onto the chitosan domains of the membrane, showing differences in homogeneity depending on the pH imposed. Alternatively, pure Chi18-5 was tested for immobilization onto a hydrophilic activated solid support using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analyses showed successfully stabilization and preservation of molecular features attributed to the pH at which the enzyme deposition was performed.

Interaction of Human Resistin with Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide at Charged Phospholipid Membranes

An X-ray reflectivity study on the interaction of recombinant human resistin (hRes) with fibrillation-prone human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) at anionic phospholipid Langmuir films as model membranes is presented. Aggregation and amyloid formation of hIAPP is considered the main mechanism of pancreatic β-cell loss in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Resistin shows a chaperone-like ability, but also tends to form aggregates by itself. Resistin and hIAPP cross multiply metabolism pathways. In this study, we researched the potential protective effects of resistin against hIAPP-induced lipid membrane rupture. The results demonstrate that resistin can inhibit or prevent hIAPP adsorption even in the presence of aggregation-promoting negatively charged lipid interfaces. Moreover, we found strong hydrophobic interactions of resistin at the bare buffer-air interface.

In silico studies of the human IAPP in the presence of osmolytes

The human islet amyloid polypeptide or amylin is secreted along with insulin by pancreatic islets. Under the drastic environmental conditions, amylin can aggregate to form amyloid fibrils. This amyloid plaque of hIAPP in the pancreatic cells is the cause of type II diabetes. Early stages of amylin aggregates are more cytotoxic than the matured fibrils. Here, we have used the all-atom molecular dynamic simulation to see the effect of water, TMAO, urea and urea/TMAO having ratio 2:1 of different concentrations on the amylin protein. Our study suggest that the amylin protein forms β-sheets in its monomeric form and may cause the aggregation of protein through the residue 13-17 and the C-terminal region. α-Helical content of protein increases with an increase in TMAO concentration by decreasing the SASA value of protein, increase in intramolecular hydrogen bonds and on making the short-range hydrophobic interactions. Electrostatic potential surfaces show that hydrophobic groups are buried and normalised configurational entropy of backbone, and side-chain atoms is lesser in the presence of TMAO, whereas opposite behaviour is obtained in the case of urea. Counteraction effect of TMAO using Kast model towards urea is also observed in ternary solution of urea/TMAO.

Interfacial behavior of Proteinase K enzyme at air-saline subphase

This study investigates the interfacial behavior of the proteinase K enzyme at air-water interface. Adsorption of enzyme on the surface was induced using saline subphase. The surface packing and stability of the enzyme was investigated using of surface pressure-area (π-A) and surface potential-area (ΔV-A) isotherms. Proteinase K enzyme forms film at air-aqueous interface and demonstrates good stability as shown through compression-decompression cycle experiments. To characterize the surface assembly morphology of the interfacial enzymes UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques were used. The data revealed that the enzyme Langmuir monolayer has good homogeneity with no evidence of aggregates during compression. The secondary structure of the enzyme at interface was determined to be α-helix using p-polarized infrared-reflection absorption spectroscopy. This was confirmed through Circular dichroism spectra of the enzyme Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film which showed that the major conformation present were α-helices.

The kinetics of islet amyloid polypeptide phase-separated system and hydrogel formation are critically influenced by macromolecular crowding

Many protein misfolding diseases (e.g. type II diabetes and Alzheimer's disease) are characterised by amyloid deposition. Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP, involved in type II diabetes) spontaneously undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and a kinetically complex hydrogelation, both catalysed by hydrophobic-hydrophilic interfaces (e.g. air-water interface and/or phospholipids-water interfaces). Gelation of hIAPP phase-separated liquid droplets initiates amyloid aggregation and the formation of clusters of interconnected aggregates, which grow and fuse to eventually percolate the whole system. Droplet maturation into irreversible hydrogels via amyloid aggregation is thought to be behind the pathology of several diseases. Biological fluids contain a high volume fraction of macromolecules, leading to macromolecular crowding. Despite crowding agent addition in in vitro studies playing a significant role in changing protein phase diagrams, the mechanism underlying enhanced LLPS, and the effect(s) on stages beyond LLPS remain poorly or not characterised.We investigated the effect of macromolecular crowding and increased viscosity on the kinetics of hIAPP hydrogelation using rheology and the evolution of the system beyond LLPS by microscopy. We demonstrate that increased viscosity exacerbated the kinetic variability of hydrogelation and of the phase separated-aggregated system, whereas macromolecular crowding abolished heterogeneity. Increased viscosity also strengthened the gel meshwork and accelerated aggregate cluster fusion. In contrast, crowding either delayed cluster fusion onset (dextran) or promoted it (Ficoll). Our study highlights that an in vivo crowded environment would critically influence amyloid stages beyond LLPS and pathogenesis.

Single-molecule studies of amyloid proteins: from biophysical properties to diagnostic perspectives

In neurodegenerative diseases, a wide range of amyloid proteins or peptides such as amyloid-beta and α-synuclein fail to keep native functional conformations, followed by misfolding and self-assembling into a diverse array of aggregates. The aggregates further exert toxicity leading to the dysfunction, degeneration and loss of cells in the affected organs. Due to the disordered structure of the amyloid proteins, endogenous molecules, such as lipids, are prone to interact with amyloid proteins at a low concentration and influence amyloid cytotoxicity. The heterogeneity of amyloid proteinscomplicates the understanding of the amyloid cytotoxicity when relying only on conventional bulk and ensemble techniques. As complementary tools, single-molecule techniques (SMTs) provide novel insights into the different subpopulations of a heterogeneous amyloid mixture as well as the cytotoxicity, in particular as involved in lipid membranes. This review focuses on the recent advances of a series of SMTs, including single-molecule fluorescence imaging, single-molecule force spectroscopy and single-nanopore electrical recording, for the understanding of the amyloid molecular mechanism. The working principles, benefits and limitations of each technique are discussed and compared in amyloid protein related studies.. We also discuss why SMTs show great potential and are worthy of further investigation with feasibility studies as diagnostic tools of neurodegenerative diseases and which limitations are to be addressed.

Acidic Environment Significantly Alters Aggregation Pathway of Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide at Negative Lipid Membrane

The misfolding and aggregation of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) at cell membrane has a close relationship with the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This aggregation process is susceptible to various physiologically related factors, and systematic studies on condition-mediated hIAPP aggregation are therefore essential for a thorough understanding of the pathology of T2DM. In this study, we combined surface-sensitive amide I and amide II spectral signals from the protein backbone, generated simultaneously in a highly sensitive femtosecond broad-band sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy system, to examine the effect of environmental pH on the dynamical structural changes of hIAPP at membrane surface in situ and in real time. Such a combination can directly discriminate the formation of β-hairpin-like monomer and oligomer/fibril at the membrane surface. It is evident that, in an acidic milieu, hIAPP slows down its conformational evolution and alters its aggregation pathway, leading to the formation of off-pathway oligomers. When matured hIAPP aggregates are exposed to basic subphase, partial conversion from β-sheet oligomers into ordered β-sheet fibrillar structures is observed. When exposed to acidic environment, however, hIAPP fibrils partially converse into more loosely patterned β-sheet oligomeric structures.

Characterization of Surface-Active Biofilm Protein BslA in Self-Assembling Langmuir Monolayer at the Air-Water Interface

Biofilm is an extracellular matrix of bacteria and serves as a protective shield of bacterial communities. It is crucial for microbial growth and one of the leading causes of human chronic infections as well. However, the structures and molecular mechanism of biofilm formation remain largely unknown. Here, we examined a protein, BslA, expressed in the biofilms of Bacillus subtilis. We characterized the Langmuir monolayers of BslA at the air/water interface. Using techniques in surface chemistry and spectroscopy, we found that BslA forms a stable and robust Langmuir monolayer at the air/water interface. Our results show that the BslA Langmuir monolayer underwent two-stage elasticity in the solid state phase upon mechanical compression: one is possibly due to the intermolecular interaction and the other is likely due to both the intermolecular compulsion and the intramolecular distortion. The Langmuir monolayer of BslA shows abrupt changes in rigidities and elasticities at ∼25 mN/m. This surface pressure is close to the one at which BlsA saturates the air/water interface as a self-assembled film without mechanical compression, corresponding to a mean molecular area of ∼700 Ų per molecule. Based on the results of surface UV-visible spectroscopy and infrared reflective-absorption spectroscopy, we propose that the BslA Langmuir monolayer carries intermolecular elasticity before ∼25 mN/m and both intermolecular and intramolecular elasticity after ∼25 mN/m. These results provide valuable insights into the understanding of biofilm-associated protein under high mechanical force, shedding light on further investigation of biofilm structure and functionalities.

New Insights from Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy into the Interactions of Islet Amyloid Polypeptides with Lipid Membranes

Studies of amyloid polypeptides on membrane surfaces have gained increasing attention in recent years. Several studies have revealed that membranes can catalyze protein aggregation and that the early products of amyloid aggregation can disrupt membrane integrity, increasing water permeability and inducing ion cytotoxicity. Nonetheless, probing aggregation of amyloid proteins on membrane surfaces is challenging. Surface-specific methods are required to discriminate contributions of aggregates at the membrane interface from those in the bulk phase and to characterize protein secondary structures in situ and in real time without the use of perturbing spectroscopic labels. Here, we review the most recent applications of sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy applied in conjunction with computational modeling techniques, a joint experimental and computational methodology that has provided valuable insights into the aggregation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) on membrane surfaces. These applications show that SFG can provide detailed information about structures, kinetics, and orientation of IAPP during interfacial aggregation, relevant to the molecular mechanisms of type II diabetes. These recent advances demonstrate the promise of SFG as a new approach for studying amyloid diseases at the molecular level and for the rational drug design targeting early aggregation products on membrane surfaces.

epi-Fluorescence imaging at the air-water interface of fibrillization of bovine serum albumin and human insulin

Protein fibrillization is associated with many devastating neurodegenerative diseases. This process has been studied using spectroscopic and microscopic methods. In this study, epi-fluorescence at the air-water interface was developed as an innovative technique for observing fibrillization of bovine serum albumin and human insulin.

Distinct helix propensities and membrane interactions of human and rat IAPP(1-19) monomers in anionic lipid bilayers

Islet amyloid polypeptide, IAPP or amylin, is a 37-residue peptide hormone coexpressed with insulin by pancreatic β-cells. The aggregation of human IAPP (hIAPP) into amyloid deposits is associated with type II diabetes. Substantial evidence suggests that the interaction of anionic membranes with hIAPP may facilitate peptide aggregation and the N-terminal 1-19 fragment (IAPP(1-19)) plays an important role in peptide-membrane interaction. As a first step to understand how structural differences between human and rat IAPP peptides in membranes may influence the later oligomerization process, we have investigated the structures and orientations of hIAPP(1-19) and the less toxic rIAPP(1-19) (i.e., the H18R mutant of hIAPP(1-19)) monomers in anionic POPG bilayers by performing replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations. On the basis of ∼20 μs REMD simulations started from a random coil conformation of the peptide placed in water, we find that unfolded h(r)IAPP(1-19) can insert into the bilayers and the membrane-bound peptide stays mainly at the lipid head-tail interface. hIAPP(1-19) displays higher helix propensity than rIAPP(1-19), especially in the L12-L16 region. The helix is oriented parallel to the bilayer surface and buried in the membrane 0.3-0.8 nm below the phosphorus atoms, consistent with previous electron paramagnetic resonance data. The helical conformation is an amphiphilic helix with its hydrophilic and hydrophobic faces pointing, respectively, to the lipid head and tail regions. The H18R substitution enhances the electrostatic interactions of IAPP(1-19) with the membrane, while it weakens the intrapeptide interactions crucial for helix formation, thus leading to lower helix propensity of rIAPP(1-19). Implications of our simulation results on the membrane-mediated IAPP(1-19) oligomerization are discussed.

Host-guest complexation of a pyrogallol[4]arene derivative at the air-water interface

The host-guest properties of acetylated aryl pyrogallol[4]arene (AcPy) were studied as a Langmuir monolayer at the air-water interface. The self-assembled Langmuir monolayer properties and interactions with monovalent and divalent metal cations were investigated using surface pressure- and surface potential-area isotherms, compression-decompression cycles, stability, and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). A favorable interaction is observed for complexation between acetylated aryl pyrogallol[4]arene with divalent calcium and cadmium cations, while no interaction is observed for monovalent sodium and potassium cations. Spectroscopic techniques allow for discrimination between cadmium and calcium complexation.

Interaction between graphene oxide and Pluronic F127 at the air-water interface

Triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 (PF127) has previously been demonstrated to disperse graphene oxide (GO) in electrolyte solution and block the hydrophobic interaction between GO and l-tryptophan and l-tyrosine. However, the nature of this interaction between PF127 and GO remains to be characterized and elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to characterize and understand the interaction between GO and PF127 using a 2-dimensional Langmuir monolayer methodology at the air-water interface by surface pressure-area isotherm measurement, stability, adsorption, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. Based on the observation of surface pressure-area isotherms, adsorption, and stability of PF127 and PF127/GO mixture at the air-water interface, GO is suggested to change the conformation of PF127 at the air-water interface and also drag PF127 from the interface to the bulk subphase. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) image supports this assumption, as GO and PF127 can be observed by spreading the subphase solution outside the compressing barriers, as shown in the TOC graphic.