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Zhang S, Lowe L, Anees P, Krishnan Y, Fai T, Szostak J, Wang A. Passive endocytosis in model protocells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221064120. [PMID: 37276401 PMCID: PMC10268330 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221064120] [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: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Semipermeable membranes are a key feature of all living organisms. While specialized membrane transporters in cells can import otherwise impermeable nutrients, the earliest cells would have lacked a mechanism to import nutrients rapidly under nutrient-rich circumstances. Using both experiments and simulations, we find that a process akin to passive endocytosis can be recreated in model primitive cells. Molecules that are too impermeable to be absorbed can be taken up in a matter of seconds in an endocytic vesicle. The internalized cargo can then be slowly released over hours, into the main lumen or putative cytoplasm. This work demonstrates a way by which primitive life could have broken the symmetry of passive permeation prior to the evolution of protein transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J. Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
- Department of Molecular Biology, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA02114
| | - Lauren A. Lowe
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales Sydney, Bedegal Country, Sydney, NSW2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales Sydney, Bedegal Country, Sydney, NSW2052, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, University of New South Wales Sydney, Bedegal Country, Sydney, NSW2052, Australia
| | - Palapuravan Anees
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
| | - Yamuna Krishnan
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
- Institute of Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
| | - Thomas G. Fai
- Department of Mathematics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
| | - Jack W. Szostak
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
- Department of Molecular Biology, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA02114
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
- HHMI, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA02114
| | - Anna Wang
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales Sydney, Bedegal Country, Sydney, NSW2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales Sydney, Bedegal Country, Sydney, NSW2052, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, University of New South Wales Sydney, Bedegal Country, Sydney, NSW2052, Australia
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2
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Zhang SJ, Lowe LA, Anees P, Krishnan Y, Fai TG, Szostak JW, Wang A. Passive endocytosis in model protocells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.07.522792. [PMID: 37205531 PMCID: PMC10187163 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.07.522792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Semipermeable membranes are a key feature of all living organisms. While specialized membrane transporters in cells can import otherwise impermeable nutrients, the earliest cells would have lacked a mechanism to import nutrients rapidly under nutrient-rich circumstances. Using both experiments and simulations, we find that a process akin to passive endocytosis can be recreated in model primitive cells. Molecules that are too impermeable to be absorbed can be taken up in a matter of seconds in an endocytic vesicle. The internalized cargo can then be slowly released over hours, into the main lumen or putative cytoplasm. This work demonstrates a way by which primitive life could have broken the symmetry of passive permeation prior to the evolution of protein transporters.
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3
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Frey F, Idema T. Membrane area gain and loss during cytokinesis. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:024401. [PMID: 36110005 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.024401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In cytokinesis of animal cells, the cell is symmetrically divided into two. Since the cell's volume is conserved, the projected area has to increase to allow for the change of shape. Here we aim to predict how membrane gain and loss adapt during cytokinesis. We work with a kinetic model in which membrane turnover depends on membrane tension and cell shape. We apply this model to a series of calculated vesicle shapes as a proxy for the shape of dividing cells. We find that the ratio of kinetic turnover parameters changes nonmonotonically with cell shape, determined by the dependence of exocytosis and endocytosis on membrane curvature. Our results imply that controlling membrane turnover will be crucial for the successful division of artificial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Frey
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Timon Idema
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
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4
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Gözen I, Köksal ES, Põldsalu I, Xue L, Spustova K, Pedrueza-Villalmanzo E, Ryskulov R, Meng F, Jesorka A. Protocells: Milestones and Recent Advances. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2106624. [PMID: 35322554 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202106624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The origin of life is still one of humankind's great mysteries. At the transition between nonliving and living matter, protocells, initially featureless aggregates of abiotic matter, gain the structure and functions necessary to fulfill the criteria of life. Research addressing protocells as a central element in this transition is diverse and increasingly interdisciplinary. The authors review current protocell concepts and research directions, address milestones, challenges and existing hypotheses in the context of conditions on the early Earth, and provide a concise overview of current protocell research methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irep Gözen
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Elif Senem Köksal
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Inga Põldsalu
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Lin Xue
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Karolina Spustova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Esteban Pedrueza-Villalmanzo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, Universitetsplatsen 1, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden
| | - Ruslan Ryskulov
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
| | - Fanda Meng
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250000, China
| | - Aldo Jesorka
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
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5
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Leech V, Hazel JW, Gatlin JC, Lindsay AE, Manhart A. Mathematical modeling accurately predicts the dynamics and scaling of nuclear growth in discrete cytoplasmic volumes. J Theor Biol 2022; 533:110936. [PMID: 34695383 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110936] [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: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Scaling of nuclear size with cell size has been observed in many species and cell types. In this work we formulate a modeling framework based on the limiting component hypothesis. We derive a family of spatio-temporal mathematical models for nuclear size determination based on different transport and growth mechanisms. We analyse model properties and use in vitro experimental data to identify the most probable mechanism. This suggests that nuclear volume scales with cell volume and that a nucleus controls its import rate as it grows. We further test the model by comparing to data of early frog development, where rapid cell divisions set the relevant time scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Leech
- Dept. of Mathematics, University College London, London WC1H 0AY, UK.
| | - J W Hazel
- Dept. of Molecular Biology, U. Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; Cell Division and Organization Group, Marine Biological laboratory, Woods Hole 02543, MA, USA
| | - J C Gatlin
- Dept. of Molecular Biology, U. Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; Cell Division and Organization Group, Marine Biological laboratory, Woods Hole 02543, MA, USA.
| | - A E Lindsay
- Dept. of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame, South Bend 46656, IN, USA.
| | - A Manhart
- Dept. of Mathematics, University College London, London WC1H 0AY, UK.
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6
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Toparlak Ö, Wang A, Mansy SS. Population-Level Membrane Diversity Triggers Growth and Division of Protocells. JACS AU 2021; 1:560-568. [PMID: 34467319 PMCID: PMC8395648 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.0c00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
To date, multiple mechanisms have been described for the growth and division of model protocells, all of which exploit the lipid dynamics of fatty acids. In some examples, the more heterogeneous aggregate consisting of fatty acid and diacyl phospholipid or fatty acid and peptide grows at the expense of the more homogeneous aggregate containing a restricted set of lipids with similar dynamics. Imbalances between surface area and volume during growth can generate filamentous vesicles, which are typically divided by shear forces. Here, we describe another pathway for growth and division that depends simply on differences in the compositions of fatty acid membranes without additional components. Growth is driven by the thermodynamically favorable mixing of lipids between two populations, i.e., the system as a whole proceeds toward equilibrium. Division is the result of growth-induced curvature. Importantly, growth and division do not require a specific composition of lipids. For example, vesicles made from one type of lipid, e.g., short-chain fatty acids, grow and divide when fed with vesicles consisting of another type of lipid, e.g., long-chain fatty acids, and vice versa. After equilibration, additional rounds of growth and division could potentially proceed by the introduction of compositionally distinct aggregates. Since prebiotic synthesis likely gave rise to mixtures of lipids, the data are consistent with the presence of growing and dividing protocells on the prebiotic Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ö.
Duhan Toparlak
- Department
of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (D-CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Povo, TN, Italy
| | - Anna Wang
- School
of Chemistry and Australian Centre for Astrobiology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Sheref S. Mansy
- Department
of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (D-CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Povo, TN, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB T6G
2G2, Canada
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7
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Vanhille-Campos C, Šarić A. Modelling the dynamics of vesicle reshaping and scission under osmotic shocks. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:3798-3806. [PMID: 33629089 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm02012e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We study the effects of osmotic shocks on lipid vesicles via coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations by explicitly considering the solute in the system. We find that depending on their nature (hypo- or hypertonic) such shocks can lead to bursting events or engulfing of external material into inner compartments, among other morphology transformations. We characterize the dynamics of these processes and observe a separation of time scales between the osmotic shock absorption and the shape relaxation. Our work consequently provides an insight into the dynamics of compartmentalization in vesicular systems as a result of osmotic shocks, which can be of interest in the context of early proto-cell development and proto-cell compartmentalisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Vanhille-Campos
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
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8
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Pelletier JF, Sun L, Wise KS, Assad-Garcia N, Karas BJ, Deerinck TJ, Ellisman MH, Mershin A, Gershenfeld N, Chuang RY, Glass JI, Strychalski EA. Genetic requirements for cell division in a genomically minimal cell. Cell 2021; 184:2430-2440.e16. [PMID: 33784496 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Genomically minimal cells, such as JCVI-syn3.0, offer a platform to clarify genes underlying core physiological processes. Although this minimal cell includes genes essential for population growth, the physiology of its single cells remained uncharacterized. To investigate striking morphological variation in JCVI-syn3.0 cells, we present an approach to characterize cell propagation and determine genes affecting cell morphology. Microfluidic chemostats allowed observation of intrinsic cell dynamics that result in irregular morphologies. A genome with 19 genes not retained in JCVI-syn3.0 generated JCVI-syn3A, which presents morphology similar to that of JCVI-syn1.0. We further identified seven of these 19 genes, including two known cell division genes, ftsZ and sepF, a hydrolase of unknown substrate, and four genes that encode membrane-associated proteins of unknown function, which are required together to restore a phenotype similar to that of JCVI-syn1.0. This result emphasizes the polygenic nature of cell division and morphology in a genomically minimal cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Pelletier
- Center for Bits and Atoms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Lijie Sun
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kim S Wise
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | - Bogumil J Karas
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Thomas J Deerinck
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mark H Ellisman
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andreas Mershin
- Center for Bits and Atoms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Neil Gershenfeld
- Center for Bits and Atoms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - John I Glass
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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9
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Abstract
The desire to create cell-like models for fundamental science and applications has spurred extensive effort toward creating giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). However, a route to selectively self-assemble GUVs in bulk has remained elusive. In bulk solution, membrane-forming molecules such as phospholipids, single-tailed surfactants, and block copolymers typically self-assemble into multilamellar, onion-like structures. So although self-assembly processes can form nanoscale unilamellar vesicles, scaffolding by droplets or surfaces is required to create GUVs. Here we show that it is possible to bulk self-assemble cell-sized GUVs with almost complete selectivity over other vesicle topologies. The seemingly paradoxical pair of features that enables this appears to be having very dynamic molecules at the nanoscale that create unusually rigid membranes. The resultant self-assembly pathway enables encapsulation of molecules and colloids and can also generate model primitive cells that can grow and divide.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T. Kindt
- School of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jack W. Szostak
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Anna Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- School of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Kundu N, Mondal D, Sarkar N. Dynamics of the vesicles composed of fatty acids and other amphiphile mixtures: unveiling the role of fatty acids as a model protocell membrane. Biophys Rev 2020; 12:1117-1131. [PMID: 32926295 PMCID: PMC7575682 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-020-00753-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Fundamental research at the interface of chemistry and biology has the potential to shine light on the question of how living cells can be synthesized from inanimate matter thereby providing plausible pathways for the emergence of cellular life. Compartmentalization of different biochemical reactions within a membrane bound water environment is considered an essential first step in any origin of life pathway. It has been suggested that fatty acid-based vesicles can be considered a model protocell having the potential for change via Darwinian evolution. As such, protocell models have the potential to assist in furthering our understanding of the origin of life in the laboratory. Fatty acids, both by themselves and in mixtures with other amphiphiles, can form different self-assembled structures depending on their surroundings. Recent studies of fatty acid-based membranes have suggested likely pathways of protocell growth, division and membrane permeabilisation for the transport of different nutrients, such as nucleotides across the membrane. In this review, different dynamic processes related to the growth and division of the protocell membrane are discussed and possible pathways for transition of the protocell to the modern cell are explored. These areas of research may lead to a better understanding of the synthesis of artificial cell-like entities and thus herald the possibility of creating new form of life distinct from existing biology. Graphical Abstract Table of Content (TOC) only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niloy Kundu
- Environment Research Group, R&D Department, Tata Steel Ltd, Jamshedpur, 831007, India.
| | - Dipankar Mondal
- Institute for System Genetics and Department of Cell Biology, New York University, Langone Medical Center, New York, 10016, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, WB, 721302, India
| | - Nilmoni Sarkar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, WB, 721302, India
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Martínez-Calvo A, Sevilla A. Universal Thinning of Liquid Filaments under Dominant Surface Forces. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 125:114502. [PMID: 32975989 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.125.114502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Theory and numerical simulations of the thinning of liquid threads at high superficial concentration of surfactants suggest the existence of an asymptotic regime where surface tension balances surface viscous stresses, leading to an exponential thinning with an e-fold time F(Θ)(3μ_{s}+κ_{s})/σ, where μ_{s} and κ_{s} are the surface shear and dilatational viscosity coefficients, σ is the interfacial tension, Θ=κ_{s}/μ_{s}, and F(Θ) is a universal function. The potential use of this phenomenon to measure the surface viscosity coefficients is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Martínez-Calvo
- Grupo de Mecánica de Fluidos, Departamento de Ingeniería Térmica y de Fluidos, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Avda. de la Universidad 30, 28911 Leganés, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Sevilla
- Grupo de Mecánica de Fluidos, Departamento de Ingeniería Térmica y de Fluidos, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Avda. de la Universidad 30, 28911 Leganés, Madrid, Spain
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12
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Shan Y, Ji Y, Wang X, He L, Li S. Predicting asymmetric phospholipid microstructures in solutions. RSC Adv 2020; 10:24521-24532. [PMID: 35516199 PMCID: PMC9055179 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra03732j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Asymmetric phospholipid microstructures, such as asymmetric phospholipid membranes, have potential applications in biological and medicinal processes. Here, we used the dissipative particle dynamics simulation method to predict the asymmetric phospholipid microstructures in aqueous solutions. The asymmetric phospholipid membranes, tubes and vesicles are determined and characterized by the chain density distributions and order parameters. The phase diagrams are constructed to evaluate the effects of the chain length on the asymmetric structure formations at equilibrium states, while the average radius of gyration and shape factors are calculated to analyze the asymmetric structure formations in the non-equilibrium processes. Meanwhile, we predicted the mechanical properties of the asymmetric membranes by analyzing the spatial distributions of the interface tensions and osmotic pressures in solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Shan
- Department of Physics, Wenzhou University Wenzhou Zhejiang 325035 China
| | - Yongyun Ji
- Department of Physics, Wenzhou University Wenzhou Zhejiang 325035 China
| | - Xianghong Wang
- Department of Physics, Wenzhou University Wenzhou Zhejiang 325035 China
| | - Linli He
- Department of Physics, Wenzhou University Wenzhou Zhejiang 325035 China
| | - Shiben Li
- Department of Physics, Wenzhou University Wenzhou Zhejiang 325035 China
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