Determination of interbilayer and transbilayer lipid transfers by time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering

Small-angle neutron scattering differentiates molecular-level structural models of nanoparticle interfaces

The highly anisotropic and nonadditive nature of nanoparticle surfaces restricts their characterization by limited types of techniques that can reach atomic or molecular resolution. While small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is a unique tool for analyzing complex systems, it has been traditionally considered a low-resolution method due to its limited scattering vector range and wide wavelength spread. In this article, we present a novel perspective on SANS by showcasing its exceptional capability to provide molecular-level insights into nanoparticle interfaces. We report a series of experiments on multicomponent nanoparticles, where we demonstrate the ability of SANS to differentiate between competing structural models with molecular- and Å-scale differences. The results provide accurate quantification of organic ligand chain lengths, nanoparticles' heterogeneity, and detailed structures of surrounding counter-ion layers in solution. Furthermore, we show that SANS can probe subtle variations in self-assembled monolayer structures in different thermodynamic states. Our findings challenge the conventional view of SANS as a low-resolution technique for nanoparticle characterization and demonstrate its unique potential for providing molecular-level insights into complex nanoparticle surface structures.

Perceiving the functions of vitamin E through neutron and X-ray scattering

Take your vitamins, or don't? Vitamin E is one of the few lipophilic vitamins in the human diet and is considered an essential nutrient. Over the years it has proven to be a powerful antioxidant and is commercially used as such, but this association is far from linear in physiology. It is increasingly more likely that vitamin E has multiple legitimate biological roles. Here, we review past and current work using neutron and X-ray scattering to elucidate the influence of vitamin E on key features of model membranes that can translate to the biological function(s) of vitamin E. Although progress is being made, the hundred year-old mystery remains unsolved.

Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering applied to lipid-based nanoparticles: Recent advancements across different length scales

Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs), ranging from nanovesicles to non-lamellar assemblies, have gained significant attention in recent years, as versatile carriers for delivering drugs, vaccines, and nutrients. Small-angle scattering methods, employing X-rays (SAXS) or neutrons (SANS), represent unique tools to unveil structure, dynamics, and interactions of such particles on different length scales, spanning from the nano to the molecular scale. This review explores the state-of-the-art on scattering methods applied to unveil the structure of lipid-based nanoparticles and their interactions with drugs and bioactive molecules, to inform their rational design and formulation for medical applications. We will focus on complementary information accessible with X-rays or neutrons, ranging from insights on the structure and colloidal processes at a nanoscale level (SAXS) to details on the lipid organization and molecular interactions of LNPs (SANS). In addition, we will review new opportunities offered by Time-resolved (TR)-SAXS and -SANS for the investigation of dynamic processes involving LNPs. These span from real-time monitoring of LNPs structural evolution in response to endogenous or external stimuli (TR-SANS), to the investigation of the kinetics of lipid diffusion and exchange upon interaction with biomolecules (TR-SANS). Finally, we will spotlight novel combinations of SAXS and SANS with complementary on-line techniques, recently enabled at Large Scale Facilities for X-rays and neutrons. This emerging technology enables synchronized multi-method investigation, offering exciting opportunities for the simultaneous characterization of the structure and chemical or mechanical properties of LNPs.

Sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy, a tutorial: Applications for the study of lipid membrane structure and dynamics

Planar supported lipid bilayers (PSLBs) are an ideal model for the study of lipid membrane structures and dynamics when using sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (SFVS). In this paper, we describe the construction of asymmetric PSLBs and the basic SFVS theory needed to understand and make measurements on these membranes. Several examples are presented, including the determination of phospholipid orientation and measuring phospholipid transmembrane translocation (flip-flop).

Studying lipid flip-flop in asymmetric liposomes using 1H NMR and TR-SANS

The specific spatial and temporal distribution of lipids in membranes play a crucial role in determining the biochemical and biophysical properties of the system. In nature, the asymmetric distribution of lipids is a dynamic process with ATP-dependent lipid transporters maintaining asymmetry, and passive transbilayer diffusion, that is, flip-flop, counteracting it. In this chapter, two probe-free techniques, 1H NMR and time-resolved small angle neutron scattering, are described in detail as methods of investigating lipid flip-flop rates in synthetic liposomes that have been generated with an asymmetric bilayer composition.

Recent Progress in Solution Structure Studies of Photosynthetic Proteins Using Small-Angle Scattering Methods

Utilized for gaining structural insights, small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering techniques (SANS and SAXS, respectively) enable an examination of biomolecules, including photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes, in solution at physiological temperatures. These methods can be seen as instrumental bridges between the high-resolution structural information achieved by crystallography or cryo-electron microscopy and functional explorations conducted in a solution state. The review starts with a comprehensive overview about the fundamental principles and applications of SANS and SAXS, with a particular focus on the recent advancements permitting to enhance the efficiency of these techniques in photosynthesis research. Among the recent developments discussed are: (i) the advent of novel modeling tools whereby a direct connection between SANS and SAXS data and high-resolution structures is created; (ii) the employment of selective deuteration, which is utilized to enhance spatial selectivity and contrast matching; (iii) the potential symbioses with molecular dynamics simulations; and (iv) the amalgamations with functional studies that are conducted to unearth structure-function relationships. Finally, reference is made to time-resolved SANS/SAXS experiments, which enable the monitoring of large-scale structural transformations of proteins in a real-time framework.

Reconstitution of ATP-dependent lipid transporters: gaining insight into molecular characteristics, regulation, and mechanisms

Lipid transporters play a crucial role in supporting essential cellular processes such as organelle assembly, vesicular trafficking, and lipid homeostasis by driving lipid transport across membranes. Cryo-electron microscopy has recently resolved the structures of several ATP-dependent lipid transporters, but functional characterization remains a major challenge. Although studies of detergent-purified proteins have advanced our understanding of these transporters, in vitro evidence for lipid transport is still limited to a few ATP-dependent lipid transporters. Reconstitution into model membranes, such as liposomes, is a suitable approach to study lipid transporters in vitro and to investigate their key molecular features. In this review, we discuss the current approaches for reconstituting ATP-driven lipid transporters into large liposomes and common techniques used to study lipid transport in proteoliposomes. We also highlight the existing knowledge on the regulatory mechanisms that modulate the activity of lipid transporters, and finally, we address the limitations of the current approaches and future perspectives in this field.

Investigating the cut-off effect of n-alcohols on lipid movement: a biophysical study

Cellular membranes are responsible for absorbing the effects of external perturbants for the cell's survival. Such perturbants include small ubiquitous molecules like n-alcohols which were observed to exhibit anesthetic capabilities, with this effect tapering off at a cut-off alcohol chain length. To explain this cut-off effect and complement prior biochemical studies, we investigated a series of n-alcohols (with carbon lengths 2-18) and their impact on several bilayer properties, including lipid flip-flop, intervesicular exchange, diffusion, membrane bending rigidity and more. To this end, we employed an array of biophysical techniques such as time-resolved small angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), all atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and calcein leakage assays. At an alcohol concentration of 30 mol% of the overall lipid content, TR-SANS showed 1-hexanol (C6OH) increased transverse lipid diffusion, i.e. flip-flop. As alcohol chain length increased from C6 to C10 and longer, lipid flip-flop slowed by factors of 5.6 to 32.2. Intervesicular lipid exchange contrasted these results with only a slight cut-off at alcohol concentrations of 30 mol% but not 10 mol%. SAXS, MD simulations, and leakage assays revealed changes to key bilayer properties, such as bilayer thickness and fluidity, that correlate well with the effects on lipid flip-flop rates. Finally, we tie our results to a defect-mediated pathway for alcohol-induced lipid flip-flop.

Impact of transmembrane peptides on individual lipid motions and collective dynamics of lipid bilayers

The fluid nature of lipid bilayers is indispensable for the dynamic regulation of protein function and membrane morphology in biological membranes. Membrane-spanning domains of proteins interact with surrounding lipids and alter the physical properties of lipid bilayers. However, there is no comprehensive view of the effects of transmembrane proteins on the membrane's physical properties. Here, we investigated the effects of transmembrane peptides with different flip-flop-promoting abilities on the dynamics of a lipid bilayer employing complemental fluorescence and neutron scattering techniques. The quasi-elastic neutron scattering and fluorescence experiments revealed that lateral diffusion of the lipid molecules and the acyl chain motions were inhibited by the inclusion of transmembrane peptides. The neutron spin-echo spectroscopy measurements indicated that the lipid bilayer became more rigid but more compressible and the membrane viscosity increased when the transmembrane peptides were incorporated into the membrane. These results suggest that the inclusion of rigid transmembrane structures hinders individual and collective lipid motions by slowing down lipid diffusion and increasing interleaflet coupling. The present study provides a clue for understanding how the local interactions between lipids and proteins change the collective dynamics of the lipid bilayers, and therefore, the function of biological membranes.

The Nanometer-Scale Proximity of Bilayers Facilitates Intermembrane Lipid Transfer

Biological membranes approach one another in various biological phenomena, such as lipid transport at membrane contact sites and membrane fusion. The proximity of two bilayers may cause environmental changes in the interbilayer space and alter the dynamics of lipid molecules. Here, we investigate the structure and dynamics of vesicles aggregated due to the depletion attraction caused by polyethylene glycol (PEG) through static and dynamic small-angle neutron scattering. Manipulation of the interbilayer distance using PEG-conjugated lipids reveals that lipid molecules rapidly transfer between vesicles when the opposing bilayers are within ∼2 nm of each other. This distance corresponds to a region in which water molecules are more structured than in bulk water. Kinetic analysis suggests that the decrease in water entropy is responsible for the progression of lipid transfer. These results provide a basis for understanding the dynamic function of biomembranes in confined regions.

Lipid exchange among electroneutral Sulfo-DIBMA nanodiscs is independent of ion concentration

Polymer-encapsulated nanodiscs enable membrane proteins to be investigated within a native-like lipid-bilayer environment. Unlike other bilayer-based membrane mimetics, these nanodiscs are equilibrium structures that permit lipid exchange on experimentally relevant timescales. Therefore, examining the kinetics and mechanisms of lipid exchange is of great interest. Since the high charge densities of existing anionic polymers can interfere with protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions as well as charge-sensitive analysis techniques, electroneutral nanodisc-forming polymers have been recently introduced. However, it has remained unclear how the electroneutrality of these polymers affects the lipid-exchange behavior of the nanodiscs. Here, we use time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer to study the kinetics and the mechanisms of lipid exchange among nanodiscs formed by the electroneutral polymer Sulfo-DIBMA. We also examine the role of coulombic repulsion and specific counterion association in lipid exchange. Our results show that Sulfo-DIBMA nanodiscs exchange lipids on a similar timescale as DIBMA nanodiscs. In contrast with nanodiscs made from polyanionic DIBMA, however, the presence of mono- and divalent cations does not influence lipid exchange among Sulfo-DIBMA nanodiscs, as expected from their electroneutrality. The robustness of Sulfo-DIBMA nanodiscs against varying ion concentrations opens new possibilities for investigating charge-sensitive processes involving membrane proteins.

Amphipathic peptide-phospholipid nanofibers: Kinetics of fiber formation and molecular transfer between assemblies

Understanding the kinetics of nano-assembly formation is important to elucidate the biological processes involved and develop novel nanomaterials with biological functions. In the present study, we report the kinetic mechanisms of nanofiber formation from a mixture of phospholipids and the amphipathic peptide 18A[A11C], carrying cysteine substitution of the apolipoprotein A-I-derived peptide 18A at residue 11. 18A[A11C] with acetylated N-terminus and amidated C-terminus can associate with phosphatidylcholine to form fibrous aggregates at neutral pH and lipid-to-peptide molar ratio of ∼1, although the reaction pathways of self-assembly remain unclear. Here, the peptide was added to giant 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles to monitor nanofiber formation under fluorescence microscopy. The peptide initially solubilized the lipid vesicles into particles smaller than the resolution of optical microscope, and fibrous aggregates appeared subsequently. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering analyses revealed that the vesicle-solubilized particles were spherical or circular, measuring ∼10-20 nm in diameter. The rate of nanofiber formation of 18A with 1,2-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine from the particles was proportional to the square of lipid-peptide concentration in the system, suggesting that the association of particles, accompanied by conformational changes, was the rate-limiting step. Moreover, molecules in the nanofibers could be transferred between aggregates faster than those in the lipid vesicles. These findings provide useful information for the development and control of nano-assembling structures using peptides and phospholipids.

Effective Parameters Controlling Sterol Transfer: A Time-Resolved Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Study

Though cholesterol is the most prevalent and essential sterol in mammalian cellular membranes, its precursors, post-synthesis cholesterol products, as well as its oxidized derivatives play many other important physiological roles. Using a non-invasive in situ technique, time-resolved small angle neutron scattering, we report on the rate of membrane desorption and corresponding activation energy for this process for a series of sterol precursors and post-synthesis cholesterol products that vary from cholesterol by the number and position of double bonds in B ring of cholesterol's steroid core. In addition, we report on sterols that have oxidation modifications in ring A and ring B of the steroid core. We find that sterols that differ in position or the number of double bonds in ring B have similar time and energy characteristics, while oxysterols have faster transfer rates and lower activation energies than cholesterol in a manner generally consistent with known sterol characteristics, like Log P, the n-octanol/water partitioning coefficient. We find, however, that membrane/water partitioning which is dependent on lipid-sterol interactions is a better predictor, shown by the correlation of the sterols' tilt modulus with both the desorption rates and activation energy.

Small angle neutron scattering and lipidomic analysis of a native, trimeric PSI-SMALP from a thermophilic cyanobacteria

The use of styrene-maleic acid copolymers (SMAs) to produce membrane protein-containing nanodiscs without the initial detergent isolation has gained significant interest over the last decade. We have previously shown that a Photosystem I SMALP from the thermophilic cyanobacterium, Thermosynechococcus elongatus (PSI-SMALP), has much more rapid energy transfer and charge separation in vitro than detergent isolated PSI complexes. In this study, we have utilized small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to better understand the geometry of these SMALPs. These techniques allow us to investigate the size and shape of these particles in their fully solvated state. Further, the particle's proteolipid core and detergent shell or copolymer belt can be interrogated separately using contrast variation, a capability unique to SANS. Here we report the dimensions of the Thermosynechococcus elongatus PSI-SMALP containing a PSI trimer. At ~1.5 MDa, PSI-SMALP is the largest SMALP to be isolated; our lipidomic analysis indicates it contains ~1300 lipids/per trimeric particle, >40-fold more than the PSI-DDM particle and > 100 fold more than identified in the 1JB0 crystal structure. Interestingly, the lipid composition to the PSI trimer in the PSI-SMALP differs significantly from bulk thylakoid composition, being enriched ~50 % in the anionic sulfolipid, SQDG. Finally, utilizing the contrast match point for the SMA 1440 copolymer, we also can observe the ~1 nm SMA copolymer belt surrounding this SMALP for the first time, consistent with most models of SMA organization.

Inhibitory Effect of Lanthanides on Native Lipid Flip-Flop

The influence of ytterbium ions (Yb³⁺), a commonly used paramagnetic NMR chemical shift reagent, on the physical properties and flip-flop kinetics of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) planar supported lipid bilayers (PSLBs) was investigated. Langmuir isotherm studies revealed that Yb³⁺ interacts strongly with the phosphate headgroup of DPPC, evidenced by the increases in shear and compression moduli. Using sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy, changes in the acyl chain ordering and phase transition temperature were also observed, consistent with Yb³⁺ interacting with the phosphate headgroup of DPPC. The changes in the physical properties of the membrane were also observed to be concentration dependent, with more pronounced modification observed at low (50 μM) Yb³⁺ concentrations compared to 6.5 mM Tb³⁺, suggesting a cross-linking mechanism between adjacent DPPC lipids. Additionally, the changes in membrane packing and phase transition temperatures in the presence of Tris buffer suggested that a putative Yb(Tris)³⁺ complex forms that coordinates to the PC headgroup. The kinetics of DPPC flip-flop in the gel and liquid crystalline (lc) phases were substantially inhibited in the presence of Yb³⁺, regardless of the Yb³⁺ concentration. Analysis of the flip-flop kinetics under the framework of transition state theory revealed that the free energy barrier to flip-flop in both the gel and lc phases was substantial increased over a pure DPPC membrane. In the gel phase, the trend in the free energy barrier appeared to follow the trend in the shear moduli, suggesting that the Yb³⁺-DPPC headgroup interaction was driving the increase in the activation free energy barrier. In the lc phase, activation free energies of DPPC flip-flop in the presence of 50 μM or 6.5 mM Yb³⁺ were found to mirror the free energies of TEMPO-DPPC flip-flop, leading to the conclusion that the strong interaction between Yb³⁺ and the PC headgroup was essentially manifested as a headgroup charge modification. These studies illustrate that the presence of the lanthanide Yb³⁺ results in significant modification to the lipid membrane physical properties and, more importantly, results in a pronounced inhibition of native lipid flip-flop.

Tools shaping drug discovery and development

Spectroscopic, scattering, and imaging methods play an important role in advancing the study of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical therapies. The tools more familiar to scientists within industry and beyond, such as nuclear magnetic resonance and fluorescence spectroscopy, serve two functions: as simple high-throughput techniques for identification and purity analysis, and as potential tools for measuring dynamics and structures of complex biological systems, from proteins and nucleic acids to membranes and nanoparticle delivery systems. With the expansion of commercial small-angle x-ray scattering instruments into the laboratory setting and the accessibility of industrial researchers to small-angle neutron scattering facilities, scattering methods are now used more frequently in the industrial research setting, and probe-less time-resolved small-angle scattering experiments are now able to be conducted to truly probe the mechanism of reactions and the location of individual components in complex model or biological systems. The availability of atomic force microscopes in the past several decades enables measurements that are, in some ways, complementary to the spectroscopic techniques, and wholly orthogonal in others, such as those related to nanomechanics. As therapies have advanced from small molecules to protein biologics and now messenger RNA vaccines, the depth of biophysical knowledge must continue to serve in drug discovery and development to ensure quality of the drug, and the characterization toolbox must be opened up to adapt traditional spectroscopic methods and adopt new techniques for unraveling the complexities of the new modalities. The overview of the biophysical methods in this review is meant to showcase the uses of multiple techniques for different modalities and present recent applications for tackling particularly challenging situations in drug development that can be solved with the aid of fluorescence spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and small-angle scattering.

Curcumin Accelerates the Lateral Motion of DPPC Membranes

Curcumin, the main ingredient in turmeric, has attracted attention due to its potential anti-inflammatory, anticancer, wound-healing, and antioxidant properties. Though curcumin efficacy is related to its interaction with biomembranes, there are few reports on the effects of curcumin on the lateral motion of lipids, a fundamental process in the cell membrane. Employing the quasielastic neutron scattering technique, we explore the effects of curcumin on the lateral diffusion of the dipalmotylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) membrane. Our investigation is also supported by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and calorimetry to understand the interaction between curcumin and the DPPC membrane. It is found that curcumin significantly modulates the packing arrangement and conformations of DPPC lipid, leading to enhanced membrane dynamics. In particular, we find that the presence of curcumin substantially accelerates the DPPC lateral motion in both ordered and fluid phases. The effects are more pronounced in the ordered phase where the lateral diffusion coefficient increases by 23% in comparison to 9% in the fluid phase. Our measurements provide critical insights into molecular mechanisms underlying increased lateral diffusion. In contrast, the localized internal motions of DPPC are barely altered, except for a marginal enhancement observed in the ordered phase. In essence, these findings indicate that curcumin is favorably located at the membrane interface rather than in a transbilayer configuration. Further, the unambiguous evidence that curcumin modulates the membrane dynamics at a molecular level supports a possible action mechanism in which curcumin can act as an allosteric regulator of membrane functionality.

Energetic and Structural Insights into Phospholipid Transfer from Membranes with Different Curvatures by Time-Resolved Neutron Scattering

Understanding how lipid dynamics change with membrane curvature is important given that biological membranes constantly change their curvature and morphology through membrane fusion and endo-/exocytosis. Here, we used time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering and time-resolved fluorescence to characterize the properties and dynamics of phospholipids in vesicles with different curvatures. Dissociation of phospholipids from vesicles required traversing an energy barrier comprising positive enthalpy and negative entropy. However, lipids in membranes with high positive curvature have dense acyl chain packing and loose headgroup packing, leading to hydrophobic hydration due to water penetration into the membrane. These properties were found to lower the hydrophobic hydration enhancement associated with phospholipid dissociation and mitigate the acyl chain packing of lipids adjacent to the space created by the lipid dissociation, resulting in an increase in activation entropy. The results of this study provide important insights into the functions of biomembranes in relation to their dynamic structural changes.

From vesicles toward protocells and minimal cells

In contrast to ordinary condensed matter systems, "living systems" are unique. They are based on molecular compartments that reproduce themselves through (i) an uptake of ingredients and energy from the environment, and (ii) spatially and timely coordinated internal chemical transformations. These occur on the basis of instructions encoded in information molecules (DNAs). Life originated on Earth about 4 billion years ago as self-organised systems of inorganic compounds and organic molecules including macromolecules (e.g. nucleic acids and proteins) and low molar mass amphiphiles (lipids). Before the first living systems emerged from non-living forms of matter, functional molecules and dynamic molecular assemblies must have been formed as prebiotic soft matter systems. These hypothetical cell-like compartment systems often are called "protocells". Other systems that are considered as bridging units between non-living and living systems are called "minimal cells". They are synthetic, autonomous and sustainable reproducing compartment systems, but their constituents are not limited to prebiotic substances. In this review, we focus on both membrane-bounded (vesicular) protocells and minimal cells, and provide a membrane physics background which helps to understand how morphological transformations of vesicle systems might have happened and how vesicle reproduction might be coupled with metabolic reactions and information molecules. This research, which bridges matter and life, is a great challenge in which soft matter physics, systems chemistry, and synthetic biology must take joined efforts to better understand how the transformation of protocells into living systems might have occurred at the origin of life.

Multiscale lipid membrane dynamics as revealed by neutron spectroscopy

The plasma membrane is one of the principal structural components of the cell and, therefore, one of the key components of the cellular life. Because the membrane's dynamics links the membrane's structure and function, the complexity and the broad range of the membrane's motions are essential for the enormously diverse functionality of the cell membrane. Even for the main membrane component, the lipid bilayer, considered alone, the range and complexity of the lipid motions are remarkable. Spanning the time scale from sub-picosecond to minutes and hours, the lipid motion in a bilayer is challenging to study even when a broad array of dynamic measurement techniques is employed. Neutron scattering plays a special role among such dynamic measurement techniques, particularly, because it involves the energy transfers commensurate with the typical intra- and inter- molecular dynamics and the momentum transfers commensurate with intra- and inter-molecular distances. Thus, using neutron scattering-based techniques, the spatial and temporal information on the lipid motion can be obtained and analysed simultaneously. Protium vs. deuterium sensitivity and non-destructive character of the neutron probe add to the remarkable prowess of neutron scattering for elucidating the lipid dynamics. Herein we present an overview of the neutron scattering-based studies of lipid dynamics in model membranes, with a discussion of the direct relevance and implications to the real-life cell membranes. The latter are much more complex systems than simple model membranes, consisting of heterogeneous non-stationary domains composed of lipids, proteins, and other small molecules, such as carbohydrates. Yet many fundamental aspects of the membrane behavior and membrane interactions with other molecules can be understood from neutron scattering measurements of the model membranes. For example, such studies can provide a great deal of information on the interactions of antimicrobial compounds with the lipid matrix of a pathogen membrane, or the interactions of drug molecules with the plasma membrane. Finally, we briefly discuss the recently emerging field of neutron scattering membrane studies with a reach far beyond the model membrane systems.

A bioinspired glycopolymer for capturing membrane proteins in native-like lipid-bilayer nanodiscs

Amphiphilic copolymers that directly extract membrane proteins and lipids from cellular membranes to form nanodiscs combine the advantages of harsher membrane mimics with those of a native-like membrane environment. Among the few commercial polymers that are capable of forming nanodiscs, alternating diisobutylene/maleic acid (DIBMA) copolymers have gained considerable popularity as gentle and UV-transparent alternatives to aromatic polymers. However, their moderate hydrophobicities and high electric charge densities render all existing aliphatic copolymers rather inefficient under near-physiological conditions. Here, we introduce Glyco-DIBMA, a bioinspired glycopolymer that possesses increased hydrophobicity and reduced charge density but nevertheless retains excellent solubility in aqueous solutions. Glyco-DIBMA outperforms established aliphatic copolymers in that it solubilizes lipid vesicles of various compositions much more efficiently, thereby furnishing smaller, more narrowly distributed nanodiscs that preserve a bilayer architecture and exhibit rapid lipid exchange. We demonstrate the superior performance of Glyco-DIBMA in preparative and analytical applications by extracting a broad range of integral membrane proteins from cellular membranes and further by purifying a membrane-embedded voltage-gated K⁺ channel, which was fluorescently labeled and analyzed with the aid of microfluidic diffusional sizing (MDS) directly within native-like lipid-bilayer nanodiscs.

Molecular Transport and Growth of Lipid Vesicles Exposed to Antimicrobial Peptides

It is well-known that lipids constituting the cytoplasmic membrane undergo continuous reorganization to maintain the appropriate composition important for the integrity of the cell. The transport of lipids is controlled by mainly membrane proteins, but also spontaneous lipid transport between leaflets, lipid "flip-flop", occurs. These processes do not only occur spontaneously under equilibrium, but also promote structural rearrangements, morphological transitions, and growth processes. It has previously been shown that intravesicular lipid "flip-flop" and intervesicular lipid exchange under equilibrium can be deduced indirectly from contrast variation time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS) where the molecules are "tagged" using hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) substitution. In this work, we show that this technique can be extended to simultaneously detect changes in the growth and the lipid "flip-flop" and exchange rates induced by a peptide additive on lipid vesicles consisting of DMPC (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), d-DMPC (1,2-dimyristoyl-d54-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), DMPG (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol)), and small amounts of DMPE-PEG (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000]). Changes in the overall size were independently monitored using dynamic light scattering (DLS). We find that the antimicrobial peptide, indolicidin, accelerates lipid transport and additionally induces limited vesicular growth. Moreover, in TR-SANS experiments using partially labeled lipid mixtures to separately study the kinetics of the lipid components, we show that, whereas peptide addition affects both lipids similarly, DMPG exhibits faster kinetics. We find that vesicular growth is mainly associated with peptide-mediated lipid reorganization that only slightly affects the overall exchange kinetics. This is confirmed by a TR-SANS experiment of vesicles preincubated with peptide showing that after pre-equilibration the kinetics are only slightly slower.

Time-Resolved SANS to Measure Monomer Inter-Bilayer Exchange and Intra-Bilayer Translocation

The monomeric exchange kinetics of sub-micron particles provide insight into their stability and dynamism. Traditional techniques used to measure the intra- and inter-particle exchange often require monitoring the transfer of bulky and perturbing fluorescent labels. Time-resolved small angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS) overcomes these flaws by isotope labeling, allowing for the monomeric exchange rate determination of unperturbed, stress-free particles. Here, we describe TR-SANS in detail and novel applications of the technique.

Deciphering lipid transfer between and within membranes with time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering

This review focuses on time-resolved neutron scattering, particularly time-resolved small angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS), as a powerful in situ noninvasive technique to investigate intra- and intermembrane transport and distribution of lipids and sterols in lipid membranes. In contrast to using molecular analogues with potentially large chemical tags that can significantly alter transport properties, small angle neutron scattering relies on the relative amounts of the two most abundant isotope forms of hydrogen: protium and deuterium to detect complex membrane architectures and transport processes unambiguously. This review discusses advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that sustain lipid asymmetry in membranes-a key feature of the plasma membrane of cells-as well as the transport of lipids between membranes, which is an essential metabolic process.

Self-Assembly of Protein-Containing Lipid-Bilayer Nanodiscs from Small-Molecule Amphiphiles

When membrane proteins are removed from their natural environment, the quality of the membrane-solubilizing agent used is critical for preserving their native structures and functions. Nanodiscs that retain a lipid-bilayer core around membrane proteins have attracted great attention because they offer a much more native-like environment than detergent micelles. Here, two small-molecule amphiphiles with diglucose headgroups and either a hydrocarbon or a fluorocarbon hydrophobic chain are shown to directly assemble lipids and membrane proteins to form native nanodiscs rather than mixed micelles. Self-assembly of nanodiscs of increasing complexity from both defined, artificial vesicles as well as complex, cellular membranes is demonstrated. A detailed investigation of bilayer integrity and membrane-protein activity in these nanodiscs reveals gentle effects on the encapsulated bilayer core. The fluorinated amphiphile appears particularly promising because its lipophobicity results in gentle, non-perturbing interactions with the nanoscale lipid bilayer. A sequential model of nanodisc self-assembly is proposed that proceeds through perforation of the original membrane followed by saturation and complete solubilization of the bilayer. On this basis, pseudophase diagrams are established for mixtures of lipids and nanodisc-forming diglucoside amphiphiles, and the latter are used for the extraction of a broad range of membrane proteins from cellular membranes.

Vesicle deformation and division induced by flip-flops of lipid molecules

We investigated the deformation of small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) induced by flip-flops of lipids using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. In the case of single-component SUVs composed of zero spontaneous curvature lipids (ZLs), the flip-flop of ZLs deformed stomatocyte-shaped SUVs into an oblate shape, whereas pear-shaped SUVs were deformed into a prolate shape. These two equilibrium shapes comply with the local minima of elastic energy. In the case of binary vesicles composed of ZLs and negative spontaneous curvature lipids (NLs), the vesicle deformation pathway depended on the initial NL distribution in the bilayer. If the initial difference in the NL concentration between the outer and inner leaflets was small, the flip-flop of ZLs and NLs rapidly deformed pear-shaped SUVs into an equilibrium prolate shape. On the other hand, when NLs were localised in the inner leaflet, the flip-flop of ZLs and NLs deformed pear-shaped SUVs into a limiting shape and then induced vesicle division. Because the flip-flop rate of NLs is much faster than that of ZLs, the total free energy was first relaxed by the flip-flop of NLs and then by that of ZLs. This kinetic effect is responsible for the observed vesicle division induced by flip-flops.

Membrane hydrophobicity determines the activation free energy of passive lipid transport

The collective behavior of lipids with diverse chemical and physical features determines a membrane's thermodynamic properties. Yet, the influence of lipid physicochemical properties on lipid dynamics, in particular interbilayer transport, remains underexplored. Here, we systematically investigate how the activation free energy of passive lipid transport depends on lipid chemistry and membrane phase. Through all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of 11 chemically distinct glycerophospholipids, we determine how lipid acyl chain length, unsaturation, and headgroup influence the free energy barriers for two elementary steps of lipid transport: lipid desorption, which is rate limiting, and lipid insertion into a membrane. Consistent with previous experimental measurements, we find that lipids with longer, saturated acyl chains have increased activation free energies compared to lipids with shorter, unsaturated chains. Lipids with different headgroups exhibit a range of activation free energies; however, no clear trend based solely on chemical structure can be identified, mirroring difficulties in the interpretation of previous experimental results. Compared to liquid-crystalline phase membranes, gel phase membranes exhibit substantially increased free energy barriers. Overall, we find that the activation free energy depends on a lipid's local hydrophobic environment in a membrane and that the free energy barrier for lipid insertion depends on a membrane's interfacial hydrophobicity. Both of these properties can be altered through changes in lipid acyl chain length, lipid headgroup, and membrane phase. Thus, the rate of lipid transport can be tuned through subtle changes in local membrane composition and order, suggesting an unappreciated role for nanoscale membrane domains in regulating cellular lipid dynamics.

The dynamic face of lipid membranes

Cell membranes - primarily composed of lipids, sterols, and proteins - form a dynamic interface between living cells and their environment. They act as a mechanical barrier around the cell while selectively facilitating material transport, signal transduction, and various other functions necessary for the cell viability. The complex functionality of cell membranes and the hierarchical motions and responses they exhibit demand a thorough understanding of the origin of different membrane dynamics and how they are influenced by molecular additives and environmental cues. These dynamic modes include single-molecule diffusion, thermal fluctuations, and large-scale membrane deformations, to name a few. This review highlights advances in investigating structure-driven dynamics associated with model cell membranes, with a particular focus on insights gained from neutron scattering and spectroscopy experiments. We discuss the uniqueness of neutron contrast variation and its remarkable potential in probing selective membrane structure and dynamics on spatial and temporal scales over which key biological functions occur. We also present a summary of current and future opportunities in synergistic combinations of neutron scattering with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to gain further understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying complex membrane functions.

Structural and Biophysical Properties of Supercharged and Circularized Nanodiscs

Nanodiscs based on membrane scaffold proteins (MSPs) and phospholipids are used as membrane mimics to stabilize membrane proteins in solution for structural and functional studies. Combining small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS), we characterized the structure and lipid bilayer properties of five different nanodiscs made with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and different MSPs varying in size, charge, and circularization. Our SAXS modeling showed that the structural parameters of the embedded lipids are all similar, irrespective of the MSP properties. DSC showed that the lipid packing is not homogeneous in the nanodiscs and that a 20 Å wide boundary layer of lipids with perturbed packing is located close to the MSP, while the packing of central lipids is tighter than in large unilamellar vesicles. Finally, TR-SANS showed that lipid exchange rates in nanodiscs decrease with increasing nanodisc size and are lower for the nanodiscs made with supercharged MSPs compared to conventional nanodiscs. Altogether, the results provide a thorough biophysical understanding of the nanodisc as a model membrane system, which is important in order to carry out and interpret experiments on membrane proteins embedded in such systems.

Pitfalls and opportunities in quantitative fluorescence-based nanomedicine studies - A commentary

Fluorescence-based techniques are prevalent in studies of nanomedicine-targeting to cells and tissues. However, fluorescence-based studies are rarely quantitative, thus prohibiting direct comparisons of nanomedicine-performance across studies. With this Commentary, we aim to provoke critical thinking about experimental design by treating some often-overlooked pitfalls in 'quantitative' fluorescence-based experimentation. Focusing on fluorescence-labeled nanoparticles, we cover mechanisms like solvent-interactions and fluorophore-dissociation, which disqualify the assumption that 'a higher fluorescence readout' translates directly to 'a better targeting efficacy'. With departure in recent literature, we propose guidelines for circumventing these pitfalls in studies of tissue-accumulation and cell-uptake, thus covering fluorescence-based techniques like bulk solution fluorescence measurements, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and infrared fluorescence imaging. With this, we hope to lay a foundation for more 'quantitative thinking' during experimental design, enabling (for example) the estimation and reporting of actual numbers of fluorescent nanoparticles accumulated in cells and organs.

Asymmetric Lipid Transfer between Zwitterionic Vesicles by Nanoviscosity Measurements

The interest in nano-sized lipid vesicles in nano-biotechnology relies on their use as mimics for endosomes, exosomes, and nanocarriers for drug delivery. The interactions between nanoscale size lipid vesicles and cell membranes involve spontaneous interbilayer lipid transfer by several mechanisms, such as monomer transfer or hemifusion. Experimental approaches toward monitoring lipid transfer between nanoscale-sized vesicles typically consist of transfer assays by fluorescence microscopy requiring the use of labels or calorimetric measurements, which in turn require a large amount of sample. Here, the capability of a label-free surface-sensitive method, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), was used to monitor lipid transfer kinetics at minimal concentrations and to elucidate how lipid physicochemical properties influence the nature of the transfer mechanism and dictate its dynamics. By studying time-dependent phase transitions obtained from nanoviscosity measurements, the transfer rates (unidirectional or bidirectional) between two vesicle populations consisting of lipids with the same head group and differing alkyl chain length can be estimated. Lipid transfer is asymmetric and unidirectional from shorter-chain lipid donor vesicles to longer-chain lipid acceptor vesicles. The transfer is dramatically reduced when the vesicle populations are incubated at temperatures below the melting of one of the vesicle populations.

Combining in vitro translation with nanodisc technology and functional reconstitution of channels in planar lipid bilayers

Experimental studies on membrane proteins have been recently enriched by two promising method developments: protocols for cell-free protein synthesis and the use of soluble nanoscale lipid bilayers, so called nanodiscs, as membrane mimics for keeping these proteins in a soluble form. Here, we show how the advantages of these techniques can be combined with the classical planar lipid bilayer method for a functional reconstitution of channel activity. The present data demonstrate that the combination of these methods offers a very rapid and reliable way of recording channel activity in different bilayer systems. This approach has additional advantages in that it strongly lowers the propensity of contamination from the expression system and allows the simultaneous reconstitution of thousands of channel proteins for macroscopic current measurements without compromising bilayer stability.

Enzymatic trans-bilayer lipid transport: Mechanisms, efficiencies, slippage, and membrane curvature

The eukaryotic plasma membrane's lipid composition is found to be ubiquitously asymmetric comparing inner and outer leaflets. This membrane lipid asymmetry plays a crucial role in diverse cellular processes critical for cell survival. A specialized set of transmembrane proteins called translocases, or flippases, have evolved to maintain this membrane lipid asymmetry in an energy-dependent manner. One potential consequence of local variations in membrane lipid asymmetry is membrane remodeling, which is essential for cellular processes such as intracellular trafficking. Recently, there has been a surge in the identification and characterization of flippases, which has significantly advanced the understanding of their functional mechanisms. Furthermore, there are intriguing possibilities for a coupling between membrane curvature and flippase activity. In this review we highlight studies that link membrane shape and remodeling to differential stresses generated by the activity of lipid flippases with an emphasis on data obtained through model membrane systems. We review the common mechanistic models of flippase-mediated lipid flipping and discuss common techniques used to test lipid flippase activity. We then compare the existing data on lipid translocation rates by flippases and conclude with potential future directions for this field.

Development of membrane-insertable lipid scrambling peptides: A time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering study

Phospholipid transbilayer movement (flip-flop) in the plasma membrane is regulated by membrane proteins to maintain cell homeostasis and interact with other cells. The promotion of flip-flop by phospholipid scramblases causes the loss of membrane lipid asymmetry, which is involved in apoptosis, blood coagulation, and viral infection. Therefore, compounds that can artificially control flip-flop in the plasma membrane are of biological and medical interest. Here, we have developed lipid scrambling transmembrane peptides that can be inserted into the membrane. Time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering measurements revealed that the addition of peptides containing a glutamine residue at the center of the hydrophobic sequence to lipid vesicles induces the flip-flop of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. Peptides without the glutamine residue had no effect on the flip-flop. Because the glutamine-containing peptides exhibited scramblase activity in monomeric form, the polar glutamine residue would be exposed to the hydrocarbon region of the membrane, perturbing the membrane and promoting the lipid flip-flop. These scrambling peptides would be valuable tools to regulate lipid flip-flop in the plasma membrane.

Time-resolved SANS reveals pore-forming peptides cause rapid lipid reorganization

Time-resolved SANS showed alamethicin and melittin promote DMPC lipid vesicle mixing and perturb DMPC kinetics in similar ways.

Impact of antimicrobial peptides on E. coli-mimicking lipid model membranes: correlating structural and dynamic effects using scattering methods

Using X-rays and neutrons we address the effect of AMPs on structure and dynamics of lipids in bacterial model membranes.

Lipid flip-flop and desorption from supported lipid bilayers is independent of curvature

Flip-flop of lipids of the lipid bilayer (LBL) constituting the plasma membrane (PM) plays a crucial role in a myriad of events ranging from cellular signaling and regulation of cell shapes to cell homeostasis, membrane asymmetry, phagocytosis, and cell apoptosis. While extensive research has been conducted to probe the lipid flip flop of planar lipid bilayers (LBLs), less is known regarding lipid flip-flop for highly curved, nanoscopic LBL systems despite the vast importance of membrane curvature in defining the morphology of cells and organelles and in maintaining a variety of cellular functions, enabling trafficking, and recruiting and localizing shape-responsive proteins. In this paper, we conduct molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the energetics, structure, and configuration of a lipid molecule undergoing flip-flop and desorption in a highly curved LBL, represented as a nanoparticle-supported lipid bilayer (NPSLBL) system. We compare our findings against those of a planar substrate supported lipid bilayer (PSSLBL). Our MD simulation results reveal that despite the vast differences in the curvature and other curvature-dictated properties (e.g., lipid packing fraction, difference in the number of lipids between inner and outer leaflets, etc.) between the NPSLBL and the PSSLBL, the energetics of lipid flip-flop and lipid desorption as well as the configuration of the lipid molecule undergoing lipid flip-flop are very similar for the NPSLBL and the PSSLBL. In other words, our results establish that the curvature of the LBL plays an insignificant role in lipid flip-flop and desorption.

On the lipid flip-flop and phase transition coupling

We measured the passive lipid flip-flop of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) in solid supported lipid bilayers across their main gel to fluid (Lβ → Lα) phase transition. By performing time and temperature resolved neutron reflectometry experiments, we demonstrated that asymmetric systems prepared in the gel phase are stable for at least 24 hours. Lipid flip-flop was found to be intrinsically linked to the amount of lipid molecules in the fluid phase. Moreover, the  increase of this amount during the broad phase transition was found to be the main key factor for the timing of the flip-flop process. By measuring different temperature scan rate, we could demonstrate that, in the case of supported bilayers and for the temperature investigated, the lipid flip flop is characterised by an activation energy of 50 kJ mol-1 and a timescale on the order of few hours. Our results demonstrate the origin on the discrepancies between passive flip-flop in bulk systems and at interfaces.

Mechanism of Time-Dependent Adsorption for Phosphatidylcholine onto a Clean Air-Water Interface from a Dispersion of Vesicles: Effect of Temperature and Acyl Chain Length

Dynamic surface tension measurements were used to track adsorption kinetics for dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) or dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) from monodisperse vesicle dispersions to an air-water interface at elevated temperatures ≥30 °C. Effects of vesicle concentration, aqueous solubility of the lipids, and temperature T on the adsorption kinetics were determined, and the controlling transport pathway was identified. Adsorption dynamics were tracked for 0.1-10 mM DLPC at 30 and 38 °C and for 1-10 mM DMPC at 30, 50, and 58 °C. Experimental results were compared to theoretical predictions for a reaction-enhanced, molecular transport mechanism, which was previously shown to effectively predict DLPC adsorption kinetics at 22 °C. At higher temperatures, for DLPC concentrations ≥0.25 mM or DMPC concentrations ≥1 mM, a weak dependence of adsorption time on concentration was observed, again consistent with the reaction-enhanced molecular pathway. Molecular release rates from vesicles increased with increasing temperature or decreasing acyl chain length. At equivalent ratios T/T_m of the dispersion temperature to the lipid chain phase transition temperature T_m, measured adsorption times for DLPC were approximately 10-fold shorter than those for DMPC, suggesting that the fluidity of the acyl tails is not the only lipid property determining adsorption rates. Despite the significant difference in aqueous solubility and chain phase transition temperature between DLPC and DMPC, the results provide further evidence for an adsorption mechanism that is well described by diffusion of molecular lipid, with rates of molecular diffusion near the interface enhanced by release from nearby vesicles.

Kinetic Analysis of Ultrasound-Induced Oil Exchange in Oil-in-Water Emulsions through Contrast Variation Time-Resolved Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

Ultrasound is one of the most commonly used methods for synthesizing and processing emulsion systems. In this study, the kinetics of acoustically induced emulsion oil exchange was examined using contrast variation time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (CV-SANS). A custom-built sample environment was used to deliver acoustic forces while simultaneously performing CV-SANS experiments. It was observed that the oil exchange rate was significantly accelerated when sonicating at high acoustic pressures, where violent cavitation events can induce droplet coalescence and breakup. No significant oil exchange occurred at acoustic pressures below the cavitation threshold within the short time scales of the experiments. It was also observed that the oil exchange kinetics was deterred when emulsions were stabilized by surfactants. In addition, oil exchange rates varied nonlinearly with the concentration of surfactant, and exchange was slowest when the emulsions were stabilized by an intermediate concentration. It is hypothesized that emulsion size, electrostatic repulsion, and Gibbs elasticity of the oil-water interface play significant roles in the observed trends. The observed trends in oil exchange rates versus surfactant concentration coincide well with theoretical models for the fluctuation of the elasticity of the interface. Acoustically induced oil exchange was most inefficient when the interfacial elasticity was at its maximum value.

Contrast-Variation Time-Resolved Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Analysis of Oil-Exchange Kinetics Between Oil-in-Water Emulsions Stabilized by Anionic Surfactants

Contrast-variation time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (CV-SANS) was used to examine oil-exchange kinetics between identical mixtures of hydrogenated/deuterated hexadecane emulsion systems. Oil-exchange rates were estimated by transforming recorded scattering profiles to a relaxation function and by fitting to exponential decay models. We find that the oil-exchange process was accelerated when the droplets were stabilized by anionic surfactants even at concentrations well below the surfactant critical micelle concentration. Moreover, the exchange rate was not significantly accelerated when surfactant micelles were present. This suggests that micellar-mediated transport mechanisms do not play the dominant role in these systems. Screening electrostatic repulsion by increasing the ionic strength of the medium also had a negligible effect on oil-exchange kinetics. In contrast, the use of oils with shorter alkane chain lengths (e.g., dodecane), having a higher solubility in water, significantly accelerated rates of oil transport between droplets. Oil-transport rates for hexadecane were also found to increase with temperature and to follow Arrhenius behavior. These results were rationalized as an increase in the droplet-collision frequency due to Brownian motion that results in direct oil transport without irreversible coalescence. Thus, primary mechanisms for oil exchange in insoluble anionic surfactant-stabilized emulsion systems are hypothesized to be through direct emulsion contact, reversible coalescence, and/or direct oil permeation through thin liquid films. CV-SANS is also demonstrated as a powerful technique for the study of transport kinetics in all kinds of emulsion systems.

Structural Transformation in Vesicles upon Hydrolysis of Phosphatidylethanolamine and Phosphatidylcholine with Phospholipase C

This study provides insights into dynamic nanostructural changes in phospholipid systems during hydrolysis with phospholipase C, the fate of the hydrolysis products, and the kinetics of lipolysis. The effect of lipid restructuring of the vesicle was investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy. The rate and extent of phospholipid hydrolysis were quantified using nuclear magnetic resonance. Hydrolysis of two phospholipids, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), results in the cleavage of the molecular headgroup, causing two strikingly different changes in lipid self-assembly. The diacylglycerol product of PC escapes the lipid bilayer, whereas the diacylglycerol product adopts a different configuration within the lipid bilayer of the PE vesicles. These results are then discussed concerning the change of the lipid configuration upon the lipid membrane and its potential implications in vivo, which is of significant importance for the detailed understanding of the fate of lipidic particles and the rational design of enzyme-responsive lipid-based drug delivery systems.