Liposome solubilization and membrane protein reconstitution using Chaps and Chapso

A nondestructive membrane engineering method using an amphiphilic polymer

The cellular signaling process or ion transport is mediated by membrane proteins (MPs) located on the cell surface, and functional studies of MPs have mainly been conducted using cells endogenously or transiently expressing target proteins. Reconstitution of purified MPs in the surface of live cells would have advantages of short manipulation time and ability to target cells in which gene transfection is difficult. However, direct reconstitution of MPs in live cells has not been established. The traditional detergent-mediated reconstitution method of MPs into a lipid bilayer cannot be applied to live cells because this disrupts and reforms the lipid bilayer structure, which is detrimental to cell viability. In this study, we demonstrated that GPCRs (prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 [EP4] and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor [GLP1R]) or serotonin receptor 3A (5HT3A), a ligand-gated ion channel, stabilized with amphiphilic poly-γ-glutamate (APG), can be reconstituted into mammalian cell plasma membranes without affecting cell viability. Furthermore, 5HT3A reconstituted in mammalian cells showed ligand-dependent Ca2+ ion transport activity. APG-mediated reconstitution of GPCR in synthetic liposomes showed that electrostatic interaction between APG and membrane surface charge contributed to the reconstitution process. This APG-mediated membrane engineering method could be applied to the functional modification of cell membranes with MPs in live cells.

Direct evidence of lipid transport by the Drs2-Cdc50 flippase upon truncation of its terminal regions

P4-ATPases in complex with Cdc50 subunits are lipid flippases that couple ATP hydrolysis with lipid transport to the cytoplasmic leaflet of membranes to create lipid asymmetry. Such vectorial transport has been shown to contribute to vesicle formation in the late secretory pathway. Some flippases are regulated by autoinhibitory regions that can be destabilized by protein kinase-mediated phosphorylation and possibly by binding of cytosolic proteins. In addition, the binding of lipids to flippases may also induce conformational changes required for the activity of these transporters. Here, we address the role of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P) and the terminal autoinhibitory tails on the lipid flipping activity of the yeast lipid flippase Drs2-Cdc50. By functionally reconstituting the full-length and truncated forms of Drs2 in a 1:1 complex with the Cdc50 subunit, we provide compelling evidence that lipid flippase activity is exclusively detected for the truncated Drs2 variant and is dependent on the presence of the phosphoinositide PI4P. These findings highlight the critical role of phosphoinositides as lipid co-factors in the regulation of lipid transport by the Drs2-Cdc50 flippase.

Transition-Linker Containing Detergents for Membrane Protein Studies

It is a pressing need, but still challenging to explore the structure and function of membrane proteins (MPs). One of the main obstacles is the limited availability of matched detergents for the handling of specific MPs. We describe herein the design of new detergents by incorporation of a transition linker between the hydrophilic head and the hydrophobic tail. This design allows a gradual change of hydrophobicity between the outside and inside of micelles, in contrast to the abrupt switch in conventional detergents. Notably, many of these detergents assembled into micelles in while retaining low critical micelle concentrations. Meanwhile, thermal stabilizing evaluation identified superior detergents for representative MPs, including G protein-coupled receptors and a transporter protein. Among them, further improved the NMR study of MPs. We anticipate these that results will encourage future detergent expansion through new remodeling on the traditional detergent scaffold.

Expanding the Toolbox for Bicelle-Forming Surfactant–Lipid Mixtures

Bicelles are disk-shaped models of cellular membranes used to study lipid–protein interactions, as well as for structural and functional studies on transmembrane proteins. One challenge for the incorporation of transmembrane proteins in bicelles is the limited range of detergent and lipid combinations available for the successful reconstitution of proteins in model membranes. This is important, as the function and stability of transmembrane proteins are very closely linked to the detergents used for their purification and to the lipids that the proteins are embedded in. Here, we expand the toolkit of lipid and detergent combinations that allow the formation of stable bicelles. We use a combination of dynamic light scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering and cryogenic electron microscopy to perform a systematic sample characterization, thus providing a set of conditions under which bicelles can be successfully formed.

Lecithins: A comprehensive review of their properties and their use in formulating microemulsions

Lecithins are a phospholipid-rich mixture recovered from the degumming process of crude vegetable oils. Since the nineteenth century, this by-product of oil processing has been used as a food and pharmaceutical ingredient. Lecithins' popularity as an ingredient in the pharmaceutical and food industries arises from their particular properties, such as their hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, critical micellar concentration, and assembly properties. However, there is limited knowledge of the use of lecithins to formulate pharmaceutical- and food-grade microemulsions. Unlike conventional emulsions, microemulsions are thermodynamically stable systems that offer long-term stability. Besides, microemulsions show nano-sized droplets, transparency, ease of preparation and scale-up, and do not require expensive equipment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of lecithins, their properties, and their use in formulating microemulsions, a promising method to incorporate, protect, and deliver bioactive compounds in pharmaceutical and food products. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Lecithins are a phospholipid-rich mixture recovered from the degumming process of crude vegetable oils. Since the nineteenth century, this by-product of oil processing has been used as a food ingredient. Lecithin phospholipids are commonly used as emulsifier agents in the food and pharmaceutical industries because of their particular properties. However, there is limited knowledge of the use of lecithins to formulate pharmaceutical- or food-grade microemulsions. Unlike conventional emulsions, microemulsions are stable systems that offer long-term stability, nano-sized droplets, transparency, ease of preparation and scale-up, and do not require expensive equipment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of lecithins, their properties, and their use in formulating microemulsions, a promising method to incorporate, protect, and deliver bioactive compounds such as vitamins, flavors, antioxidants, nutrients, colors, antimicrobials, and polyphenols.

Nuclei isolation methods fail to accurately assess the subcellular localization and behaviour of proteins in skeletal muscle

AIM

Subcellular fractionation is often used to determine the subcellular localization of proteins, including whether a protein translocates to the nucleus in response to a given stimulus. Examining nuclear proteins in skeletal muscle is difficult because myonuclear proteins are challenging to isolate unless harsh treatments are used. This study aimed to determine the most effective method for isolating and preserving proteins in their native state in skeletal muscle.

METHODS

We compared the ability of detergents, commercially available kit-based and K⁺ -based physiological methodologies for isolating myonuclear proteins from resting samples of human muscle by determining the presence of marker proteins for each fraction by western blot analyses.

RESULTS

We found that following the initial pelleting of nuclei, treatment with 1% Triton-X 100, 1% CHAPS or 0.5% Na-deoxycholate under various ionic conditions resulted in the nuclear proteins being either resistant to isolation or the proteins present behaving aberrantly. The nuclear proteins in brain tissue were also resistant to 1% Triton-X 100 isolation. Here, we demonstrate aberrant behaviour and erroneous localization of proteins using the kit-based method. The aberrant behaviour was the activation of Ca²⁺ -dependent protease calpain-3, and the erroneous localization was the presence of calpain-3 and troponin I in the nuclear fraction.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that it may not be possible to reliably determine the translocation of proteins between subcellular locations and the nucleus using subcellular fractionation techniques. This study highlights the importance of validating subcellular fractionation methodologies using several subcellular-specific markers and solutions that are physiologically relevant to the intracellular milieu.

Nanocochleates containing N-Octylglicoside extracted Vibrio cholerae antigens elicited high vibriocidal antibodies titers after intragastric immunization in a mice model

Biological detergents are used in research laboratories, to extract or solubilize proteins from cell membranes. In order to evaluate the ability to extract antigens from the bacterial cell surface of the wild Vibrio cholerae strain C7258 and study their immunogenic potential by forming proteoliposomes and cochleate and preserving their immunogenicity, the non-ionic detergent, n-Octylglucoside (n-OG), and the Zwitterionic detergent (3-cholamidopropyl dimethylammonio 1-propanesulfonate; CHAPS) were tested in concentrations between 5 and 15%. The anionic detergent sodium deoxycholate (DOC) was used as a reference. Electrophoretic, immunochemical and electron microscopy techniques have characterized the extracts and their chromatographic fractions. With CHAPS and n-OG detergents in concentrations between 5 and 15%, a higher yield was obtained in the extraction of proteins and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and other components from the bacterial surface compared to 10% DOC. When using 10% DOC, 15% CHAPS and n-OG between 5 and 15%, stable proteoliposomes were formed, of average size between 82 and 93 nm in diameter, with known proportions of proteins, LPS and other components. In some of the concentrations, liposomes were formed with almost pure proteins. Some cholera outer membrane proteins like the 17 kDa protein, which corresponds to the mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (MSHA), which mediates the adhesion to the brush border of the small intestine and the outer membrane protein U (OMPU) were identified with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and purified. The fundamental components of liposomes, proteins and LPS, retained their molecular weights, when compared with known standards and by processing programs of electrophoretic profiles and their antigenicity, without alterations due to the extraction procedure, as could be verified by immune identification techniques with monoclonal antibodies in the case of LPS, significant antigens in this pathogen. The main purpose of the present work was to show that a new anticholera vaccine formulation based on cochleates, containing selected protein and LPS fraction extracted by detergents, is able to elicit protective high titers of bactericidal antibodies after intragastric immunization in the mice model. The objective was achieved.

Prion protein quantification in human cerebrospinal fluid as a tool for prion disease drug development

Reduction of native prion protein (PrP) levels in the brain is an attractive strategy for the treatment or prevention of human prion disease. Clinical development of any PrP-reducing therapeutic will require an appropriate pharmacodynamic biomarker: a practical and robust method for quantifying PrP, and reliably demonstrating its reduction in the central nervous system (CNS) of a living patient. Here we evaluate the potential of ELISA-based quantification of human PrP in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to serve as a biomarker for PrP-reducing therapeutics. We show that CSF PrP is highly sensitive to plastic adsorption during handling and storage, but its loss can be minimized by the addition of detergent. We find that blood contamination does not affect CSF PrP levels, and that CSF PrP and hemoglobin are uncorrelated, together suggesting that CSF PrP is CNS derived, supporting its relevance for monitoring the tissue of interest and in keeping with high PrP abundance in brain relative to blood. In a cohort with controlled sample handling, CSF PrP exhibits good within-subject test-retest reliability (mean coefficient of variation, 13% in samples collected 8-11 wk apart), a sufficiently stable baseline to allow therapeutically meaningful reductions in brain PrP to be readily detected in CSF. Together, these findings supply a method for monitoring the effect of a PrP-reducing drug in the CNS, and will facilitate development of prion disease therapeutics with this mechanism of action.

Comprehensive Study of the Self-Assembly of Phospholipid Nanodiscs: What Determines Their Shape and Stoichiometry?

Phospholipid nanodiscs have quickly become a widely used platform for studies of membrane proteins. However, the molecular self-assembly process that ultimately should place a membrane protein inside a nanodisc is not well understood. This poses a challenge for a successful high-yield reconstitution of general membrane proteins into nanodiscs. In the present work, the self-assembly process of POPC-MSP1D1 nanodiscs was carefully investigated by systematically modulating the reconstitution parameters and probing the effect with a small-angle X-ray scattering analysis of the resulting nanodiscs. First, it was established that nanodiscs prepared using the standard protocol followed a narrow but significant size distribution and that the formed nanodiscs were stable at room temperature over a time range of about a week. Systematic variation of the POPC/MSP1D1 stoichiometry of the reconstitution mixture showed that a ratio of less than 75:1 resulted in lipid-poor nanodiscs, whereas ratios of 75:1 and larger resulted in nanodiscs with constant POPC/MSP1D1 ratios of 60:1. A central step in the self-assembly process consists in adding detergent-absorbing resin beads to the reconstitution mixture to remove the reconstitution detergent. Surprisingly, it was found that this step did not play a significant role for the shape and stoichiometry of the formed nanodiscs. Finally, the effect of the choice of detergent used in the reconstitution process was investigated. It was found that detergent type is a central determining factor for the shape and stoichiometry of the formed nanodiscs. A significantly increasing POPC/MSP1D1 stoichiometry of the formed nanodiscs was observed as the reconstitution detergent type is changed in the order: Tween80, DDM, Triton X-100, OG, CHAPS, Tween20, and Cholate, but with no simple correlation to the characteristics of the detergent. This emphasizes that the detergents optimal for solution storage and crystallization of membrane proteins, in particular DDM, should not be used alone for nanodisc reconstitution. However, our data also show that when applying mixtures of the reconstitution detergent cholate and the storage detergents DDM or OG, cholate dominates the reconstitution process and nanodiscs are obtained, which resemble those formed without storage detergents.

Nanoplasmonic Sensing and Capillary Electrophoresis for Fast Screening of Interactions between Phosphatidylcholine Biomembranes and Surfactants

Nanoplasmonic sensing (NPS), based on localized surface plasmon resonance, with sensors composed of glass covered with golden nanodisks and overlaid with a SiO2 coating was applied in this study. Egg phosphatidylcholine (eggPC), being an easily accessible membrane-forming lipid, was used for preparation of biomimicking membranes. Small unilamellar vesicles with an approximate hydrodynamic diameter of 30 nm, formed by sonication in 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid buffer, were adsorbed within 10 min on the sensor surface either as intact vesicles or as a planar bilayer. The adsorbed biomembrane systems were further utilized for interaction studies with four different well-known surfactants (negatively and positively charged, zwitterionic, and nonionic) and each surfactant was tested at concentrations below and above the critical micelle concentration (CMC). Our results allowed the evaluation of different NPS patterns for every particular supported membrane system, surfactant, and its concentration. The most significant effect on the membrane was achieved upon the introduction of zwitterionic surfactant micelles, which in fact completely solubilized and removed the lipid membranes from the sensor surface. Other surfactant micelles interacted with the membranes and formed mixed structures remaining on the sensor surface. The studies performed at the concentrations below the CMCs of the surfactants showed that different mixed systems were formed. Depending on the supported membrane system and the type of surfactant, the mixed systems indicated different formation kinetics. Additionally, the final water rinse revealed the stability of the formed systems. To investigate the effect of the studied surfactants on the overall surface charge of the biomembrane, capillary electrophoresis (CE) experiments were carried out in parallel with the NPS analysis. The electroosmotic flow mobility of an eggPC-coated fused silica capillary was used to measure the total surface charge of the biomembrane after its treatment with the surfactants. Our results indicated in general good correlation between CE and NPS data. However, some discrepancies were seen while applying either zwitterionic or positively charged surfactants. This confirmed that CE analysis was able to provide additional data about the investigated systems. Taken together, the combination of NPS and CE proved to be an efficient way to describe the nature of interactions between biomimicking membranes and amphiphilic molecules.

Detergent-Based Decellularization of Bovine Carotid Arteries for Vascular Tissue Engineering

Vascular diseases are an increasing health issue, and common alloplastic, allogenic or autologous vascular grafts show frequent complications. The aim of this study is to develop an acellular, xenogenic bypass-graft from a bovine carotid artery (BAC) using detergent-based protocols. We compared decellularization with sodium desoxycholate (DOA), 3-[(3-Cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (Chaps), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and Triton X100 and improved suitable methods by variation of concentration, buffer system, incubation time, temperature, rinsing, and flow rate. All processes were evaluated systematically based on cellular residues, biocompatibility, structural and mechanical integrity. Decellularization with SDS and Triton X100 was not sufficient for the removal of cellular components. We optimized protocols using 1% DOA and Chaps by a buffered system at 37 °C with extended decellularization and rinsing. Decellularization with DOA depleted DNA to 0.5 ± 0.1% and soluble proteins to 0.6 ± 0.2%. Using Chaps, DNA was reduced to 0.2 ± 0.2% and proteins to 0.6 ± 0.3%. The improved protocols eliminated RNA completely from the matrix, and no cytotoxic effects were detected. Mechanical and structural integrity of decellularized tissues was comparable to non-decellularized controls. Our method effectively removed cellular components from the extracellular matrix while preserving the structural and mechanical integrity of the tissue. Decellularized BACs could be a promising alternative for vascular replacement therapy.

Surfactant protein SP-D modulates activity of immune cells: proteomic profiling of its interaction with eosinophilic cells

Surfactant protein D (SP-D), a C-type lectin, is known to protect against lung infection, allergy and inflammation. Its recombinant truncated form comprising homotrimeric neck and CRD region (rhSP-D) has been shown to bring down specific IgE levels, eosinophilia and restore Th2-Th1 homeostasis in murine models of lung hypersensitivity. SP-D knockout mice show intrinsic hypereosinophilia and airway hyper-responsiveness that can be alleviated by rhSP-D. The rhSP-D can bind activated eosinophils, inhibit chemotaxis and degranulation, and selectively induce oxidative burst and apoptosis in sensitized eosinophils. A global proteomics study of rhSP-D-treated eosinophilic cell line AML14.3D10 identified large-scale molecular changes associated with oxidative burst, cell stress and survival-related proteins potentially responsible for apoptosis induction. The data also suggested an involvement of RNA binding- and RNA splicing-related proteins. Thus, the proteomics approach yielded a catalog of differentially expressed proteins that may be protein signatures defining mechanisms of SP-D-mediated maintenance of homeostasis during allergy.

Drugging a stem cell compartment using Wnt3a protein as a therapeutic

The therapeutic potential of Wnt proteins has long been recognized but challenges associated with in vivo stability and delivery have hindered their development as drug candidates. By exploiting the hydrophobic nature of the protein we provide evidence that exogenous Wnt3a can be delivered in vivo if it is associated with a lipid vesicle. Recombinant Wnt3a associates with the external surface of the lipid membrane; this association stabilizes the protein and leads to prolonged activation of the Wnt pathway in primary cells. We demonstrate the consequences of Wnt pathway activation in vivo using a bone marrow engraftment assay. These data provide validation for the development of WNT3A as a therapeutic protein.

Hydrophobic variations of N-oxide amphiphiles for membrane protein manipulation: importance of non-hydrocarbon groups in the hydrophobic portion

Amphipathic agents called detergents serve as membrane-mimetic systems to maintain the native structures of membrane proteins during their manipulation. However, membrane proteins solubilized in conventional detergents tend to undergo denaturation and aggregation, necessitating the development of novel amphipathic agents with enhanced properties. Here we describe several new amphiphiles that contain an N-oxide group as the hydrophilic portion. The new amphiphiles have been evaluated for the ability to solubilize and stabilize a fragile multi-subunit assembly from biological membranes. We found that cholate-based agents were promising in supporting retention of the native protein quaternary structure, while deoxycholate-based amphiphiles were highly efficient in extracting/solubilizing the intact superassembly from the native membrane. Monitoring superassembly solubilization and stabilization as a function of variation in amphiphile structure led us to propose that a non-hydrocarbon moiety such as an amide, ether, or a hydroxy group present in the lipophilic regions can manifest distinctive effects in the context of membrane protein manipulation.

Human α1β3γ2L gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors: High-level production and purification in a functional state

Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA(A)Rs) are the most important inhibitory chloride ion channels in the central nervous system and are major targets for a wide variety of drugs. The subunit compositions of GABA(A)Rs determine their function and pharmacological profile. GABAA Rs are heteropentamers of subunits, and (α1)2 (β3)2 (γ2L)1 is a common subtype. Biochemical and biophysical studies of GABA(A)Rs require larger quantities of receptors of defined subunit composition than are currently available. We previously reported high-level production of active human α1β3 GABA(A)R using tetracycline-inducible stable HEK293 cells. Here we extend the strategy to receptors containing three different subunits. We constructed a stable tetracycline-inducible HEK293-TetR cell line expressing human (N)-FLAG-α1β3γ2L-(C)-(GGS)3 GK-1D4 GABA(A)R. These cells achieved expression levels of 70-90 pmol [(3)H]muscimol binding sites/15-cm plate at a specific activity of 15-30 pmol/mg of membrane protein. Incorporation of the γ2 subunit was confirmed by the ratio of [(3)H]flunitrazepam to [(3)H]muscimol binding sites and sensitivity of GABA-induced currents to benzodiazepines and zinc. The α1β3γ2L GABA(A)Rs were solubilized in dodecyl-D-maltoside, purified by anti-FLAG affinity chromatography and reconstituted in CHAPS/asolectin at an overall yield of ∼ 30%. Typical purifications yielded 1.0-1.5 nmoles of [(3)H]muscimol binding sites/60 plates. Receptors with similar properties could be purified by 1D4 affinity chromatography with lower overall yield. The composition of the purified, reconstituted receptors was confirmed by ligand binding, Western blot, and proteomics. Allosteric interactions between etomidate and [(3)H]muscimol binding were maintained in the purified state.

Functional reconstitution of Staphylococcus aureus truncated AgrC histidine kinase in a model membrane system

The integral membrane protein AgrC is a histidine kinase whose sensor domains interact with an autoinducing peptide, resulting in a series of downstream responses. In this study, truncated AgrCTM5-6C and AgrCTM5-6C-GFP with GFP as a reporter gene were produced using a bacterial system. Purified AgrCTM5-6C and AgrCTM5-6C-GFP were reconstituted into liposomes by a detergent-mediated method. To achieve high-yield protein incorporation, we investigated the effect of different detergents on protein reconstitution efficiency. The highest incorporation was found with N,N-dimethyldode-cylamine N-oxide during complete liposome solubilization, which resulted in a yield of 85±5%. The COOH-terminus of the protein AgrCTM5-6C was almost exclusively oriented towards the inside of the vesicles. AgrCTM5-6C in proteoliposomes exhibited approximately a 6-fold increase in constitutive activity compared with AgrCTM5-6C in detergent micelles. The reconstitution of AgrCTM5-6C or AgrCTM5-6C-GFP was characterized using dynamic light scattering, fluorescence microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Based on the results, the optimal conditions for protein incorporation were defined. These findings contribute to the study of membrane protein structure and function in vitro using a reconstitution system.

Reconstitution of a Kv channel into lipid membranes for structural and functional studies

To study the lipid-protein interaction in a reductionistic fashion, it is necessary to incorporate the membrane proteins into membranes of well-defined lipid composition. We are studying the lipid-dependent gating effects in a prototype voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel, and have worked out detailed procedures to reconstitute the channels into different membrane systems. Our reconstitution procedures take consideration of both detergent-induced fusion of vesicles and the fusion of protein/detergent micelles with the lipid/detergent mixed micelles as well as the importance of reaching an equilibrium distribution of lipids among the protein/detergent/lipid and the detergent/lipid mixed micelles. Our data suggested that the insertion of the channels in the lipid vesicles is relatively random in orientations, and the reconstitution efficiency is so high that no detectable protein aggregates were seen in fractionation experiments. We have utilized the reconstituted channels to determine the conformational states of the channels in different lipids, record electrical activities of a small number of channels incorporated in planar lipid bilayers, screen for conformation-specific ligands from a phage-displayed peptide library, and support the growth of 2D crystals of the channels in membranes. The reconstitution procedures described here may be adapted for studying other membrane proteins in lipid bilayers, especially for the investigation of the lipid effects on the eukaryotic voltage-gated ion channels.

Reconstitution of homomeric GluA2(flop) receptors in supported lipid membranes: functional and structural properties

AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are glutamate-gated ion channels ubiquitous in the vertebrate central nervous system, where they mediate fast excitatory neurotransmission and act as molecular determinants of memory formation and learning. Together with detailed analyses of individual AMPAR domains, structural studies of full-length AMPARs by electron microscopy and x-ray crystallography have provided important insights into channel assembly and function. However, the correlation between the structure and functional states of the channel remains ambiguous particularly because these functional states can be assessed only with the receptor bound within an intact lipid bilayer. To provide a basis for investigating AMPAR structure in a membrane environment, we developed an optimized reconstitution protocol using a receptor whose structure has previously been characterized by electron microscopy. Single-channel recordings of reconstituted homomeric GluA2(flop) receptors recapitulate key electrophysiological parameters of the channels expressed in native cellular membranes. Atomic force microscopy studies of the reconstituted samples provide high-resolution images of membrane-embedded full-length AMPARs at densities comparable to those in postsynaptic membranes. The data demonstrate the effect of protein density on conformational flexibility and dimensions of the receptors and provide the first structural characterization of functional membrane-embedded AMPARs, thus laying the foundation for correlated structure-function analyses of the predominant mediators of excitatory synaptic signals in the brain.

Type and composition of surfactants mediating gene transfection of polyethylenimine-coated liposomes

Background:

The objective of this study was to compare the transfection efficiency of anionic liposomes coated with polyethylenimine (PEI) with that of PEI and Lipofectamine 2000^™ using the plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescent protein in a human hepatoma (Huh7) cell line.

Methods:

Factors affecting transfection efficiency, including type of surfactant, ratio of phosphatidylcholine (PC)/surfactant, carrier/DNA weight ratio, and the presence of serum have been investigated. Anionic liposomes, composed of PC and anionic surfactants, ie, sodium oleate (NaO), sodium taurocholate (NaT), or zwitterionic surfactant (3-[{3-cholamidopropyl}-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate, CHAPS) at molar ratios of 10:1, 10:1.5, and 10:2 were prepared by the sonication method. Subsequently, they were coated with PEI to produce polycationic liposomes (PCL).

Results:

PCL was able to condense with pDNA depending on the PCL/DNA weight ratio. PCL composed of PC:NaO (10:2) showed higher transfection efficiency than NaT and CHAPS at all weight ratios tested. Higher transfection efficiency and gene expression were observed when the carrier/DNA weight ratio increased. The highest transfection efficiency was found at a weight ratio of 0.5.

Conclusion:

This PCL showed remarkably high transfection efficiency with low cytotoxicity to Huh7 cells in vitro, in comparison with PEI and Lipofectamine 2000.

Tryptophan residues promote membrane association for a plant lipid glycosyltransferase involved in phosphate stress

Chloroplast membranes contain a substantial excess of the nonbilayer-prone monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (GalDAG) over the biosynthetically consecutive, bilayer-forming digalactosyldiacylglycerol (GalGalDAG), yielding a high membrane curvature stress. During phosphate shortage, plants replace phospholipids with GalGalDAG to rescue phosphate while maintaining membrane homeostasis. Here we investigate how the activity of the corresponding glycosyltransferase (GT) in Arabidopsis thaliana (atDGD2) depends on local bilayer properties by analyzing structural and activity features of recombinant protein. Fold recognition and sequence analyses revealed a two-domain GT-B monotopic structure, present in other plant and bacterial glycolipid GTs, such as the major chloroplast GalGalDAG GT atDGD1. Modeling led to the identification of catalytically important residues in the active site of atDGD2 by site-directed mutagenesis. The DGD synthases share unique bilayer interface segments containing conserved tryptophan residues that are crucial for activity and for membrane association. More detailed localization studies and liposome binding analyses indicate differentiated anchor and substrate-binding functions for these separated enzyme interface regions. Anionic phospholipids, but not curvature-increasing nonbilayer lipids, strongly stimulate enzyme activity. From our studies, we propose a model for bilayer "control" of enzyme activity, where two tryptophan segments act as interface anchor points to keep the substrate region close to the membrane surface. Binding of the acceptor substrate is achieved by interaction of positive charges in a surface cluster of lysines, arginines, and histidines with the surrounding anionic phospholipids. The diminishing phospholipid fraction during phosphate shortage stress will then set the new GalGalDAG/phospholipid balance by decreasing stimulation of atDGD2.

Reconstitution in liposome bilayers enhances nucleotide binding affinity and ATP-specificity of TrwB conjugative coupling protein

Bacterial conjugative systems code for an essential membrane protein that couples the relaxosome to the DNA transport apparatus, called type IV coupling protein (T4CP). TrwB is the T4CP of the conjugative plasmid R388. In earlier work we found that this protein, purified in the presence of detergents, binds preferentially purine nucleotides trisphosphate. In contrast a soluble truncated mutant TrwBΔN70 binds uniformly all nucleotides tested. In this work, TrwB has been successfully reconstituted into liposomes. The non-membranous portion of the protein is almost exclusively oriented towards the outside of the vesicles. Functional analysis of TrwB proteoliposomes demonstrates that when the protein is inserted into the lipid bilayer the affinity for adenine and guanine nucleotides is enhanced as compared to that of the protein purified in detergent or to the soluble deletion mutant, TrwBΔN70. The protein specificity for adenine nucleotides is also increased. No ATPase activity has been found in TrwB reconstituted in proteoliposomes. This result suggests that the N-terminal transmembrane segment of this T4CP interferes with its ATPase activity and can be taken to imply that the TrwB transmembrane domain plays a regulatory role in its biological activity.

Membrane solubilisation and reconstitution by octylglucoside: comparison of synthetic lipid and natural lipid extract by isothermal titration calorimetry

We have studied the solubilisation and reconstitution of lipid membranes composed of either synthetic phosphatidylcholine or Escherichia. coli polar lipid extract by the non-ionic detergent octylglucoside. For both lipid systems, composition-dependent transformations of unilamellar vesicles into micelles or vice versa were followed by high-sensitivity isothermal titration calorimetry. Data obtained over a range of detergent and lipid concentrations could be rationalised in terms of a three-stage phase separation model involving bilayer, bilayer/micelle coexistence, and micellar ranges, yielding the detergent/lipid phase diagrams and the bilayer-to-micelle partition coefficients of both detergent and lipid. The most notable difference between the lipids investigated was a substantial widening of the bilayer/micelle coexistence range for E. coli lipid, which was due to an increased preference of the detergent and a decreased affinity of the lipid for the micellar phase as compared with the bilayer phase. These effects on the bilayer-to-micelle partition coefficients could be explained by the high proportion in E. coli membranes of lipids possessing negative spontaneous curvature, which hampers both their transfer into strongly curved micellar structures as well as the insertion of detergent into condensed bilayers.

Monitoring detergent-mediated solubilization and reconstitution of lipid membranes by isothermal titration calorimetry

The solubilization and reconstitution of biological or liposomal membranes by detergents and biomolecules with detergent-like properties play a major role for technical applications (e.g., the isolation of membrane proteins) and biological phenomena (of, e.g., amphiphilic peptides). It is therefore important to know and understand the amounts of a given detergent required for the onset and completion of membrane solubilization and the detergent-lipid interactions in general. Lipid-detergent systems can form a variety of aggregate structures, which can be grouped into two pseudophases (lamellae and micelles) so that solubilization can be approximately described as a phase transition. Here we present a protocol for establishing the phase diagram and a detailed thermodynamic description of a lipid-detergent system based on isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The protocol can also be used to detect additive-induced membrane destabilization, permeabilization, domain formation and lipid-dependent transitions between rod-like and spherical micelles. A minimal protocol consisting of all sample preparation procedures and a single solubilization experiment can be accomplished within 2 days; a more extensive series comprising both solubilization and reconstitution experiments requires several days to a few weeks, depending on the number of titrations performed.

Regulation of CD40 reconstitution into a liposome using different ratios of solubilized LDAO to lipids

The integral membrane protein CD40 was found on the surface of B lymphocytes that interact with CD40L on T cells during the immune response. The hydrophobic transmembrane domains of membrane proteins can be stabilized in detergent or in lipid bilayers such as liposomes. Membrane proteins can be incorporated into the liposome in a similar fashion to the way they are handled in vivo. In this study, a large amount of full-sequence CD40 was produced using a bacterial system that contained a Mistic construct. The CD40 was then reconstituted into liposomes by detergent-mediated reconstitution. All stages in the process of liposome disruption with various detergent ratios were easily observed by monitoring the optical density. The structure of the liposome and the reconstitution of CD40 were confirmed by cryo-TEM. The results of the present study show that the detergent ratio had an effect on the structure of the liposome and the amount of CD40 that was reconstituted into the liposome.

Two distinct mechanisms of vesicle-to-micelle and micelle-to-vesicle transition are mediated by the packing parameter of phospholipid-detergent systems

The detergent solubilization and reformation of phospholipid vesicles was studied for various detergents. Two distinct mechanisms of vesicle-to-micelle and micelle-to-vesicle transition were observed by turbidimetry and cryo-electron microscopy. The first mechanism involves fast solubilization of phospholipids and occurs via open vesicular intermediates. The reverse process, micelle-to-vesicle transition, mimics the vesicle-to-micelle transition. In the second mechanism the solubilization is a slow process that proceeds via micelles that pinch off from closed vesicles. During vesicle reformation, the micelle-to-vesicle transition, a large number of densely packed multilamellar vesicles are formed. The route used, for solubilization and reformation, by a given detergent-phospholipid combination is critically dependent on the overall packing parameter of the detergent-saturated phospholipid membranes. By a change of the overall packing parameter the solubilization and or reformation mechanism could be changed. All five detergents tested fit within the proposed model. With two detergents the mechanism could be changed by changing the phospholipid composition or the medium conditions.

Study and formation of vesicle systems with low polydispersity index by ultrasound method

The formation of liposomes with low polydispersity index by application of ultrasounds was investigated considering methodology specifications such as sonication time and sonication power. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes were formed by the evaporation-hydration method. The vesicles were sonicated using several sonication conditions. The liposomes were then characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and freeze-fracture electron microscopy (FFEM). Correlation functions from DLS were treated by cumulants method and GENDIST to obtain the mean radius and polydispersity index. These calculations allowed to fix an optimal sonication time (3000 s) and a useful interval of ultrasound power between 39 and 91 W. DLS and FFEM results confirmed that vesicle size, lamellarity and the polydispersity index decreased with the increase of sonication power. Thus, we propose a systematic method to form liposomes in which the physical characteristics of the vesicles may be controlled as a function of sonication time and power.

Process of destruction of large unilamellar vesicles by a zwitterionic detergent, CHAPS: partition behavior between membrane and water phases

The process of vesicle destruction by zwitterionic detergent, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS), was examined to clarify the vesicle-micelle transition mechanism. The physicochemical properties including turbidity, apparent particle size, Cl(-) permeability, electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopic parameters, and freeze-fracture electron microscopy were investigated. The concentration of CHAPS was analyzed using HPLC to determine the partition coefficient during the solubilization process. The data obtained revealed that maximum turbidity and apparent particle size were found at the effective ratio (R(e)) of 0.21 and 0.49, respectively. With a further increase in CHAPS concentration, turbidity and particle size abruptly decreased, suggesting the formation of mixed micelles. The partition coefficient changed throughout the solubilization process. In the presence of low concentrations of CHAPS, CHAPS partitioned into vesicles without destruction of membrane bilayers. When the R(e)<0.04, the partition coefficient was independent of the detergent concentration with value of 24 M(-1). At R(e) greater than 0.05, the membrane barrier abruptly decreased. At 0.04</=R(e)<0.21, the gradual increase in the partition coefficient accounted for the occurrence of larger vesicles. In range of 0.21</=R(e)<0.52, the abrupt increase in the partition behavior was possibly attributed to the structural change of mixed vesicles to mixed micelles. Furthermore, the ESR results showed that the incorporation of CHAPS into vesicles led to an increase in membrane fluidity near the polar head, and a decrease near the end of the acyl chain. ESR spectra of 5-doxylstearic acid in CHAPS-containing micelles were anisotropic, indicating that the steroidal structure of CHAPS was responsible for the micelles possessing an orderly arrangement of hydrocarbon chains.

Membrane Protein Solubilization: Recent Advances and Challenges in Solubilization of Serotonin1A Receptors

Solubilization of integral membrane proteins is a process in which the proteins and lipids that are held together in native membranes are suitably dissociated in a buffered detergent solution. The controlled dissociation of the membrane results in formation of small protein and lipid clusters that remain dissolved in the aqueous solution. Effective solubilization and purification of membrane proteins, especially heterologously-expressed proteins in mammalian cells in culture, in functionally active forms represent important steps in understanding structure-function relationship of membrane proteins. In this review, critical factors determining functional solubilization of membrane proteins are highlighted with the solubilization of the serotonin 1A receptor taken as a specific example.

Molecular Photovoltaics and the Photoactivation of Mammalian Cells

Photosynthetic reaction centers are integral plant membrane protein complexes and molecular photovoltaic structures. We report here that addition of Photosystem I (PSI)-proteoliposomes to retinoblastoma cells imparts photosensitivity to these mammalian cells, as demonstrated by light-induced movement of calcium ions. Control experiments with liposomes lacking PSI demonstrated no photosensitivity. The data demonstrate that PSI, a nanoscale molecular photovoltaic structure extracted from plants, can impart a photoresponse to mammalian cells in vitro.

The effect of chain length on protein solubilization in polymer-based vesicles (polymersomes)

Using a mean-field analysis we derive a consistent model for the perturbation of a symmetric polymeric bilayer due to the incorporation of transmembrane proteins, as a function of the polymer molecular weight and the protein dimensions. We find that the mechanism for the inhibition of protein incorporation in polymeric bilayers differs from that of their inclusion in polymer-carrying lipid vesicles; in polymersomes, the equilibrium concentration of transmembrane proteins decreases as a function of the thickness mismatch between the protein and the bilayer core, whereas in liposomes the presence of polymer chains affects the protein adsorption kinetics. Despite the increased stiffness of polymer bilayers (when compared to lipid ones), their perturbation decay length and range of protein-protein interaction is found to be relatively long. The energetic penalty due to protein adsorption increases relatively slowly as a function of the polymer chain length due to the self-assembled nature of the polymer bilayer. As a result, we predict that transmembrane proteins may be incorporated in significant numbers even in bilayers where the thickness mismatch is large.

Tissue reactions to epoxy-crosslinked porcine heart valves post-treated with detergents or a dicarboxylic acid

Calcification limits the long-term durability of xenograft glutaraldehyde (GA)-crosslinked heart valves. Previously, a study in rats showed that epoxy-crosslinked heart valves reduced lymphocyte reactions to the same extent as the GA-crosslinked control and induced a similar foreign-body response and calcification reaction. The present study was aimed at reducing the occurrence of calcification of epoxy-crosslinked tissue. Two modifications were carried out and their influence on cellular reactions and the extent of calcification after 8 weeks' implantation in weanling rats was evaluated. First, epoxy-crosslinked valves were post-treated with two detergents to remove cellular elements, phospholipids and small soluble proteins, known to act as nucleation sites for calcification. The second approach was to study the effect of the impaired balance between negatively and positively charged amino acids by an additional crosslinking step with a dicarboxylic acid. The detergent treatment resulted in a washed-out appearance of especially the cusp tissue. With the dicarboxylic acid, both the cusps and the walls had a limited washed-out appearance. The wall also demonstrated some detachment of the subendothelium. After implantation, both detergent and dicarboxylic acid post-treatment histologically resulted in reduced calcification at the edges of cusps and walls. However, total amounts of calcification, measured by atomic emission spectroscopy, were not significantly reduced. Data concerning the presence of lymphocytes varied slightly, but were in the same range as the GA-crosslinked control, i.e., clearly reduced compared with a noncrosslinked control. It is concluded that both the double detergent and the dicarboxylic acid post-treatment of epoxy-crosslinked heart valve tissue do not represent a sound alternative in the fabrication of heart valve bioprostheses.

Use of Octyl β-Thioglucopyranoside in Two-Dimensional Crystallization of Membrane Proteins

A great interest exists in producing and/or improving two-dimensional (2D) crystals of membrane proteins amenable to structural analysis by electron crystallography. Here we report on the use of the detergent n-octyl beta-d-thioglucopyranoside in 2D crystallization trials of membrane proteins with radically different structures including FhuA from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli, light-harvesting complex II from Rubrivivax gelatinosus, and Photosystem I from cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. We have analyzed by electron microscopy the structures reconstituted after detergent removal from lipid-detergent or lipid-protein-detergent micellar solutions containing either only n-octyl beta-d-thioglucopyranoside or n-octyl beta-d-thioglucopyranoside in combination with other detergents commonly used in membrane protein biochemistry. This allowed the definition of experimental conditions in which the use of n-octyl beta-d-thioglucopyranoside could induce a considerable increase in the size of reconstituted membrane structures, up to several micrometers. An other important feature was that, in addition to reconstitution of membrane proteins into large bilayered structures, this thioglycosylated detergent also was revealed to be efficient in crystallization trials, allowing the proteins to be analyzed in large coherent two-dimensional arrays. Thus, inclusion of n-octyl beta-d-thioglucopyranoside in 2D crystallization trials appears to be a promising method for the production of large and coherent 2D crystals that will be valuable for structural analysis by electron crystallography and atomic force microscopy.

Vesicle reconstitution from lipid-detergent mixed micelles

The process of formation of lipid vesicles using the technique of detergent removal from mixed-micelles is examined. Recent studies on the solubilization and reconstitution of liposomes participated to our knowledge of the structure and properties of mixed lipid-detergent systems. The mechanisms involved in both the lipid self assembly and the micelle-vesicle transition are first reviewed. The simplistic three step minimum scheme is described and criticized in relation with isothermal as well as a function of the [det]/[lip] ratio, phase diagram explorations. The techniques of detergent elimination are reviewed and criticized for advantages and disadvantages. New methods inducing micelle-vesicle transition using enzymatic reaction and T-jump are also described and compared to more classical ones. Future developments of these techniques and improvements resulting of their combinations are also considered. Proper reconstitution of membrane constituents such as proteins and drugs into liposomes are examined in the light of our actual understanding of the micelle-vesicle transition.

Spectroscopic techniques in the study of membrane solubilization, reconstitution and permeabilization by detergents

This review focuses on the use of spectroscopic techniques for the study of membrane solubilization, reconstitution, and permeabilization by detergents. Turbidity and light scattering, visible and infrared spectroscopic methods, fluorescence, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance and X-ray diffraction are examined from the point of view of their applicability to the above detergent-mediated phenomena. A short introduction is provided about each of the techniques, and references are given for further study.

Functional reconstitution of substrate transport by purified multidrug resistance protein MRP1 (ABCC1) in phospholipid vesicles

The 190-kDa multidrug resistance protein MRP1 (ABCC1) is a polytopic transmembrane protein belonging to the ATP-binding cassette transporter superfamily. In addition to conferring resistance to various antineoplastic agents, MRP1 is a transporter of conjugated organic anions, including the cysteinyl leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)). We previously characterized the ATPase activity of reconstituted immunoaffinity-purified native MRP1 and showed it could be stimulated by its organic anion substrates (Mao, Q., Leslie, E. M., Deeley, R. G., and Cole, S. P. C. (1999) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1461, 69-82). Here we show that purified reconstituted MRP1 is also capable of active transport of its substrates. Thus LTC(4) uptake by MRP1 proteoliposomes was osmotically sensitive and could be inhibited by two MRP1-specific monoclonal antibodies. LTC(4) uptake was also markedly reduced by the competitive inhibitor, S-decyl-glutathione, as well as by the MRP1 substrates 17 beta-estradiol 17-beta-(d-glucuronide), oxidized glutathione, and vincristine in the presence of reduced glutathione. The K(m) for ATP and LTC(4) were 357 +/- 184 microm and 366 +/- 38 nm, respectively, and 2.14 +/- 0.75 microm for 17 beta-estradiol 17-beta-(d-glucuronide). Transport of vincristine required the presence of both ATP and GSH. Conversely, GSH transport was stimulated by vincristine and verapamil. Our data represent the first reconstitution of transport competent purified native MRP1 and confirm that MRP1 is an efflux pump, which can transport conjugated organic anions and co-transport vincristine together with GSH.