Electrostatic contribution to the surface pressure of charged monolayers containing polyphosphoinositides

Bragg-Williams Theory for Particles with a Size-Modulating Internal Degree of Freedom

The field of soft matter teems with molecules and aggregates of molecules that have internal size-modulating degrees of freedom. Proteins, peptides, microgels, polymers, micelles, and even some colloids can exist in multiple-often just two dominating-states with different effective sizes, where size can refer to the volume or to the cross-sectional area for particles residing on surfaces. The size-dependence of their accessible states renders the behavior of these particles pressure-sensitive. The Bragg-Williams model is among the most simple mean-field methods to translate the presence of inter-particle interactions into an approximate phase diagram. Here, we extend the Bragg-Williams model to account for the presence of particles that are immersed in a solvent and exist in two distinct states, one occupying a smaller and the other one a larger size. The basis of the extension is a lattice-sublattice approximation that we use to host the two size-differing states. Our model includes particle-solvent interactions that act as an effective surface tension between particles and solvent and are ignorant of the state in which the particles reside. We analyze how the energetic preference of the particles for one or the other state affects the phase diagrams. The possibility of a single phase-two phases-single phase sequence of phase transitions as a function of increasing temperature is demonstrated.

Switchable Lipids: From Conformational Switch to Macroscopic Changes in Lipid Vesicles

It has been shown that the use of conformationally pH-switchable lipids can drastically enhance the cytosolic drug delivery of lipid vesicles. Understanding the process by which the pH-switchable lipids disturb the lipid assembly of nanoparticles and trigger the cargo release is crucial to optimize the rational design of pH-switchable lipids. Here, we gather morphological observations (FF-SEM, Cryo-TEM, AFM, confocal microscopy), physicochemical characterization (DLS, ELS), as well as phase behavior studies (DSC, ²H NMR, Langmuir isotherm, and MAS NMR) to propose a mechanism of pH-triggered membrane destabilization. We demonstrate that the switchable lipids are homogeneously incorporated with other co-lipids (DSPC, cholesterol, and DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀) and promote a liquid-ordered phase insensitive to temperature variation. Upon acidification, the protonation of the switchable lipids triggers a conformational switch altering the self-assembly properties of lipid nanoparticles. These modifications do not lead to a phase separation of the lipid membrane; however, they cause fluctuations and local defects, which result in morphological changes of the lipid vesicles. These changes are proposed to affect the permeability of vesicle membrane, triggering the release of the cargo encapsulated in the lipid vesicles (LVs). Our results confirm that pH-triggered release does not require major morphological changes, but can result from small defects affecting the lipid membrane permeability.

Incorporation of Molecular Reorientation into Modeling Surface Pressure-Area Isotherms of Langmuir Monolayers

Langmuir monolayers can be assembled from molecules that change from a low-energy orientation occupying a large cross-sectional area to a high-energy orientation of small cross-sectional area as the lateral pressure grows. Examples include cyclosporin A, amphotericin B, nystatin, certain alpha-helical peptides, cholesterol oxydation products, dumbbell-shaped amphiphiles, organic-inorganic nanoparticles and hybrid molecular films. The transition between the two orientations leads to a shoulder in the surface pressure-area isotherm. We propose a theoretical model that describes the shoulder and can be used to extract the energy cost per molecule for the reorientation. Our two-state model is based on a lattice-sublattice approximation that hosts the two orientations and a corresponding free energy expression which we minimize with respect to the orientational distribution. Inter-molecular interactions other than steric repulsion are ignored. We provide an analysis of the model, including an analytic solution for one specific lateral pressure near a point of inflection in the surface pressure-area isotherm, and an approximate solution for the entire range of the lateral pressures. We also use our model to estimate energy costs associated with orientational transitions from previously reported experimental surface pressure-area isotherms.

Semi-automated Optimization of the CHARMM36 Lipid Force Field to Include Explicit Treatment of Long-Range Dispersion

The development of the CHARMM lipid force field (FF) can be traced back to the early 1990s with its current version denoted CHARMM36 (C36). The parametrization of C36 utilized high-level quantum mechanical data and free energy calculations of model compounds before parameters were manually adjusted to yield agreement with experimental properties of lipid bilayers. While such manual fine-tuning of FF parameters is based on intuition and trial-and-error, automated methods can identify beneficial modifications of the parameters via their sensitivities and thereby guide the optimization process. This work introduces a semi-automated approach to reparametrize the CHARMM lipid FF with consistent inclusion of long-range dispersion through the Lennard-Jones particle-mesh Ewald (LJ-PME) approach. The optimization method is based on thermodynamic reweighting with regularization with respect to the C36 set. Two independent optimizations with different topology restrictions are presented. Targets of the optimizations are primarily liquid crystalline phase properties of lipid bilayers and the compression isotherm of monolayers. Pair correlation functions between water and lipid functional groups in aqueous solution are also included to address headgroup hydration. While the physics of the reweighting strategy itself is well-understood, applying it to heterogeneous, complex anisotropic systems poses additional challenges. These were overcome through careful selection of target properties and reweighting settings allowing for the successful incorporation of the explicit treatment of long-range dispersion, and we denote the newly optimized lipid force field as C36/LJ-PME. The current implementation of the optimization protocol will facilitate the future development of the CHARMM and related lipid force fields.

The pH-Induced Specific Area Changes of Unsaturated Lipids Deposited onto a Bubble Interface

In this work, we used an original experimental setup to examine the behavior of insoluble monolayers made with pH-sensitive lipids. Two kinds of unsaturated lipids were chosen: a cationic one (lipid 1) bearing an ammonium headgroup and an anionic one (lipid 2) terminated with an acidic phenol group. The lipids were deposited onto an air bubble interface maintained in an aqueous phase and, after stabilization, were subjected to a series of compressions performed at different pH values. These experiments disclosed a gradual increase in the specific area per molecule when lipids were neutralized. Imposing a pH variation at constant bubble volume also provided surface pressure profiles that confirmed this molecular behavior. As complementary characterization, dilatational rheology disclosed a phase transition from a purely elastic monophasic system to a viscoelastic two-phase system. We hypothesized that this unexpected increase in the specific area with lipid neutralization is related to the presence of unsaturations in each of the two branches of the hydrophobic tails that induce disorder, thereby increasing the molecular area at the interface. Application of the two-dimensional Volmer equation of state allowed the generation of quantitative values for the specific areas that showed variations with pH. It also allowed the determination of apparent pK_a values, which are affected by both the electrostatic potential within the monolayer and the affinity of the lipid polar head for the aqueous phase.

A multiscale biophysical model for the recruitment of actin nucleating proteins at the membrane interface

The dynamics and organization of the actin cytoskeleton are crucial to many cellular events such as motility, polarization, cell shaping, and cell division. The intracellular and extracellular signaling associated with this cytoskeletal network is communicated through cell membranes. Hence the organization of membrane macromolecules and actin filament assembly are highly interdependent. Although the actin-membrane linkage is known to happen through many routes, the major class of interactions is through the direct interaction of actin-binding proteins with the lipid class containing poly-phosphatidylinositols (PPIs). Among the PPIs, phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P₂) acts as a significant factor controlling actin polymerization in the proximity of the membrane by binding to actin-associated proteins. The molecular interactions between these actin-binding proteins and the membrane lipids remain elusive. Here, using molecular modeling, analytical theory, and experimental methods, we investigate the binding of three different actin-binding proteins, mDia2, NWASP, and gelsolin, to membranes containing PI(4,5)P₂ lipids. We perform molecular dynamics simulations on the protein-bilayer system and analyze the membrane binding in the form of hydrogen bonds and salt bridges at various PI(4,5)P₂ and cholesterol concentrations. Our experimental study with PI(4,5)P₂-containing large unilamellar vesicles mimics the computational experiments. Using the multivalencies of the proteins obtained in molecular simulations and the cooperative binding mechanisms of the proteins, we also propose a multivalent binding model that predicts the actin filament distributions at various PI(4,5)P₂ and protein concentrations.

Plasma membranes are asymmetric in lipid unsaturation, packing and protein shape

A fundamental feature of cellular plasma membranes (PMs) is an asymmetric lipid distribution between the bilayer leaflets. However, neither the detailed, comprehensive compositions of individual PM leaflets nor how these contribute to structural membrane asymmetries have been defined. We report the distinct lipidomes and biophysical properties of both monolayers in living mammalian PMs. Phospholipid unsaturation is dramatically asymmetric, with the cytoplasmic leaflet being approximately twofold more unsaturated than the exoplasmic leaflet. Atomistic simulations and spectroscopy of leaflet-selective fluorescent probes reveal that the outer PM leaflet is more packed and less diffusive than the inner leaflet, with this biophysical asymmetry maintained in the endocytic system. The structural asymmetry of the PM is reflected in the asymmetric structures of protein transmembrane domains. These structural asymmetries are conserved throughout Eukaryota, suggesting fundamental cellular design principles.

Plasma membranes are asymmetric in lipid unsaturation, packing and protein shape

A fundamental feature of cellular plasma membranes (PM) is asymmetric lipid distribution between the bilayer leaflets. However, neither the detailed, comprehensive compositions of individual PM leaflets, nor how these contribute to structural membrane asymmetries have been defined. We report the distinct lipidomes and biophysical properties of both monolayers in living mammalian PMs. Phospholipid unsaturation is dramatically asymmetric, with the cytoplasmic leaflet being ~2-fold more unsaturated than the exoplasmic. Atomistic simulations and spectroscopy of leaflet-selective fluorescent probes reveal that the outer PM leaflet is more packed and less diffusive than the inner leaflet, with this biophysical asymmetry maintained in the endocytic system. The structural asymmetry of the PM is reflected in asymmetric structures of protein transmembrane domains (TMD). These structural asymmetries are conserved throughout Eukaryota, suggesting fundamental cellular design principles.

Characterization of Specific Ion Effects on PI(4,5)P2 Clustering: Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Graph-Theoretic Analysis

Numerous cellular functions mediated by phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2; PIP2) involve clustering of the lipid as well as colocalization with other lipids. Although the cation-mediated electrostatic interaction is regarded as the primary clustering mechanism, the ion-specific nature of the intermolecular network formation makes it challenging to characterize the clusters. Here we use all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of PIP2 monolayers and graph-theoretic analysis to gain insight into the phenomenon. MD simulations reveal that the intermolecular interactions preferentially occur between specific cations and phosphate groups (P1, P4, and P5) of the inositol headgroup with better-matched kosmotropic/chaotropic characters consistent with the law of matching water affinities (LMWA). Ca2+ is strongly attracted to P4/P5, while K+ preferentially binds to P1; Na+ interacts with both P4/P5 and P1. These specific interactions lead to the characteristic clustering patterns. Specificially, the size distributions and structures of PIP2 clusters generated by kosmotropic cations Ca2+ and Na+ are bimodal, with a combination of small and large clusters, while there is little clustering in the presence of only chaotropic K+; the largest clusters are obtained in systems with all three cations. The small-world network (a model with both local and long-range connections) best characterizes the clusters, followed by the random and the scale-free networks. More generally, the present results interpreted within the LMWA are consistent with the relative eukaryotic intracellular concentrations Ca2+ ≪ Na+ < Mg2+ < K+; that is, concentrations of Ca2+ and Na+ must be low to prevent damaging aggregation of lipids, DNA, RNA and phosphate-containing proteins.

Hyaluronan Disrupts Cardiomyocyte Organization within 3D Fibrin-Based Hydrogels

The extracellular matrix in vivo contains variable but often large amounts of glycosaminoglycans that influence cell and tissue function. Hyaluronan (HA) is an abundant glycosaminoglycan within the extracellular matrix of the myocardium during early development and in the aftermath of a myocardial infarction. Its flexible anionic structure has a strong influence on mechanical response and interstitial fluid flow within the matrix. Additionally, HA has a direct, biochemical effect on cells through an array of cell-surface receptors, including CD44, RHAMM/CD168, and other surface-exposed structures. Recent studies have shown that HA modulates the response of cardiomyocytes and other cell types to two-dimensional substrates of varying elastic moduli. This study investigates the force response to HA of cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts within three-dimensional matrices of variable composition and mechanical properties in vitro. HA significantly decreased the force exerted by the cell-matrix constructs in a tensiometer testing platform and within microfabricated tissue gauges. However, its effect was no different from that of alginate, an anionic polysaccharide with the same charge density but no specific transmembrane receptors. Therefore, these results establish that HA exerts a generic physical-chemical effect within three-dimensional hydrogels that must be accounted for when interrogating cell-matrix interactions.

Lateral distribution of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in membranes regulates formin- and ARP2/3-mediated actin nucleation

Spatial and temporal control of actin polymerization is fundamental for many cellular processes, including cell migration, division, vesicle trafficking, and response to agonists. Many actin-regulatory proteins interact with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P₂) and are either activated or inactivated by local PI(4,5)P₂ concentrations that form transiently at the cytoplasmic face of cell membranes. The molecular mechanisms of these interactions and how the dozens of PI(4,5)P₂-sensitive actin-binding proteins are selectively recruited to membrane PI(4,5)P₂ pools remains undefined. Using a combination of biochemical, imaging, and cell biologic studies, combined with molecular dynamics and analytical theory, we test the hypothesis that the lateral distribution of PI(4,5)P₂ within lipid membranes and native plasma membranes alters the capacity of PI(4,5)P₂ to nucleate actin assembly in brain and neutrophil extracts and show that activities of formins and the Arp2/3 complex respond to PI(4,5)P₂ lateral distribution. Simulations and analytical theory show that cholesterol promotes the cooperative interaction of formins with multiple PI(4,5)P₂ headgroups in the membrane to initiate actin nucleation. Masking PI(4,5)P₂ with neomycin or disrupting PI(4,5)P₂ domains in the plasma membrane by removing cholesterol decreases the ability of these membranes to nucleate actin assembly in cytoplasmic extracts.

Surface Pressure of Charged Colloids at the Air/Water Interface

Charged colloidal monolayers at the interface between water and air (or oil) are used in a large number of chemical, physical, and biological applications. Although considerable experimental and theoretical effort has been devoted in the past few decades to the investigation of such monolayers, some of their fundamental properties are not yet fully understood. In this article, we model charged colloidal monolayers as a continuum layer of finite thickness, with a separate charge distribution on the water and air sides. The electrostatic surface free energy and surface pressure are calculated via the charging method and within the Debye-Hückel approximation. We obtain the dependence of surface pressure on several system parameters: the monolayer thickness, its distinct dielectric permittivity, and the ionic strength of the aqueous subphase. The surface pressure scaling with the area per particle, a, is found to be between a^-2 in the close-packing limit and a^-5/2 in the loose-packing limit. In general, it is found that the surface pressure is strongly influenced by charges on the air side of the colloids. However, when the larger charge resides on the water side, a more subtle dependence on salt concentration emerges. This corrects a common assumption that the charges on the water side can always be neglected due to screening. Finally, using a single fit parameter, our theory is found to fit the experimental data well for strong- to intermediate-strength electrolytes. We postulate that an anomalous scaling of a^-3/2, recently observed in low ionic concentrations, cannot be accounted for within a linear theory, and its explanation requires a fully nonlinear analysis.

Regulation of actin assembly by PI(4,5)P2 and other inositol phospholipids: An update on possible mechanisms

Actin cytoskeleton dynamics depend on a tight regulation of actin filament formation from an intracellular pool of monomers, followed by their linkage to each other or to cell membranes, followed by their depolymerization into a fresh pool of actin monomers. The ubiquitous requirement for continuous actin remodeling that is necessary for many cellular functions is orchestrated in large part by actin binding proteins whose affinity for actin is altered by inositol phospholipids, most prominently PI(4,5)P2 (phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate). The kinetics of PI(4,5)P2 synthesis and hydrolysis, its lateral distribution within the lipid bilayer, and coincident detection of PI(4,5)P2 and another signal, all play a role in determining when and where a particular PI(4,5)P2-regulated protein is inactivated or activated to exert its effect on the actin cytoskeleton. This review summarizes a range of models that have been developed to explain how PI(4,5)P2 might function in the complex chemical and structural environment of the cell based on a combination of experiment and computational studies.

Effects of GM1 on brain spectrin-aminophospholipid interactions

Spectrin, a major component of the membrane skeletal meshwork of metazoan cells, is implicated to associate with membrane domains and is known to act as a scaffold for stabilization and activation of different signalling modules. We have studied the effect of GM1 (monosialotetrahexosyl ganglioside), a well-known model ganglioside and a signalling moiety, on the interaction of non-erythroid brain spectrin with both saturated and unsaturated aminophospholipids by spectroscopic methods. We observe that GM1 modulates brain spectrin-aminophospholipid interaction to the greatest degree whereas its effect on erythroid spectrin is not as pronounced. Fluorescence quenching studies show that brain spectrin interacts with DMPC/DMPE-based vesicles with a 10-fold increased affinity in presence of very low amounts of 2% and 5% GM1, and the extent of quenching decreases progressively in presence of increasing amounts of GM1. Interaction of brain spectrin with unsaturated membrane systems of DOPC/DOPE weakens in presence GM1. Increase in the mean lifetime of the Trp residues of brain spectrin in presence of GM1 indicates change in the microenvironment of spectrin, without affecting the secondary structure of the protein significantly. Studies on pressure - area isotherm of Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer and Brewster's angle microscopy show that GM1 has an expanding effect on the aminophospholipid monolayers, and ordered regions in DMPC/DMPE mixed monolayers are formed and are stabilized at higher pressure. GM1-induced fluidization of the phospholipid membranes and probable physical contact between bulky sugar head group of GM1 and spectrin, may explain the modulatory role of GM1 on aminophospholipid interactions with nonerythroid brain spectrin.

The Charge Properties of Phospholipid Nanodiscs

Phospholipids (PLs) are a major, diverse constituent of cell membranes. PL diversity arises from the nature of the fatty acid chains, as well as the headgroup structure. The headgroup charge is thought to contribute to both the strength and specificity of protein-membrane interactions. Because it has been difficult to measure membrane charge, ascertaining the role charge plays in these interactions has been challenging. Presented here are charge measurements on lipid Nanodiscs at 20°C in 100 mM NaCl, 50 mM Tris, at pH 7.4. Values are also reported for measurements made in the presence of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) as a function of NaCl concentration, pH, and temperature, and in solvents containing other types of cations and anions. Measurements were made for neutral (phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine) and anionic (phosphatidylserine, phosphatidic acid, cardiolipin, and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2)) PLs containing palmitoyl-oleoyl and dimyristoyl fatty acid chains. In addition, charge measurements were made on Nanodiscs containing an Escherichia coli lipid extract. The data collected reveal that 1) POPE is anionic and not neutral at pH 7.4; 2) high-anionic-content Nanodiscs exhibit polyelectrolyte behavior; 3) 3 mM Ca(2+) neutralizes a constant fraction of the charge, but not a constant amount of charge, for POPS and POPC Nanodiscs; 4) in contrast to some previous work, POPC only interacts weakly with Ca(2+); 5) divalent cations interact with lipids in a lipid- and ion-specific manner for POPA and PIP2 lipids; and 6) the monovalent anion type has little influence on the lipid charge. These results should help eliminate inconsistencies among data obtained using different techniques, membrane systems, and experimental conditions, and they provide foundational data for developing an accurate view of membranes and membrane-protein interactions.

An improved Akt reporter reveals intra- and inter-cellular heterogeneity and oscillations in signal transduction

Akt is a key node in a range of signal transduction cascades and play a critical role in diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Fluorescently-tagged Akt reporters have been used to discern Akt localisation, yet it has not been clear how well these tools recapitulate the behaviour of endogenous Akt proteins. Here, we observed that fusion of eGFP to Akt2 impaired both its insulin-stimulated plasma membrane recruitment and its phosphorylation. Endogenous-like responses were restored by replacing eGFP with TagRFP-T. The improved response magnitude and sensitivity afforded by TagRFP-T-Akt2 over eGFP-Akt2 enabled monitoring of signalling outcomes in single cells at physiological doses of insulin with subcellular resolution and revealed two previously unreported features of Akt biology. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, stimulation with insulin resulted in recruitment of Akt2 to the plasma membrane in a polarised fashion. Additionally, we observed oscillations in plasma membrane localised Akt2 in the presence of insulin with a consistent periodicity of 2 min. Our studies highlight the importance of fluorophore choice when generating reporter constructs and shed light on new Akt signalling responses that may encode complex signalling information.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Molecular dynamics simulations and Kelvin probe force microscopy to study of cholesterol-induced electrostatic nanodomains in complex lipid mixtures

The molecular arrangement of lipids and proteins within biomembranes and monolayers gives rise to complex film morphologies as well as regions of distinct electrical surface potential, topographical and electrostatic nanoscale domains. To probe these nanodomains in soft matter is a challenging task both experimentally and theoretically. This work addresses the effects of cholesterol, lipid composition, lipid charge, and lipid phase on the monolayer structure and the electrical surface potential distribution. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to resolve topographical nanodomains and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) to resolve electrical surface potential of these nanodomains in lipid monolayers. Model monolayers composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(3-lysyl(1-glycerol))] (DOPG), and cholesterol were studied. It is shown that cholesterol changes nanoscale domain formation, affecting both topography and electrical surface potential. The molecular basis for differences in electrical surface potential was addressed with atomistic molecular dynamics (MD). MD simulations are compared the experimental results, with 100 s of mV difference in electrostatic potential between liquid-disordered bilayer (L_d, less cholesterol and lower chain order) and a liquid-ordered bilayer (L_o, more cholesterol and higher chain order). Importantly, the difference in electrostatic properties between L_o and L_d phases suggests a new mechanism by which membrane composition couples to membrane function.

Cholesterol-Dependent Phase-Demixing in Lipid Bilayers as a Switch for the Activity of the Phosphoinositide-Binding Cytoskeletal Protein Gelsolin

The lateral distribution of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) in lipid bilayers is affected both by divalent cation-mediated attractions and cholesterol-dependent phase demixing. The effects of lateral redistribution of PIP2 within a membrane on PIP2-protein interactions are explored with an N-terminal fragment of gelsolin (NtGSN) that severs actin in a Ca(2+)-insensitive manner. The extent of NtGSN inhibition by PIP2-containing large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) depends on the lateral organization of the membrane as quantified by an actin-severing assay. At a fixed PIP2 mole fraction, the inhibition is largely enhanced by the segregation of liquid ordered/liquid disordered (Lo/Ld) phases that is induced by altering either cholesterol content or temperature, whereas the presence of Ca(2+) only slightly improves the inhibition. Inhibition of gelsolin induced by demixed LUVs is more effective with decreasing temperature, coincident with increasing membrane order as determined by Laurdan generalized polarization and is reversible as the temperature increases. This result suggests that PIP2-mediated inhibition of gelsolin function depends not only on changes in global concentration but also on lateral distribution of PIP2. These observations imply that gelsolin, and perhaps other PIP2-regulated proteins, can be activated or inactivated by the formation of nanodomains or clusters without changing PIP2 bulk concentration in the cell membrane.

Lipid monolayers and adsorbed polyelectrolytes with different degrees of polymerization

Polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) of different molecular weight M(w) is adsorbed to oppositely charged DODAB monolayers from dilute solutions (0.01 mmol/L). PSS adsorbs flatly in a lamellar manner, as is shown by X-ray reflectivity and grazing incidence diffraction (exception: PSS with M(w) below 7 kDa adsorbs flatly disordered to the liquid expanded phase). The surface coverage and the separation of the PSS chains are independent of PSS M(w). On monolayer compression, the surface charge density increases by a factor of 2, and the separation of the PSS chains decreases by the same factor. Isotherms show that on increase of PSS M(w) the transition pressure of the LE/LC (liquid expanded/liquid condensed) phase transition decreases. When the contour length exceeds the persistence length (21 nm), the transition pressure is low and constant. For low-M(w) PSS (<7 kDa) the LE/LC transition of the lipids and the disordered/ordered transition of adsorbed PSS occur simultaneously, leading to a maximum in the contour length dependence of the transition enthalpy. These findings show that lipid monolayers at the air/water interface are a suitable model substrate with adjustable surface charge density to study the equilibrium conformation of adsorbed polyelectrolytes as well as their interactions with a model membrane.

Counterion-mediated pattern formation in membranes containing anionic lipids

Most lipid components of cell membranes are either neutral, like cholesterol, or zwitterionic, like phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. Very few lipids, such as sphingosine, are cationic at physiological pH. These generally interact only transiently with the lipid bilayer, and their synthetic analogs are often designed to destabilize the membrane for drug or DNA delivery. However, anionic lipids are common in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes. The net charge per anionic phospholipid ranges from -1 for the most abundant anionic lipids such as phosphatidylserine, to near -7 for phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5 trisphosphate, although the effective charge depends on many environmental factors. Anionic phospholipids and other negatively charged lipids such as lipopolysaccharides are not randomly distributed in the lipid bilayer, but are highly restricted to specific leaflets of the bilayer and to regions near transmembrane proteins or other organized structures within the plane of the membrane. This review highlights some recent evidence that counterions, in the form of monovalent or divalent metal ions, polyamines, or cationic protein domains, have a large influence on the lateral distribution of anionic lipids within the membrane, and that lateral demixing of anionic lipids has effects on membrane curvature and protein function that are important for biological control.

Counterion-mediated cluster formation by polyphosphoinositides

Polyphosphoinositides (PPI) and in particular PI(4,5)P2, are among the most highly charged molecules in cell membranes, are important in many cellular signaling pathways, and are frequently targeted by peripheral polybasic proteins for anchoring through electrostatic interactions. Such interactions between PIP2 and proteins containing polybasic stretches depend on the physical state and the lateral distribution of PIP2 within the inner leaflet of the cell's lipid bilayer. The physical and chemical properties of PIP2 such as pH-dependent changes in headgroup ionization and area per molecule as determined by experiments together with molecular simulations that predict headgroup conformations at various ionization states have revealed the electrostatic properties and phase behavior of PIP2-containing membranes. This review focuses on recent experimental and computational developments in defining the physical chemistry of PIP2 and its interactions with counterions. Ca(2+)-induced changes in PIP2 charge, conformation, and lateral structure within the membrane are documented by numerous experimental and computational studies. A simplified electrostatic model successfully predicts the Ca(2+)-driven formation of PIP2 clusters but cannot account for the different effects of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) on PIP2-containing membranes. A more recent computational study is able to see the difference between Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) binding to PIP2 in the absence of a membrane and without cluster formation. Spectroscopic studies suggest that divalent cation- and multivalent polyamine-induced changes in the PIP2 lateral distribution in model membrane are also different, and not simply related to the net charge of the counterion. Among these differences is the capacity of Ca(2+) but not other polycations to induce nm scale clusters of PIP2 in fluid membranes. Recent super resolution optical studies show that PIP2 forms nanoclusters in the inner leaflet of a plasma membrane with a similar size distribution as those induced by Ca(2+) in model membranes. The mechanisms by which PIP2 forms nanoclusters and other structures inside a cell remain to be determined, but the unique electrostatic properties of PIP2 and its interactions with multivalent counterions might have particular physiological relevance.

Solid supported membranes doped with PIP2: influence of ionic strength and pH on bilayer formation and membrane organization

Phosphoinositides and in particular L-α-phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) are key lipids controlling many cellular events and serve as receptors for a large number of intracellular proteins. To quantitatively analyze protein-PIP2 interactions in vitro in a time-resolved manner, planar membranes on solid substrates are highly desirable. Here, we describe an optimized protocol to form PIP2 containing planar solid supported membranes on silicon surfaces by vesicle spreading. Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) were obtained by spreading POPC/PIP2 (92:8) small unilamellar vesicles onto hydrophilic silicon substrates at a low pH of 4.8. These membranes were capable of binding ezrin, resulting in large protein coverage as concluded from reflectometric interference spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. As deduced from fluorescence microscopy, only under low pH conditions, a homogeneously appearing distribution of fluorescently labeled PIP2 molecules in the membrane was achieved. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments revealed that PIP2 is not mobile in the bottom layer of the SLBs, while PIP2 is fully mobile in the top layer with diffusion coefficients of about 3 μm(2)/s. This diffusion coefficient was considerably reduced by a factor of about 3 if ezrin has been bound to PIP2 in the membrane.

Plasma membrane--cortical cytoskeleton interactions: a cell biology approach with biophysical considerations

From a biophysical standpoint, the interface between the cell membrane and the cytoskeleton is an intriguing site where a "two-dimensional fluid" interacts with an exceedingly complex three-dimensional protein meshwork. The membrane is a key regulator of the cytoskeleton, which not only provides docking sites for cytoskeletal elements through transmembrane proteins, lipid binding-based, and electrostatic interactions, but also serves as the source of the signaling events and molecules that control cytoskeletal organization and remolding. Conversely, the cytoskeleton is a key determinant of the biophysical and biochemical properties of the membrane, including its shape, tension, movement, composition, as well as the mobility, partitioning, and recycling of its constituents. From a cell biological standpoint, the membrane-cytoskeleton interplay underlies--as a central executor and/or regulator--a multitude of complex processes including chemical and mechanical signal transduction, motility/migration, endo-/exo-/phagocytosis, and other forms of membrane traffic, cell-cell, and cell-matrix adhesion. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the tight structural and functional coupling between the membrane and the cytoskeleton. As biophysical approaches, both theoretical and experimental, proved to be instrumental for our understanding of the membrane/cytoskeleton interplay, this review will "oscillate" between the cell biological phenomena and the corresponding biophysical principles and considerations. After describing the types of connections between the membrane and the cytoskeleton, we will focus on a few key physical parameters and processes (force generation, curvature, tension, and surface charge) and will discuss how these contribute to a variety of fundamental cell biological functions.

Quantum and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of protonation and divalent ion binding to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2)

Molecular dynamics calculations have been used to determine the structure of phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PIP2) at the quantum level and to quantify the propensity for PIP2 to bind two physiologically relevant divalent cations, Mg(2+) and Ca(2+). We performed a geometry optimization at the Hartree-Fock 6-31+G(d) level of theory in vacuum and with a polarized continuum dielectric to determine the conformation of the phospholipid headgroup in the presence of water and its partial charge distribution. The angle between the headgroup and the acyl chains is nearly perpendicular, suggesting that in the absence of other interactions the inositol ring would lie flat along the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane. Next, we employed hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations to investigate the protonation state of PIP2 and its interactions with magnesium or calcium. We test the hypothesis suggested by prior experiments that binding of magnesium to PIP2 is mediated by a water molecule that is absent when calcium binds. These results may explain the selective ability of calcium to induce the formation of PIP2 clusters and phase separation from other lipids.

Role of Phospholipids in Endocytosis, Phagocytosis, and Macropinocytosis

Endocytosis, phagocytosis, and macropinocytosis are fundamental processes that enable cells to sample their environment, eliminate pathogens and apoptotic bodies, and regulate the expression of surface components. While a great deal of effort has been devoted over many years to understanding the proteins involved in these processes, the important contribution of phospholipids has only recently been appreciated. This review is an attempt to collate and analyze the rapidly emerging evidence documenting the role of phospholipids in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, phagocytosis, and macropinocytosis. A primer on phospholipid biosynthesis, catabolism, subcellular distribution, and transport is presented initially, for reference, together with general considerations of the effects of phospholipids on membrane curvature and charge. This is followed by a detailed analysis of the critical functions of phospholipids in the internalization processes and in the maturation of the resulting vesicles and vacuoles as they progress along the endo-lysosomal pathway.

Regulation of the electric charge in phosphatidic acid domains

Although a minor component of the lipidome, phosphatidic acid (PA) plays a crucial role in nearly all signaling pathways involving cell membranes, in part because of its variable electrical charge in response to environmental conditions. To investigate how charge is regulated in domains of PA, we applied surface-sensitive X-ray reflectivity and fluorescence near-total-reflection techniques to determine the binding of divalent ions (Ca(2+) at various pH values) to 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (DMPA) and to the simpler lipid dihexadecyl phosphate (DHDP) spread as monolayers at the air/water interface. We found that the protonation state of PA is controlled not only by the pK(a) and local pH but also by the strong affinity to PA driven by electrostatic correlations from divalent ions and the cooperative effect of the two dissociable protons, which dramatically enhance the surface charge. A precise theoretical model is presented providing a general framework to predict the protonation state of PA. Implications for recent experiments on charge regulation by hydrogen bonding and the role of pH in PA signaling are discussed in detail.

The physical chemistry of the enigmatic phospholipid diacylglycerol pyrophosphate

Phosphatidic acid (PA) is a lipid second messenger that is formed transiently in plants in response to different stress conditions, and plays a role in recruiting protein targets, ultimately enabling an adequate response. Intriguingly, this increase in PA concentration in plants is generally followed by an increase in the phospholipid diacylglycerolpyrophosphate (DGPP), via turnover of PA. Although DGPP has been shown to induce stress-related responses in plants, it is unclear to date what its molecular function is and how it exerts its effect. Here, we describe the physicochemical properties, i.e., effective molecular shape and charge, of DGPP. We find that unlike PA, which imparts a negative curvature stress to a (phospho)lipid bilayer, DGPP stabilizes the bilayer phase of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), similar to the effect of phosphatidylcholine (PC). DGPP thus has zero curvature. The pKa(2) of the phosphomonoester of DGPP is 7.44 ± 0.02 in a PC bilayer, compared to a pKa(2) of 7.9 for PA. Replacement of half of the PC with PE decreases the pKa(2) of DGPP to 6.71 ± 0.02, similar to the behavior previously described for PA and summarized in the electrostatic-hydrogen bond switch model. Implications for the potential function of DGPP in biomembranes are discussed.

Divalent cation-induced cluster formation by polyphosphoinositides in model membranes

Polyphosphoinositides (PPIs) and in particular phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate (PI4,5P2), control many cellular events and bind with variable levels of specificity to hundreds of intracellular proteins in vitro. The much more restricted targeting of proteins to PPIs in cell membranes is thought to result in part from the formation of spatially distinct PIP2 pools, but the mechanisms that cause formation and maintenance of PIP2 clusters are still under debate. The hypothesis that PIP2 forms submicrometer-sized clusters in the membrane by electrostatic interactions with intracellular divalent cations is tested here using lipid monolayer and bilayer model membranes. Competitive binding between Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) to PIP2 is quantified by surface pressure measurements and analyzed by a Langmuir competitive adsorption model. The physical chemical differences among three PIP2 isomers are also investigated. Addition of Ca(2+) but not Mg(2+), Zn(2+), or polyamines to PIP2-containing monolayers induces surface pressure drops coincident with the formation of PIP2 clusters visualized by fluorescence, atomic force, and electron microscopy. Studies of bilayer membranes using steady-state probe-partitioning fluorescence resonance energy transfer (SP-FRET) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) also reveal divalent metal ion (Me(2+))-induced cluster formation or diffusion retardation, which follows the trend: Ca(2+) ≫ Mg(2+) > Zn(2+), and polyamines have minimal effects. These results suggest that divalent metal ions have substantial effects on PIP2 lateral organization at physiological concentrations, and local fluxes in their cytoplasmic levels can contribute to regulating protein-PIP2 interactions.

Phosphatidylinositol 4, 5 bisphosphate and the actin cytoskeleton

Dynamic changes in PM PIP(2) have been implicated in the regulation of many processes that are dependent on actin polymerization and remodeling. PIP(2) is synthesized primarily by the type I phosphatidylinositol 4 phosphate 5 kinases (PIP5Ks), and there are three major isoforms, called a, b and g. There is emerging evidence that these PIP5Ks have unique as well as overlapping functions. This review will focus on the isoform-specific roles of individual PIP5K as they relate to the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. We will review recent advances that establish PIP(2) as a critical regulator of actin polymerization and cytoskeleton/membrane linkages, and show how binding of cytoskeletal proteins to membrane PIP(2) might alter lateral or transverse movement of lipids to affect raft formation or lipid asymmetry. The mechanisms for specifying localized increase in PIP(2) to regulate dynamic actin remodeling will also be discussed.

Divalent cation-dependent formation of electrostatic PIP2 clusters in lipid monolayers

Polyphosphoinositides are among the most highly charged molecules in the cell membrane, and the most common polyphosphoinositide, phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)), is involved in many mechanical and biochemical processes in the cell membrane. Divalent cations such as calcium can cause clustering of the polyanionic PIP(2), but the origin and strength of the effective attractions leading to clustering has been unclear. In addition, the question of whether the ion-mediated attractions could be strong enough to alter the mechanical properties of the membrane, to our knowledge, has not been addressed. We study phase separation in mixed monolayers of neutral and highly negatively charged lipids, induced by the addition of divalent positively charged counterions, both experimentally and numerically. We find good agreement between experiments on mixtures of PIP(2) and 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine and simulations of a simplified model in which only the essential electrostatic interactions are retained. In addition, we find numerically that under certain conditions the effective attractions can rigidify the resulting clusters. Our results support an interpretation of PIP(2) clustering as governed primarily by electrostatic interactions. At physiological pH, the simulations suggest that the effective attractions are strong enough to give nearly pure clusters of PIP(2) even at small overall concentrations of PIP(2).

Thermodynamics of monolayers formed by mixtures of phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine

In this work we obtain the thermodynamic properties of mixed (1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) PC and (1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (sodium salt)) PS monolayers. Measurements of compressibility (isotherms, bulk modulus, and excess area per molecule) and surface potential show that the properties of monolayers at the air-water interface depend on the concentration of ions (Na(+) and K(+)) and the proportion of PS in the mixture. The dependence on PS arises because the molecule is originally bound to a Na(+) counterion; by increasing the concentration of ions the entropy changes, creating a favorable system for the bound counterions of PS to join the bulk, leaving a negatively charged molecule. This change leads to an increase in electrostatic repulsions which is reflected by the increase in area per molecule versus surface pressure and a higher surface potential. The results lead to the conclusion that this mixture of phospholipids follows a non ideal behavior and can help to understand the thermodynamic behavior of membranes made of binary mixtures of a zwitterionic and an anionic phospholipid with a bound counterion.

Structural investigation on the adsorption of the MARCKS peptide on anionic lipid monolayers - effects beyond electrostatic

The presence of charged lipids in the cell membrane constitutes the background for the interaction with numerous membrane proteins. As a result, the valence of the lipids plays an important role concerning their lateral organization in the membrane and therefore the very manner of this interaction. This present study examines this aspect, particularly regarding to the interaction of the anionic lipid DPPS with the highly basic charged effector domain of the MARCKS protein, examined in monolayer model systems. Film balance, fluorescence microscopy and X-ray reflection/diffraction measurements were used to study the behavior of DPPS in a mixture with DPPC for its dependance on the presence of MARCKS (151-175). In the mixed monolayer, both lipids are completely miscible therefore DPPS is incorporated in the ordered crystalline DPPC domains as well. The interaction of MARCKS peptide with the mixed monolayer leads to the formation of lipid/peptide clusters causing an elongation of the serine group of the DPPS up to 7Å in direction to surface normal into the subphase. The large cationic charge of the peptide pulls out the serine group of the interface which simultaneously causes an elongation of the phosphodiester group of the lipid fraction too. The obtained results were used to compare the interaction of MARCKS peptide with the polyvalent PIP(2) in mixed monolayers. On this way we surprisingly find out, that the relative small charge difference of the anionic lipids causes a significant different interaction with MARCKS (151-175). The lateral arrangement of the anionic lipids depends on their charge values and determines the diffusion of the electrostatic binding clusters within the membrane.

Polyphosphoinositides are enriched in plant membrane rafts and form microdomains in the plasma membrane

In this article, we analyzed the lipid composition of detergent-insoluble membranes (DIMs) purified from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plasma membrane (PM), focusing on polyphosphoinositides, lipids known to be involved in various signal transduction events. Polyphosphoinositides were enriched in DIMs compared with whole PM, whereas all structural phospholipids were largely depleted from this fraction. Fatty acid composition analyses suggest that enrichment of polyphosphoinositides in DIMs is accompanied by their association with more saturated fatty acids. Using an immunogold-electron microscopy strategy, we were able to visualize domains of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in the plane of the PM, with 60% of the epitope found in clusters of approximately 25 nm in diameter and 40% randomly distributed at the surface of the PM. Interestingly, the phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate cluster formation was not significantly sensitive to sterol depletion induced by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. Finally, we measured the activities of various enzymes of polyphosphoinositide metabolism in DIMs and PM and showed that these activities are present in the DIM fraction but not enriched. The putative role of plant membrane rafts as signaling membrane domains or membrane-docking platforms is discussed.

Dynamic properties of cationic diacyl-glycerol-arginine-based surfactant/phospholipid mixtures at the air/water interface

In this Article, we study the binary surface interactions of 1,2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycero-3-O-(N(alpha)-acetyl-L-arginine) hydrochloride (1414RAc) with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) on 0.1 M sodium chloride solutions. 1414RAc is a novel monocationic surfactant that has potential applications as an antimicrobial agent, is biodegradable, and shows a toxicity activity smaller than that of other commercial cationic surfactants. DPPC phospholipid was used as a model membrane component. The dynamic surface tension of 1414RAc/DPPC aqueous dispersions injected into the saline subphase was followed by tensiometry. The layer formation for the mixtures is always accelerated with respect to DPPC, and surprisingly, the surface tension reduction is faster and reaches lower surface tension values at surfactant concentration below its critical micellar concentration (cmc). Interfacial dilational rheology properties of mixed films spread on the air/water interface were determined by the dynamic oscillation method using a Langmuir trough. The effect of surfactant mole fraction on the rheological parameters of 1414RAc/DPPC mixed monolayers was studied at a relative amplitude of area deformation of 5% and a frequency of 50 mHz. The monolayer viscoelasticity shows a nonideal mixing behavior with predominance of the surfactant properties. This nonideal behavior has been attributed to the prevalence of electrostatic interactions.

Mechanochemical crosstalk during endocytic vesicle formation

Membrane curvature has emerged as a key regulatory factor in endocytic vesicle formation. From a theoretical perspective, we summarize recent progress in understanding how membrane curvature and biochemical pathways are coupled and orchestrated during the coherent process of endocytic vesicle formation. We mainly focus on clathrin-mediated and actin-mediated endocytosis in yeast and in mammalian cells. We further speculate on how mechanochemical feedback could modulate other membrane-remodeling processes.

Ceramide kinase regulates phospholipase C and phosphatidylinositol 4, 5, bisphosphate in phototransduction

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) is a central effector for many biological responses regulated by G-protein-coupled receptors including Drosophila phototransduction where light sensitive channels are activated downstream of NORPA, a PLCbeta homolog. Here we show that the sphingolipid biosynthetic enzyme, ceramide kinase, is a novel regulator of PLC signaling and photoreceptor homeostasis. A mutation in ceramide kinase specifically leads to proteolysis of NORPA, consequent loss of PLC activity, and failure in light signal transduction. The mutant photoreceptors also undergo activity-dependent degeneration. Furthermore, we show that a significant increase in ceramide, resulting from lack of ceramide kinase, perturbs the membrane microenvironment of phosphatidylinositol 4, 5, bisphosphate (PIP(2)), altering its distribution. Fluorescence image correlation spectroscopic studies on model membranes suggest that an increase in ceramide decreases clustering of PIP(2) and its partitioning into ordered membrane domains. Thus ceramide kinase-mediated maintenance of ceramide level is important for the local regulation of PIP(2) and PLC during phototransduction.

The mechanochemistry of endocytosis

An integrated theoretical model reveals how the chemical and the mechanical aspects of endocytosis are coordinated coherently in yeast cells, driving progression through the endocytic pathway and ensuring efficient vesicle scission in vivo.

Endocytic vesicle formation is a complex process that couples sequential protein recruitment and lipid modifications with dramatic shape transformations of the plasma membrane. Although individual molecular players have been studied intensively, how they all fit into a coherent picture of endocytosis remains unclear. That is, how the proper temporal and spatial coordination of endocytic events is achieved and what drives vesicle scission are not known. Drawing upon detailed knowledge from experiments in yeast, we develop the first integrated mechanochemical model that quantitatively recapitulates the temporal and spatial progression of endocytic events leading to vesicle scission. The central idea is that membrane curvature is coupled to the accompanying biochemical reactions. This coupling ensures that the process is robust and culminates in an interfacial force that pinches off the vesicle. Calculated phase diagrams reproduce endocytic mutant phenotypes observed in experiments and predict unique testable endocytic phenotypes in yeast and mammalian cells. The combination of experiments and theory in this work suggest a unified mechanism for endocytic vesicle formation across eukaryotes.

Endocytosis is a complex and efficient process that cells utilize to take up nutrients and communicate with other cells. Eukaryotes have diverse endocytic pathways with two common features, mechanical and chemical. Proper mechanical forces are necessary to deform the plasma membrane and, eventually, pinch off the cargo-laden endocytic vesicles; and tightly regulated endocytic protein assembly and disassembly reactions drive the progression of endocytosis. Many experiments have yielded a lot of detailed information on the sub-processes of endocytosis, but how these sub-processes fit together into a coherent process in vivo is still not clear. To address this question, we constructed the first integrated theoretical model of endocytic vesicle formation, building on detailed knowledge from experiments in yeast. The key notion is that the mechanical force generation during endocytosis is both slave to, and master over, the accompanying endocytic reaction pathway, which is mediated by local membrane curvature. Our model can quantitatively recapitulate the endocytic events leading to vesicle scission in budding yeast and can explain key aspects of mammalian endocytosis. The phenotypes predicted from variations within the feedback components of our model reproduce observed mutant phenotypes, and we predict additional unique and testable endocytic phenotypes in yeast and mammalian cells. We further demonstrate that the functional significance of such mechanochemical feedback is to ensure the robustness of endocytic vesicle scission.

Calcium-dependent lateral organization in phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2)- and cholesterol-containing monolayers

Biological membrane function, in part, depends upon the local regulation of lipid composition. The spatial heterogeneity of membrane lipids has been extensively explored in the context of cholesterol and phospholipid acyl-chain-dependent domain formation, but the effects of lipid head groups and soluble factors in lateral lipid organization are less clear. In this contribution, the effects of divalent calcium ions on domain formation in monolayers containing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), a polyanionic, multifunctional lipid of the cytosolic leaflet of the plasma bilayer, are reported. In binary monolayers of PIP2 mixed with zwitterionic lipids, calcium induced a rapid, PIP2-dependent surface pressure drop, with the concomitant formation of laterally segregated, PIP2-rich domains. The effect was dependent upon head-group multivalency, because lowered pH suppressed the surface-pressure effect and domain formation. In accordance with previous observations, inclusion of cholesterol in lipid mixtures induced coexistence of two liquid phases. Phase separation strongly segregated PIP2 to the cholesterol-poor phase, suggesting a role for cholesterol-dependent lipid demixing in regulating PIP2 localization and local concentration. Similar to binary mixtures, subphase calcium induced contraction of ternary cholesterol-containing monolayers; however, in these mixtures, calcium induced an unexpected, PIP2- and multivalency-dependent decrease in the miscibility phase transition surface pressure, resulting in rapid dissolution of the domains. This result emphasizes the likely critical role of subphase factors and lipid head-group specificity in the formation and stability of cholesterol-dependent domains in cellular plasma membranes.

The immediate-early oncoproteins Fra-1, c-Fos, and c-Jun have distinguishable surface behavior and interactions with phospholipids

This work explores the surface properties of the transcription factor Fra-1 and compares them with those of two other immediate early proteins, c-Fos and c-Jun, to establish generalities and differences in the surface behavior and interaction with phospholipids of this type of proteins. We present several experimental clues of the flexible nature of Fra-1, c-Fos, and c-Jun that support sequence-based predictions of their intrinsical disorder. The values of surface parameters for Fra-1 are similar in general to those of c-Fos and c-Jun. However, we find differences in the interactions of the three proteins with phospholipids. The closely related Fra-1 and c-Fos share affinity for anionic lipids but the former has more affinity for a condensed phase and senses a change in DPPC phase, while the latter has more affinity for an expanded phase. These features are in contrast with our previous finding that c-Jun is not selective for phospholipid polar head group or charge. We show here that at least some immediate early transcription factors can interact with membrane phospholipids in a distinguishable manner, and this shall provide a basis for their potential capacity to regulate membrane-mediated cellular processes.

Interaction of the MARCKS peptide with PIP2 in phospholipid monolayers

In this present work we have studied the effect of MARCKS (151-175) peptide on a mixed DPPC/PIP2 monolayer. By means of film balance, fluorescence microscopy, x-ray reflection/diffraction and neutron reflection measurements we detected changes in the lateral organization of the monolayer and changes in the perpendicular orientation of the PIP2 molecules depending on the presence of MARCKS (151-175) peptide in the subphase. In the mixed monolayer, the PIP2 molecules are distributed uniformly in the disordered phase of the monolayer, whereas the PI(4,5) groups elongate up to 10 A below the phosphodiester groups. This elongation forms the precondition for the electrostatic interaction of the MARCKS peptide with the PIP2 molecules. Due to the enrichment of PIP2 in the disordered phase, the interaction with the peptide occurs primarily in this phase, causing the PI(4,5) groups to tilt toward the monolayer interface.

Combined electrostatics and hydrogen bonding determine intermolecular interactions between polyphosphoinositides

Membrane lipids are active contributors to cell function as key mediators in signaling pathways controlling cell functions including inflammation, apoptosis, migration, and proliferation. Recent work on multimolecular lipid structures suggests a critical role for lipid organization in regulating the function of both lipids and proteins. Of particular interest in this context are the polyphosphoinositides (PPI's), especially phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate (PIP 2). The cellular functions of PIP 2 are numerous but the organization of PIP 2 in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, as well as the factors controlling targeting of PIP 2 to specific proteins, remains poorly understood. To analyze the organization of PIP 2 in a simplified planar system, we used Langmuir monolayers to study the effects of subphase conditions on monolayers of purified naturally derived PIP 2 and other anionic or zwitterionic phospholipids. We report a significant molecular area expanding effect of subphase monovalent salts on PIP 2 at biologically relevant surface densities. This effect is shown to be specific to PIP 2 and independent of subphase pH. Chaotropic agents (e.g., salts, trehalose, urea, temperature) that disrupt water structure and the ability of water to mediate intermolecular hydrogen bonding also specifically expanded PIP 2 monolayers. These results suggest a combination of water-mediated hydrogen bonding and headgroup repulsion in determining the organization of PIP 2, and may contribute to an explanation for the unique functionality of PIP 2 compared to other anionic phospholipids.