Order parameters and areas in fluid-phase oriented lipid membranes using wide angle X-ray scattering

Interaction of MRI Contrast Agent [Gd(DOTA)]- with Lipid Membranes: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Contrast agents are important imaging probes in clinical MRI, allowing the identification of anatomic changes that otherwise would not be possible. Intensive research on the development of new contrast agents is being made to image specific pathological markers or sense local biochemical changes. The most widely used MRI contrast agents are based on gadolinium(III) complexes. Due to their very high charge density, they have low permeability through tight biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier, hampering their application in the diagnosis of neurological disorders. In this study, we explore the interaction between the widely used contrast agent [Gd(DOTA)]- (Dotarem) and POPC lipid bilayers by means of molecular dynamics simulations. This metal complex is a standard reference where several chemical modifications have been introduced to improve key properties such as bioavailability and targeting. The simulations unveil detailed insights into the agent's interaction with the lipid bilayer, offering perspectives beyond experimental methods. Various properties, including the impact on global and local bilayer properties, were analyzed. As expected, the results indicate a low partition coefficient (KP) and high permeation barrier for this reference compound. Nevertheless, favorable interactions are established with the membrane leading to moderately long residence times. While coordination of one inner-sphere water molecule is maintained for the membrane-associated chelate, the physical-chemical attributes of [Gd(DOTA)]- as a MRI contrast agent are affected. Namely, increases in the rotational correlation times and in the residence time of the inner-sphere water are observed, with the former expected to significantly increase the water proton relaxivity. This work establishes a reference framework for the use of simulations to guide the rational design of new contrast agents with improved relaxivity and bioavailability and for the development of liposome-based formulations for use as imaging probes or theranostic agents.

Calcein release from DPPC liposomes by phospholipase A2 activity: Effect of cholesterol and amphipathic copolymers

In this study, we evaluated the impact of incorporating diblock and triblock amphiphilic copolymers, as well as cholesterol into DPPC liposomes on the release of a model molecule, calcein, mediated by exogenous phospholipase A2 activity. Our findings show that calcein release slows down in the presence of copolymers at low concentration, while at high concentration, the calcein release profile resembles that of the DPPC control. Additionally, calcein release mediated by exogenous PLA2 decreases as the amount of solubilized cholesterol increases, with a maximum between 18 mol% and 20 mol%. At concentrations higher than 24 mol%, no calcein release was observed. Studies conducted on HEK-293 and HeLa cells revealed that DPPC liposomes reduced viability by only 5% and 12%, respectively, after 3 hours of incubation, while DPPC liposome in presence of 33 mol% of Cholesterol reduced viability by approximately 11% and 23%, respectively, during the same incubation period. For formulations containing copolymers at low and high concentrations, cell viability decreased by approximately 20% and 40%, respectively, after 3 hours of incubation. Based on these preliminary results, we can conclude that the presence of amphiphilic copolymers at low concentration can be used in the design of new DPPC liposomes, and together with cholesterol, they can modulate liposome stabilization. The new formulations showed low cytotoxicity in HEK-293 cells, and it was observed that calcein release depended entirely on PLA2 activity and the presence of calcium ions.

Helical reorganization in the context of membrane protein folding: Insights from simulations with bacteriorhodopsin (BR) fragments

Membrane protein folding is distinct from folding of soluble proteins. Conformational acquisition in major membrane protein subclasses can be delineated into insertion and folding processes. An exception to the "two stage" folding, later developed to "three stage" folding, is observed within the last two helices in bacteriorhodopsin (BR), a system that serves as a model membrane protein. We employ a reductionist approach to understand interplay of molecular factors underlying the apparent defiance. Leveraging available solution NMR structures, we construct, sample in silico, and analyze partially (PIn) and fully inserted (FIn) BR membrane states. The membrane lateral C-terminal helix (CH) in PIn is markedly prone to transient structural distortions over microsecond timescales; a disorder prone region (DPR) is thereby identified. While clear transmembrane propensities are not acquired, the distortions induce alterations in local membrane curvature and area per lipid. Importantly, energetic decompositions reveal that overall, the N-terminal helix (NH) is thermodynamically more stable in the PIn. Higher overall stability of the FIn arises from favorable interactions between the NH and the CH. Our results establish lack of spontaneous transition of the PIn to the FIn, and attributes their partitioning to barriers that exceed those accessible with thermal fluctuations. This work paves the way for further detailed studies aimed at determining the thermo-kinetic roles of the initial five helices, or complementary external factors, in complete helical folding and insertion in BR. We comment that complementing such efforts with the growing field of machine learning assisted energy landscape searches may offer unprecedented insights.

Novel non-helical antimicrobial peptides insert into and fuse lipid model membranes

This research addresses the growing menace of antibiotic resistance by exploring antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Specifically, we investigate two linear amphipathic AMPs, LE-53 (12-mer) and LE-55 (16-mer), finding that the shorter LE-53 exhibits greater bactericidal activity against both Gram-negative (G(-)) and Gram-positive (G(+)) bacteria. Remarkably, both AMPs are non-toxic to eukaryotic cells. The heightened effectiveness of LE-53 is attributed to its increased hydrophobicity (H) compared to LE-55. Circular dichroism (CD) reveals that LE-53 and LE-55 both adopt β-sheet and random coil structures in lipid model membranes (LMMs) mimicking G(-) and G(+) bacteria, so secondary structure is not the cause of the potency difference. X-ray diffuse scattering (XDS) reveals increased lipid chain order in LE-53, a potential key distinction. Additionally, XDS study uncovers a significant link between LE-53's upper hydrocarbon location in G(-) and G(+) LMMs and its efficacy. Neutron reflectometry (NR) confirms the AMP locations determined using XDS. Solution small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) demonstrates LE-53's ability to induce vesicle fusion in bacterial LMMs without affecting eukaryotic LMMs, offering a promising strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant strains while preserving human cell integrity, whereas LE-55 has a smaller ability to induce fusion.

Isotropic liquid state of cocoa butter

The complex crystal structure of coca butter (CB) is responsible for the unique melting behavior, surface gloss, and mechanical properties of chocolate. While most studies concentrated on the crystalline state of CB, few studied the isotropic liquid state, which has a major impact on the crystallization process and the characteristics of the resulting crystals. In this study, the molecular organizations of the main CB triacylglycerols (TAGs; 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoylglycerol, palmitoyl-oleoyl-stearoylglycerol, POS, and 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoylglycerol) were studied. The findings revealed the tunning-fork (Tf) conformation, commonly found in the crystalline state, is the least abundant in the isotropic liquid state of CB and pure TAGs. Notably, POS was found to interact with itself in CB, while its molecules with Tf conformation, although in small amounts in the mixture, tend to pair with each other at lower temperatures. These results highlight the significance of POS in CB crystallization and provide insights for developing CB alternatives.

Thermodynamic study on hydrated bilayers of ether-linked phosphatidylcholines with terminal perfluorobutyl group

Novel terminally perfluorobutyl group-containing ether-linked phosphatidylcholines with different alkyl chain lengths (di-O-F4-Cn-PCs, n = 14,16 and 18) were developed as possible materials for stable liposomes aiming at applications of structural and functional analyses of membrane proteins. Differential scanning calorimetric investigations of the thermotropic transition of hydrated di-O-F4-Cn-PC bilayers demonstrated that the transition temperature of every di-O-F4-Cn-PC decreases by ~20 °C compared to their corresponding non-fluorinated PCs, di-O-Cn-PCs. With the elongation of the hydrophobic chain, on the other hand, the transition enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) increased in a linear manner. Comparison of ΔH and ΔS values against the net hydrocarbon chain length between di-O-F4-Cn-PCs and di-O-Cn-PCs strongly suggests that in the thermotropic transition of the di-O-F4-Cn-PC membrane, the perfluorobutyl segments undergo very limited structural changes; therefore, the hydrocarbon segments are mainly responsible for the phase transition.

Self-oriented anisotropic structure of G-hydrogels as a delicate balance between attractive and repulsive forces

Guanine (G) hydrogels are very attractive materials made by the supramolecular organization of G-derivatives in water. In this paper, hydrogels composed of guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) and guanosine (Gua), that make long, flexible and knotted G-quadruplexes, were investigated by small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) to comprehend the origin of their unique orientational properties. The SAXS intensity, analysed at a fixed scattering vector modulus Q as a function of polar angle, allowed us to derive the Maier-Saupe orientation parameter m. The strong dependence of m on hydrogel composition and temperature demonstrated that the preferred orientation is controlled by the quadruplex surface charge and flexibility. Indeed, a possible correlation between the orientation parameter m and the quadruplex-to-quadruplex lateral interactions was explored. Results confirmed that the balance between attractive and repulsive interactions plays a main role in the orientational anisotropy: quadruplex clusters lose their orientational properties when attractive interactions decrease. The key role of the number of negative charges per unit length of the G-quadruplex filaments was confirmed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) observations. Indeed, directionality histograms showed that in the presence of a large amount of Gua, G-quadruplexes follow preferential orientations other than those related to the strong interactions with the K+ pattern on the mica surface. The fact that lateral quadruplex-to-quadruplex interactions, even in the presence of external (opposing) forces, can tune the hydrogel alignment in a given preferred direction provides novel possibilities for scaffold/3D printing applications.

Effect of the Lipid Landscape on the Efficacy of Cell-Penetrating Peptides

Every cell biological textbook teaches us that the main role of the plasma membrane is to separate cells from their neighborhood to allow for a controlled composition of the intracellular space. The mostly hydrophobic nature of the cell membrane presents an impenetrable barrier for most hydrophilic molecules larger than 1 kDa. On the other hand, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are capable of traversing this barrier without compromising membrane integrity, and they can do so on their own or coupled to cargos. Coupling biologically and medically relevant cargos to CPPs holds great promise of delivering membrane-impermeable drugs into cells. If the cargo is able to interact with certain cell types, uptake of the CPP-drug complex can be tailored to be cell-type-specific. Besides outlining the major membrane penetration pathways of CPPs, this review is aimed at deciphering how properties of the membrane influence the uptake mechanisms of CPPs. By summarizing an extensive body of experimental evidence, we argue that a more ordered, less flexible membrane structure, often present in the very diseases planned to be treated with CPPs, decreases their cellular uptake. These correlations are not only relevant for understanding the cellular biology of CPPs, but also for rationally improving their value in translational or clinical applications.

Neutron scattering studies on dynamics of lipid membranes

Neutron scattering methods are powerful tools for the study of the structure and dynamics of lipid bilayers in length scales from sub Å to tens to hundreds nm and the time scales from sub ps to μs. These techniques also are nondestructive and, perhaps most importantly, require no additives to label samples. Because the neutron scattering intensities are very different for hydrogen- and deuterium-containing molecules, one can replace the hydrogen atoms in a molecule with deuterium to prepare on demand neutron scattering contrast without significantly altering the physical properties of the samples. Moreover, recent advances in neutron scattering techniques, membrane dynamics theories, analysis tools, and sample preparation technologies allow researchers to study various aspects of lipid bilayer dynamics. In this review, we focus on the dynamics of individual lipids and collective membrane dynamics as well as the dynamics of hydration water.

Novel Helical Trp- and Arg-Rich Antimicrobial Peptides Locate Near Membrane Surfaces and Rigidify Lipid Model Membranes

Antibiotics are losing effectiveness as bacteria become resistant to conventional drugs. To find new alternatives, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are rationally designed with different lengths, charges, hydrophobicities (H), and hydrophobic moments (μH), containing only three types of amino acids: arginine, tryptophan, and valine. Six AMPs with low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and <25% toxicity to mammalian cells are selected for biophysical studies. Their secondary structures are determined using circular dichroism (CD), which finds that the % α-helicity of AMPs depends on composition of the lipid model membranes (LMMs): gram-negative (G(-)) inner membrane (IM) >gram-positive (G(+)) > Euk33 (eukaryotic with 33 mol% cholesterol). The two most effective peptides, E2-35 (16 amino acid [AA] residues) and E2-05 (22 AAs), are predominantly helical in G(-) IM and G(+) LMMs. AMP/membrane interactions such as membrane elasticity, chain order parameter, and location of the peptides in the membrane are investigated by low-angle and wide-angle X-ray diffuse scattering (XDS). It is found that headgroup location correlates with efficacy and toxicity. The membrane bending modulus KC displays nonmonotonic changes due to increasing concentrations of E2-35 and E2-05 in G(-) and G(+) LMMs, suggesting a bacterial killing mechanism where domain formation causes ion and water leakage.

Structural diversity of photoswitchable sphingolipids for optodynamic control of lipid microdomains

Sphingolipids are a structurally diverse class of lipids predominantly found in the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells. These lipids can laterally segregate with other rigid lipids and cholesterol into liquid-ordered domains that act as organizing centers within biomembranes. Owing the vital role of sphingolipids for lipid segregation, controlling their lateral organization is of utmost significance. Hence, we made use of the light-induced trans-cis isomerization of azobenzene-modified acyl chains to develop a set of photoswitchable sphingolipids with different headgroups (hydroxyl, galactosyl, phosphocholine) and backbones (sphingosine, phytosphingosine, tetrahydropyran-blocked sphingosine) that are able to shuttle between liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered regions of model membranes upon irradiation with UV-A (λ = 365 nm) and blue (λ = 470 nm) light, respectively. Using combined high-speed atomic force microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and force spectroscopy, we investigated how these active sphingolipids laterally remodel supported bilayers upon photoisomerization, notably in terms of domain area changes, height mismatch, line tension, and membrane piercing. Hereby, we show that the sphingosine-based (Azo-β-Gal-Cer, Azo-SM, Azo-Cer) and phytosphingosine-based (Azo-α-Gal-PhCer, Azo-PhCer) photoswitchable lipids promote a reduction in liquid-ordered microdomain area when in the UV-adapted cis-isoform. In contrast, azo-sphingolipids having tetrahydropyran groups that block H-bonding at the sphingosine backbone (lipids named Azo-THP-SM, Azo-THP-Cer) induce an increase in the liquid-ordered domain area when in cis, accompanied by a major rise in height mismatch and line tension. These changes were fully reversible upon blue light-triggered isomerization of the various lipids back to trans, pinpointing the role of interfacial interactions for the formation of stable liquid-ordered domains.

Pro-inflammatory protein S100A9 alters membrane organization by dispersing ordered domains

Pro-inflammatory, calcium-binding protein S100A9 is localized in the cytoplasm of many cells and regulates several intracellular and extracellular processes. S100A9 is involved in neuroinflammation associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The number of studies on the impact of S100A9 in co-aggregation processes with amyloid-like proteins is increasing. However, there is still a lack of data on how this protein interacts with lipid membranes. We employed atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fluorescence measurements (Laurdan and Thioflavin-T) to study the interaction between protein and the membrane surface. We used lipid vesicles in bulk and planar tethered lipid bilayers as biomimetic membrane models. We demonstrated that the protein accumulates on negatively charged lipid bilayers but with no further loss of the bilayer's integrity. The most important result is that the initial adsorption and accumulation of apo-form of S100A9 on the lipid membrane surface is lipid phase-sensitive. The breaking down of raft-like and disappearance of gel-like domains indicate that protein incorporates into the hydrophobic part of the lipid bilayer. We observed the most noticeable loss of integrity in lipid bilayers constructed from a lipid mixture (brain total lipid extract). Understanding the function and interactions of these proteins in cellular environments might expand the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for AD or other related diseases.

Phase Heterogeneity in Cholesterol-Containing Ternary Phospholipid Lamellar Phases

Pseudo-ternary mixtures of lamellar phase phospholipids (DPPC and brain sphingomyelin with cholesterol) were studied below T _m while comparing the influence of cholesterol content, temperature, and the presence of small quantities of vitamin D binding protein (DBP) or vitamin D receptor (VDR). The measurements, conducted by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), cover a range of cholesterol concentrations (20% mol. wt to 40% mol. wt.) and physiologically relevant temperature range (294-314 K). In addition to rich intraphase behavior, data and modeling are used to approximate the lipids' headgroup location variations under the abovementioned experimental conditions.

Multiscale compression-induced restructuring of stacked lipid bilayers: From buckling delamination to molecular packing

Lipid membranes in nature adapt and reconfigure to changes in composition, temperature, humidity, and mechanics. For instance, the oscillating mechanical forces on lung cells and alveoli influence membrane synthesis and structure during breathing. However, despite advances in the understanding of lipid membrane phase behavior and mechanics of tissue, there is a critical knowledge gap regarding the response of lipid membranes to micromechanical forces. Most studies of lipid membrane mechanics use supported lipid bilayer systems missing the structural complexity of pulmonary lipids in alveolar membranes comprising multi-bilayer interconnected stacks. Here, we elucidate the collective response of the major component of pulmonary lipids to strain in the form of multi-bilayer stacks supported on flexible elastomer substrates. We utilize X-ray diffraction, scanning probe microscopy, confocal microscopy, and molecular dynamics simulation to show that lipid multilayered films both in gel and fluid states evolve structurally and mechanically in response to compression at multiple length scales. Specifically, compression leads to increased disorder of lipid alkyl chains comparable to the effect of cholesterol on gel phases as a direct result of the formation of nanoscale undulations in the lipid multilayers, also inducing buckling delamination and enhancing multi-bilayer alignment. We propose this cooperative short- and long-range reconfiguration of lipid multilayered films under compression constitutes a mechanism to accommodate stress and substrate topography. Our work raises fundamental insights regarding the adaptability of complex lipid membranes to mechanical stimuli. This is critical to several technologies requiring mechanically reconfigurable surfaces such as the development of electronic devices interfacing biological materials.

Translating a Thin-Film Rehydration Method to Microfluidics for the Preparation of a SARS-CoV-2 DNA Vaccine: When Manufacturing Method Matters

Previous investigations conducted on a liposomal formulation for a SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine manufactured using the thin-film layer rehydration method showed promising immunogenicity results in mice. The adaptation of the liposomal formulation to a scalable and reproducible method of manufacture is necessary to continue the investigation of this vaccine candidate. Microfluidics manufacture shows high potential in method translation. The physicochemical characterization of the blank liposomes produced by thin-film layer rehydration or microfluidics were shown to be comparable. However, a difference in lipid nanostructure in the bilayer resulted in a significant difference in the hydration of the thin-film liposomes, ultimately altering their complexation behavior. A study on the complexation of liposomes with the DNA vaccine at various N/P ratios showed different sizes and Zeta-potential values between the two formulations. This difference in the complexation behavior resulted in distinct immunogenicity profiles in mice. The thin-film layer rehydration-manufactured liposomes induced a significantly higher response compared to the microfluidics-manufactured samples. The nanostructural analysis of the two samples revealed the critical importance of understanding the differences between the two formulations that resulted in the different immunogenicity in mice.

Elastic moduli of normal and cancer cell membranes revealed by molecular dynamics simulations

Recent studies indicate that there are mechanical differences between normal cells and cancer cells. Because the cell membrane takes part in a variety of vital processes, we test the hypothesis of whether or not two fundamental alterations in the cell membrane, i.e., the overexpression of phosphatidylserine lipids in the outer leaflet and a reduction in cholesterol concentration, could cause the softening in cancer cells. Adopting ten models of normal and cancer cell membranes, we carry out 1 μs all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to compare the structural properties and elasticity properties of two membrane types. We find that the overexpression of the phosphatidylserine lipids in the outer leaflet does not significantly alter the area per lipid, the membrane thickness, the lipid order parameters and the elasticity moduli of the cancer membranes. However, a reduction in the cholesterol concentration leads to clear changes in those quantities, especially decreases in the bending, tilt and twist moduli. This implies that the reduction of cholesterol concentration in the cancer membranes could contribute to the softening of cancer cells.

It Takes More than Two to Tango: Complex, Hierarchal, and Membrane-Modulated Interactions in the Regulation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

The search for an understanding of how cell fate and motility are regulated is not a purely scientific undertaking, but it can also lead to rationally designed therapies against cancer. The discovery of tyrosine kinases about half a century ago, the subsequent characterization of certain transmembrane receptors harboring tyrosine kinase activity, and their connection to the development of human cancer ushered in a new age with the hope of finding a treatment for malignant diseases in the foreseeable future. However, painstaking efforts were required to uncover the principles of how these receptors with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity are regulated. Developments in molecular and structural biology and biophysical approaches paved the way towards better understanding of these pathways. Discoveries in the past twenty years first resulted in the formulation of textbook dogmas, such as dimerization-driven receptor association, which were followed by fine-tuning the model. In this review, the role of molecular interactions taking place during the activation of receptor tyrosine kinases, with special attention to the epidermal growth factor receptor family, will be discussed. The fact that these receptors are anchored in the membrane provides ample opportunities for modulatory lipid-protein interactions that will be considered in detail in the second part of the manuscript. Although qualitative and quantitative alterations in lipids in cancer are not sufficient in their own right to drive the malignant transformation, they both contribute to tumor formation and also provide ways to treat cancer. The review will be concluded with a summary of these medical aspects of lipid-protein interactions.

Cholesterol's Condensing Effect: Unpacking a Century-Old Mystery

The ability of cholesterol to uncoil (i.e., condense) the acyl chains of phospholipids has been known for a century. Despite extensive studies of the interactions between cholesterol and phospholipids, a molecular-level understanding of this uncoiling phenomenon has remained elusive. Equally unclear has been whether cholesterol's two different faces (i.e., its relatively smooth α face and its relatively rough β face) contribute to its condensing power. Because cholesterol's condensing effect is believed to play a major role in controlling the fluidity, structure, and functioning of all animal cell membranes, its biological importance cannot be overstated. This Perspective focuses on experimental evidence that addresses (i) the credibility of a popular "umbrella" mechanism that has been used to account for cholesterol's condensing effect, (ii) the credibility of an alternate "template" mechanism, (iii) the importance of cholesterol two-faced character with respect to its condensing power, and (iv) the viability of a surface occupancy model.

Pentacyclic triterpenes modulate liposome membrane fluidity and permeability depending on membrane cholesterol content

Since the membrane-related processes represent an integral part of the biological activities of drugs, their effect on the membrane dynamics is actually considered. In this study, we investigated the effect of pentacyclic triterpenes (TTPs), oleanolic acid (OA) and erythrodiol (ER), on the fluidity and permeability of liposomes membranes differing by their cholesterol content. All liposomes were prepared by reverse phase evaporation technique (REV). Spin-labeled liposomes exposed or not to TTPs were used for fluidity studies by using 5- and 16-doxyl stearic acids (DSA). TTPs-loaded liposomes (phospholipid:cholesterol of 1:1), and preformed vesicles exposed to TTPs were used for permeability studies by monitoring the release of sulforhodamine B (SRB) at 37 °C. The apparent release constants of SRB were determined by Higuchi model based on a biphasic curve shape (0-10 h; 10-48 h). TTPs-loaded liposomes were characterized for their size and homogeneity. Results showed that ER increased the membrane fluidity at the upper region of the membrane while the both TTPs produced a condensing effect at the deeper region of the membrane. The membrane composition was a critical parameter modulating the effect of TTPs on the membrane permeability. Also, this study consolidated the fact that a fluidizing membrane agent is not necessarily a permeabilizing-membrane compound.

Role of cholesterol flip-flop in oxidized lipid bilayers

We performed a series of molecular dynamics simulations of cholesterol (Chol) in nonoxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (PLPC) bilayer and in binary mixtures of PLPC-oxidized-lipid-bilayers with 0-50% Chol concentration and oxidized lipids with hydroperoxide and aldehyde oxidized functional groups. From the 60 unbiased molecular dynamics simulations (total of 161 μs), we found that Chol inhibited pore formation in the aldehyde-containing oxidized lipid bilayers at concentrations greater than 11%. For both pure PLPC bilayer and bilayers with hydroperoxide lipids, no pores were observed at any Chol concentration. Furthermore, increasing cholesterol concentration led to a change of phase state from the liquid-disordered to the liquid-ordered phase. This condensing effect of Chol was observed in all systems. Data analysis shows that the addition of Chol results in an increase in bilayer thickness. Interestingly, we observed Chol flip-flop only in the aldehyde-containing lipid bilayer but neither in the PLPC nor the hydroperoxide bilayers. Umbrella-sampling simulations were performed to calculate the translocation free energies and the Chol flip-flop rates. The results show that Chol's flip-flop rate depends on the lipid bilayer type, and the highest rate are found in aldehyde bilayers. As the main finding, we shown that Chol stabilizes the oxidized lipid bilayer by confining the distribution of the oxidized functional groups.

Unravelling the Effects of Cholesterol on the Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Responses of Di-8-ANEPPS Dye Embedded in Phosphatidylcholine Lipid Bilayers

Cholesterol is known for its role in maintaining the correct fluidity and rigidity of the animals cell membranes and thus their functions. Assessing the content and the role of cholesterol in lipid bilayers is therefore of crucial importance for a deeper understanding and control of membrane functioning. In this computational work, we investigate bilayers built from three types of glycerophospholipid phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipids, namely dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), and containing different amounts of cholesterol by analyzing the second-harmonic generation (SHG) nonlinear optical (NLO) response of a probe molecule, di-8-ANEPPS, inserted into the membranes. This molecular property presents the advantage to be specific to interfacial regions such as lipid bilayers. To unravel these effects, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed on both DPPC and DOPC lipids by varying the cholesterol mole fraction (from 0 to 0.66), while POPC was only considered as a pure bilayer. In the case of the structural properties of the bilayers, all the analyses converge toward the same conclusion: as the mole fraction of cholesterol increases, the systems become more rigid, confirming the condensing effect of cholesterol. In addition, the chromophore is progressively more aligned with respect to the normal to the bilayer. On the contrary, addition of unsaturation disorders the lipid bilayers, with barely no impact on the alignment of the chromophore. Then, using the frames obtained from the MD simulations, the first hyperpolarizability β of the dye in its environment has been computed at the TDDFT level. On the one hand, the addition of cholesterol induces a progressive increase of the diagonal component the β tensor parallel to the bilayer normal. On the other hand, larger β values have been calculated for the unsaturated than for the saturated lipid systems. In summary, this study illustrates the relationship between the composition and structure of the bilayers and the NLO responses of the embedded dye.

Relationship between Viscosity and Acyl Tail Dynamics in Lipid Bilayers

Membrane viscosity is a fundamental property that controls molecular transport and structural rearrangements in lipid membranes. Given its importance in many cell processes, various experimental and computational methods have been developed to measure the membrane viscosity, yet the estimated values depend highly on the method and vary by orders of magnitude. Here we investigate the molecular origins of membrane viscosity by measuring the nanoscale dynamics of the lipid acyl tails using x-ray and neutron spectroscopy techniques. The results show that the membrane viscosity can be estimated from the structural relaxation times of the lipid tails.

Polystyrene perturbs the structure, dynamics, and mechanical properties of DPPC membranes: An experimental and computational study

Synthetic plastic oligomers can interact with the cells of living organisms by different ways. They can be intentionally administered to the human body as part of nanosized biomedical devices. They can be inhaled by exposed workers, during the production of multicomponent, polymer-based nanocomposites. They can leak out of food packaging. Most importantly, they can result from the degradation of plastic waste, and enter the food chain. A physicochemical characterization of the effects of synthetic polymers on the structure and dynamics of cell components is still lacking. Here, we combine a wide spectrum of experimental techniques (calorimetry, x-ray, and neutron scattering) with atomistic Molecular Dynamics simulations to study the interactions between short chains of polystyrene (25 monomers) and model lipid membranes (DPPC, in both gel and fluid phase). We find that doping doses of polystyrene oligomers alter the thermal properties of DPPC, stabilizing the fluid lipid phase. They perturb the membrane structure and dynamics, in a concentration-dependent fashion. Eventually, they modify the mechanical properties of DPPC, reducing its bending modulus in the fluid phase. Our results call for a systematic, interdisciplinary assessment of the mechanisms of interaction of synthetic, everyday use polymers with cell membranes.

Mutually Beneficial Combination of Molecular Dynamics Computer Simulations and Scattering Experiments

We showcase the combination of experimental neutron scattering data and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for exemplary phospholipid membrane systems. Neutron and X-ray reflectometry and small-angle scattering measurements are determined by the scattering length density profile in real space, but it is not usually possible to retrieve this profile unambiguously from the data alone. MD simulations predict these density profiles, but they require experimental control. Both issues can be addressed simultaneously by cross-validating scattering data and MD results. The strengths and weaknesses of each technique are discussed in detail with the aim of optimizing the opportunities provided by this combination.

Gemcitabine Lipid Prodrugs: The Key Role of the Lipid Moiety on the Self-Assembly into Nanoparticles

A small library of amphiphilic prodrugs has been synthesized by conjugation of gemcitabine (Gem) (a hydrophilic nucleoside analogue) to a series of lipid moieties and investigated for their capacity to spontaneously self-assemble into nanosized objects by simple nanoprecipitation. Four of these conjugates formed stable nanoparticles (NPs), while with the others, immediate aggregation occurred, whatever the tested experimental conditions. Whether such capacity could have been predicted based on the prodrug physicochemical features was a matter of question. Among various parameters, the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value seemed to hold a predictive character. Indeed, we identified a threshold value which well correlated with the tendency (or not) of the synthesized prodrugs to form stable nanoparticles. Such a hypothesis was further confirmed by broadening the analysis to Gem and other nucleoside prodrugs already described in the literature. We also observed that, in the case of Gem prodrugs, the lipid moiety affected not only the colloidal properties but also the in vitro anticancer efficacy of the resulting nanoparticles. Overall, this study provides a useful demonstration of the predictive potential of the HLB value for lipid prodrug NP formulation and highlights the need of their opportune in vitro screening, as optimal drug loading does not always translate in an efficient biological activity.

Changes in membrane elasticity caused by the hydrophobic surfactant proteins correlate poorly with adsorption of lipid vesicles

To establish how the hydrophobic surfactant proteins, SP-B and SP-C, promote adsorption of lipids to an air/water interface, we used X-ray diffuse scattering (XDS) to determine an order parameter of the lipid chains (Sxray) and the bending modulus of the lipid bilayers (KC). Samples contained different amounts of the proteins with two sets of lipids. Dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) provided a simple, well characterized model system. The nonpolar and phospholipids (N&PL) from extracted calf surfactant provided the biological mix of lipids. For both systems, the proteins produced changes in Sxray that correlated well with KC. The dose-response to the proteins, however, differed. Small amounts of protein generated large decreases in Sxray and KC for DOPC that progressed monotonically. The changes for the surfactant lipids were erratic. Our studies then tested whether the proteins produced correlated effects on adsorption. Experiments measured the initial fall in surface tension during adsorption to a constant surface area, and then expansion of the interface during adsorption at a constant surface tension of 40 mN m-1. The proteins produced a sigmoidal increase in the rate of adsorption at 40 mN m-1 for both lipids. The results correlated poorly with the changes in Sxray and KC in both cases. Disordering of the lipid chains produced by the proteins, and the softening of the bilayers, fail to explain how the proteins promote adsorption of lipid vesicles.

Suppression of Lα/Lβ Phase Coexistence in the Lipids of Pulmonary Surfactant

To determine how different constituents of pulmonary surfactant affect its phase behavior, we measured wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) from oriented bilayers. Samples contained the nonpolar and phospholipids (N&PL) obtained from calf lung surfactant extract (CLSE), which also contains the hydrophobic surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C. Mixtures with different ratios of N&PL and CLSE provided the same set of lipids with different amounts of the proteins. At 37°C, N&PL by itself forms coexisting L_α and L_β phases. In the L_β structure, the acyl chains of the phospholipids occupy an ordered array that has melted by 40°C. This behavior suggests that the L_β composition is dominated by dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), which is the most prevalent component of CLSE. The L_β chains, however, lack the tilt of the L_β' phase formed by pure DPPC. At 40°C, WAXS also detects an additional diffracted intensity, the location of which suggests a correlation among the phospholipid headgroups. The mixed samples of N&PL with CLSE show that increasing amounts of the proteins disrupt both the L_β phase and the headgroup correlation. With physiological levels of the proteins in CLSE, both types of order are absent. These results with bilayers at physiological temperatures indicate that the hydrophobic surfactant proteins disrupt the ordered structures that have long been considered essential for the ability of pulmonary surfactant to sustain low surface tensions. They agree with prior fluorescence micrographic results from monomolecular films of CLSE, suggesting that at physiological temperatures, any ordered phase is likely to be absent or occupy a minimal interfacial area.

Interleaflet Decoupling in a Lipid Bilayer at Excess Cholesterol Probed by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry and Simulations

Artificial lipid membranes are often investigated as a replica of the cell membrane in the form of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs). In SLBs, the phase state of a lipid bilayer strongly depends on the presence of molecules such as cholesterol, ceramide, and physical parameters such as temperature. Cholesterol is a key molecule of biological membranes and it exerts condensing effect on lipid bilayers. In this paper, we demonstrate the influence of excess cholesterol content on a supported lipid bilayer of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) (fluid-phase) using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results show the condensation effect due to cholesterol addition up to 30% and interleaflet decoupling at excess cholesterol beyond 30%. SE results show the separation of individual leaflets of the bilayer and influence of cholesterol on the biophysical properties such as thickness and optical index. CG simulations were performed at different ratios of DOPC:cholesterol mixtures to explore cholesterol-driven bilayer properties and stability. The simulations displayed the accumulation of cholesterol molecules at the interface of the lower and upper leaflets of the bilayer, thus leading to undulations in the bilayer. This work reports the successful application of SE technique to study lipid-cholesterol interactions for the first time.

Unassisted N-acetyl-phenylalanine-amide transport across membrane with varying lipid size and composition: kinetic measurements and atomistic molecular dynamics simulation

Biological membranes are essential to preserve structural integrity and regulate functional properties through the permeability of nutrients, pharmaceutical drugs, and neurotransmitters of a living cell. The movement of acetylated and amidated phenylalanine (NAFA) across 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) membrane bilayers is investigated to probe physical transport. The rate of transport is measured experimentally applying parallel artificial membrane permeation assay (PAMPA). At the physiological temperature, 310 K, the measured time constants in the neutral pH were ∼6 h in DOPC and ∼3 h in POPC, while in a more acidic condition, at a pH 4.8, the time constants were ∼8 h in both lipids. Computationally, we have expanded our transport study of three aromatic dipeptides across a bilayer composed of DOPC¹⁸. In this study, we have examined the effects of lipid composition and bilayer size on the passive transport of NAFA by simulating the dipeptide in three different bilayers, with 50 DOPC lipids, 50 POPC lipids, and 40 POPC molecules. Specifically, atomistic molecular dynamics simulations with umbrella sampling were used to calculate the potential of mean force for the passive permeation of NAFA across the bilayers. Diffusion constants were then calculated by numerically solving the Smoluchowski equation. Permeability coefficients and mean first passage times were then calculated. Structural properties - Ramachandran plots, sidechain torsions, peptide insertion angles, radial distribution functions, and proximal peptide water molecules - were also examined to determine the effect of system size and lipid type. In terms of systems size, we observed a small decrease in the highest barrier of the potential of mean force and fewer sampled sidechain dihedral angle conformations with 40 versus 50 POPC lipids due to weaker membrane deformations within a smaller lipid bilayer. In terms of lipid type, DOPC contains two monounsaturated acyl chains compared to only one such acyl chain in POPC; therefore, DOPC bilayers are less ordered and more easily deformed, as seen by a much broader potential of mean force profile. The NAFA in DOPC lipid also transitioned to an internally hydrogen-bonded backbone conformation at lower membrane depths than in POPC. Similarly, as for other aromatic dipeptides, NAFA tends to insert into the membrane sidechain-first, remains mostly desolvated in the membrane center, and exhibits slow reorientations within the bilayer in both DOPC and POPC. With a joint experimental and computational study we have gained a new insight into the rate of transport and the underlying microscopic mechanism in different lipid bilayer conditions of the simplest hydrophobic aromatic dipeptide.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Single-Molecule 3D Orientation Imaging Reveals Nanoscale Compositional Heterogeneity in Lipid Membranes

In soft matter, thermal energy causes molecules to continuously translate and rotate, even in crowded environments, thereby impacting the spatial organization and function of most molecular assemblies, such as lipid membranes. Directly measuring the orientation and spatial organization of large collections (>3000 molecules μm-2 ) of single molecules with nanoscale resolution remains elusive. In this paper, we utilize SMOLM, single-molecule orientation localization microscopy, to directly measure the orientation spectra (3D orientation plus "wobble") of lipophilic probes transiently bound to lipid membranes, revealing that Nile red's (NR) orientation spectra are extremely sensitive to membrane chemical composition. SMOLM images resolve nanodomains and enzyme-induced compositional heterogeneity within membranes, where NR within liquid-ordered vs. liquid-disordered domains shows a ≈4° difference in polar angle and a ≈0.3π sr difference in wobble angle. As a new type of imaging spectroscopy, SMOLM exposes the organizational and functional dynamics of lipid-lipid, lipid-protein, and lipid-dye interactions with single-molecule, nanoscale resolution.

Bridges of Calcium Bicarbonate Tightly Couple Dipolar Lipid Membranes

The interaction between lipid membranes and ions is associated with a range of key physiological processes. Most earlier studies have focused on the interaction of lipids with cations, while the specific effects of the anions have been largely overlooked. Owing to dissolved atmospheric carbon dioxide, bicarbonate is an important ubiquitous anion in aqueous media. In this paper, we report on the effect of bicarbonate anions on the interactions between dipolar lipid membranes in the presence of previously adsorbed calcium cations. Using a combination of solution X-ray scattering, osmotic stress, and molecular dynamics simulations, we followed the interactions between 1,2-didodecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC) lipid membranes that were dialyzed against CaCl2 solutions in the presence and absence of bicarbonate anions. Calcium cations adsorbed onto DLPC membranes, charge them, and lead to their swelling. In the presence of bicarbonate anions, however, the calcium cations can tightly couple one dipolar DLPC membrane to the other and form a highly condensed and dehydrated lamellar phase with a repeat distance of 3.45 ± 0.02 nm. Similar tight condensation and dehydration has only been observed between charged membranes in the presence of multivalent counterions. Bridging between bilayers by calcium bicarbonate complexes induced this arrangement. Furthermore, in this condensed phase, lipid molecules and adsorbed ions were arranged in a two-dimensional oblique lattice.

Sphingomyelin Acyl Chains Influence the Formation of Sphingomyelin- and Cholesterol-Enriched Domains

The segregation of lipids into lateral membrane domains has been extensively studied. It is well established that the structural differences between phospholipids play an important role in lateral membrane organization. When a high enough cholesterol concentration is present in the bilayer, liquid-ordered (L_o) domains, which are enriched in cholesterol and saturated phospholipids such as sphingomyelin (SM), may form. We have recently shown that such a formation of domains can be facilitated by the affinity differences of cholesterol for the saturated and unsaturated phospholipids present in the bilayer. In mammalian membranes, the saturated phospholipids are usually SMs with different acyl chains, the abundance of which vary with cell type. In this study, we investigated how the acyl chain structure of SMs affects the formation of SM- and cholesterol-enriched domains. From the analysis of trans-parinaric acid fluorescence emission lifetimes, we could determine that cholesterol facilitated lateral segregation most with the SMs that had 16 carbon-long acyl chains. Using differential scanning calorimetry and Förster resonance energy transfer techniques, we observed that the SM- and cholesterol-enriched domains with 16 carbon-long SMs were most thermally stabilized by cholesterol. The Förster resonance energy transfer technique also suggested that the same SMs also form the largest L_o domains. In agreement with our previously published data, the extent of influence that cholesterol had on the propensity of lateral segregation and the properties of L_o domains correlated with the relative affinity of cholesterol for the phospholipids present in the bilayers. Therefore, the specific SM species present in the membranes, together with unsaturated phospholipids and cholesterol, can be used by the cell to fine-tune the lateral structure of the membranes.

The helix 0 of endophilin modifies membrane material properties and induces local curvature

The amphipathic helix 0 of endophilin (i.e., H0-Endo) is important to membrane binding, but its function of curvature generation remains controversial. We used electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to study effects of H0-Endo on membrane material properties. We found that H0-Endo reduced lipid chain mobility and increased bilayer polarity, i.e., making the bilayer interior more polar. Lipid-dependent examination revealed that anionic lipids augmented the effect of H0-Endo, while cholesterol had a minimal impact. Our EPR spectroscopy of magnetically aligned bicelles showed that as the peptide-to-lipid ratio increased, the lipid chain orientational order decreased gradually, followed by a sudden loss. We discuss an interfacial-bound model of the amphipathic H0-Endo to account for all EPR data. We used atomic force microscopy and fluorescence microscopy to explore membrane morphological changes. We found that H0-Endo caused the formation of micron-sized holes in mica-supported planar bilayers. Hole formation is likely caused by two competing forces - the adhesion force exerted by the substrate represses bilayer budging, whereas the line tension originating from peptide clustering has a tendency of destabilizing bilayer organization. In the absence of substrate influences, membrane curvature induction was manifested by generating small vesicles surrounding giant unilamellar vesicles. Our results of membrane perforation and vesiculation suggest that the functionality of H0-Endo is more than just coordinating membrane binding of endophilin.

Decoupling copolymer, lipid and carbon nanotube interactions in hybrid, biomimetic vesicles

Bilayer vesicles that mimic a real biological cell can be tailored to carry out a specific function by manipulating the molecular composition of the amphiphiles. These bio-inspired and bio-mimetic structures are increasingly being employed for a number of applications from drug delivery to water purification and beyond. Complex hybrid bilayers are the key building blocks for fully synthetic vesicles that can mimic biological cell membranes, which often contain a wide variety of molecular species. While the assembly and morpholgy of pure phospholid bilayer vesicles is well understood, the functionality and structure dramaticlly changes when copolymer and/or carbon nanotube porins (CNTP) are added. The aim of this study is to understand how the collective molecular interactions within hybrid vesicles affect their nanoscale structure and properties. In situ small and wide angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) and molecular dynamics simulations (MD) are used to investigate the morphological effect of molecular interactions between polybutadiene polyethylene oxide, lipids and carbon nanotubes (CNT) within the hybrid vesicle bilayer. Within the lipid/copolymer system, the hybrid bilayer morphology transitions from phase separated lipid and compressed copolymer at low copolymer loadings to a mixed bilayer where opposing lipids are mostly separated from the inner region. This transition begins between 60 wt% and 70 wt%, with full homogenization observed by 80 wt% copolymer. The incorporation of CNT into the hybrid vesicles increases the bilayer thickness and enhances the bilayer symmetry. Analysis of the WAXS and MD indicate that the CNT-dioleoyl interactions are much stronger than the CNT-polybutadiene.

Origin of lipid tilt in flat monolayers and bilayers

This paper continues the series of our works devoted to the liquid-gel phase transition in lipid membranes. Previously we described a variation of area per lipid, membrane thickness, and diffusion coefficient at the temperature-driven liquid-gel phase transition in bilayers. Here we expand the application of our analytic model approach to include a description of the lipid tilt and also extend the investigation to include Langmuir and self-assembled monolayers. The theory describes tilt formation at the temperature-driven liquid-gel phase transition in bilayers and the pressure-driven phase transition in Langmuir monolayers. Neither uniform tilt nor liquid-gel phase transition is found in self-assembled monolayers chemically bonded to the substrate.

Coupling Phase Behavior of Fatty Acid Containing Membranes to Membrane Bio-Mechanics

Biological membranes constantly modulate their fluidity for proper functioning of the cell. Modulation of membrane properties via regulation of fatty acid composition has gained a renewed interest owing to its relevance in endocytosis, endoplasmic reticulum membrane homeostasis, and adaptation mechanisms in the deep sea. Endowed with significant degrees of freedom, the presence of free fatty acids can alter the curvature of membranes which in turn can alter the response of curvature sensing proteins, thus defining adaptive ways to reconfigure membranes. Most significantly, recent experiments demonstrated that polyunsaturated lipids facilitate membrane bending and fission by endocytic proteins – the first step in the biogenesis of synaptic vesicles. Despite the vital roles of fatty acids, a systematic study relating the interactions between fatty acids and membrane and the consequent effect on the bio-mechanics of membranes under the influence of fatty acids has been sparse. Of specific interest is the vast disparity in the properties of cis and trans fatty acids, that only differ in the orientation of the double bond and yet have entirely unique and opposing chemical properties. Here we demonstrate a combined X-ray diffraction and membrane fluctuation analysis method to couple the structural properties to the biophysical properties of fatty acid-laden membranes to address current gaps in our understanding. By systematically doping pure dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) membranes with cis fatty acid and trans fatty acid we demonstrate that the presence of fatty acids doesn’t always fluidize the membrane. Rather, an intricate balance between the curvature, molecular interactions, as well as the amount of specific fatty acid dictates the fluidity of membranes. Lower concentrations are dominated by the nature of interactions between the phospholipid and the fatty acids. Trans fatty acid increases the rigidity while decreasing the area per lipid similar to the properties depicted by the addition of saturated fatty acids to lipidic membranes. Cis fatty acid however displays the accepted view of having a fluidizing effect at small concentrations. At higher concentrations curvature frustration dominates, leading to increased rigidity irrespective of the type of fatty acid. These results are consistent with theoretical predictions as detailed in the manuscript.

Lipid chain mobility and packing in DOPC bilayers at cryogenic temperatures

Low-temperature molecular mobility and packing in biological tissues are important for their survival upon cryopreservation. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in its pulsed version of electron spin echo (ESE) allows studying stochastic librations of spin-labeled molecules, the type of motion which dominates at low temperatures. These librations are characterized by the parameter <α²>τ_c where <α²> is the mean squared angular amplitude and τ_c is the correlation time for the motion. This parameter is known to be larger for higher temperature and for looser intermolecular structure. In this work, ESE data for the bilayers comprised of doubly-unsaturated DOPC (dioleoyl-glycero-phosphocholine) lipids and mono-unsaturated POPC (palmitoyl-oleoyl-glycero-phosphocholine) lipids with spin-labeled stearic acids added were obtained in the temperature range between 80 and 210 K; the results were compared also with the previously obtained data for fully-saturated DPPC (dipalmitoyl-glycero-phosphocholine) lipid bilayers [J. Phys. Chem. B2014, 118, 12,478-12,485; Appl. Magn. Reson. 2018, 49, 1369-1383]. It turned out that for DOPC bilayers the <α²>τ_c values are of intermediate magnitude between those for POPC and DPPC bilayers, which implies an intermediate density of lipid packing. A possible explanation of this result could be rearrangement at cryogenic temperatures of the DOPC lipid tails, with their terminal segments folding cooperatively. This interpretation is also in agreement with the known thermodynamic properties of gel-fluid transition for DOPC bilayer.

Asymmetric Bilayers by Hemifusion: Method and Leaflet Behaviors

We describe a new method to prepare asymmetric giant unilamellar vesicles (aGUVs) via hemifusion. Hemifusion of giant unilamellar vesicles and a supported lipid bilayer, triggered by calcium, promotes the lipid exchange of the fused outer leaflets mediated by lipid diffusion. We used different fluorescent dyes to monitor the inner and the outer leaflets of the unsupported aGUVs. We confirmed that almost all newly exchanged lipids in the aGUVs are found in the outer leaflet of these asymmetric vesicles. In addition, we test the stability of the aGUVs formed by hemifusion in preserving their contents during the procedure. For aGUVs prepared from the hemifusion of giant unilamellar vesicles composed of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/cholesterol = 0.39/0.39/0.22 and a supported lipid bilayer of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/cholesterol = 0.8/0.2, we observed the exchanged lipids to alter the bilayer properties. To access the physical and chemical properties of the asymmetric bilayer, we monitored the dye partition coefficients of individual leaflets and the generalized polarization of the fluorescence probe 6-dodecanoyl-2-[ N-methyl-N-(carboxymethyl)amino] naphthalene, a sensor for the lipid packing/order of its surroundings. For a high percentage of lipid exchange (>70%), the dye partition indicates induced-disordered and induced-ordered domains. The induced domains have distinct lipid packing/order compared to the symmetric liquid-disordered and liquid-ordered domains.

Caveolin-1 Endows Order in Cholesterol-Rich Detergent Resistant Membranes

Cholesterol-enriched functional portions of plasma membranes, such as caveolae and rafts, were isolated from lungs of wild-type (WT) and caveolin-1 knockout (Cav-1 KO) mice within detergent resistant membranes (DRMs). To gain insight into their molecular composition we performed proteomic and lipid analysis on WT and Cav-1 KO-DRMs that showed predicted variations of proteomic profiles and negligible differences in lipid composition, while Langmuir monolayer technique and small and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS-WAXS) were here originally introduced to study DRMs biophysical association state. Langmuir analysis of Cav-1 containing DRMs displayed an isotherm with a clear-cut feature, suggesting the coexistence of the liquid-ordered (L_o) phase typical of the raft structure, namely “cholesterol-rich L_o phase”, with a phase fully missing in Cav-1 KO that we named “caveolin-induced L_o phase”. Furthermore, while the sole lipid component of both WT and KO-DRMs showed qualitatively similar isotherm configuration, the reinsertion of recombinant Cav-1 into WT-DRMs lipids restored the WT-DRM pattern. X-ray diffraction results confirmed that Cav-1 causes the formation of a “caveolin-induced L_o phase”, as suggested by Langmuir experiments, allowing us to speculate about a possible structural model. These results show that the unique molecular link between Cav-1 and cholesterol can spur functional order in a lipid bilayer strictly derived from biological sources.

FRET Detects the Size of Nanodomains for Coexisting Liquid-Disordered and Liquid-Ordered Phases

Biomembranes with as few as three lipid components can form coexisting liquid-disordered (Ld) and liquid-ordered (Lo) phases. In the coexistence region of Ld and Lo phases, the lipid mixtures 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC)/1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC)/chol or brain sphingomyelin (bSM)/DOPC/chol form micron-scale domains that are easily visualized with light microscopy. Although large domains are not observed in the mixtures DSPC/1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)/chol and bSM/POPC/chol, lateral heterogeneity is nevertheless detected using techniques with nanometer-scale spatial resolution. We propose a simple and accessible method to measure domain sizes below optical resolution (∼200 nm). We measured nanodomain size for the latter two mixtures by combining experimental Förster resonance energy transfer data with a Monte-Carlo-based analysis. We found a domain radius of 7.5-10 nm for DSPC/POPC/chol, similar to values obtained previously by neutron scattering, and ∼5 nm for bSM/POPC/chol, slightly smaller than measurable by neutron scattering. These analyses also detect the domain-size transition that is observed by fluorescence microscopy in the four-component lipid mixture bSM/DOPC/POPC/chol. Accurate measurements of fluorescent-probe partition coefficients are especially important for the analysis; therefore, we exploit three different methods to measure the partition coefficient of fluorescent molecules between Ld and Lo phases.

Steroid-steroid interactions in biological membranes: Cholesterol and cortisone

Steroid flares are common side effects associated with corticosteroid treatment, and have been recently theorized to be a consequence of drug crystallization. It was previously reported that the lipid bilayer can promote crystallization of cortisone at high local concentrations. Here, we studied the effect of cholesterol on this membrane induced cortisone crystallization. By combining x-ray diffraction and Molecular Dynamics simulations we observe that that the presence of cholesterol suppresses cortisone-induced membrane thinning and cortisone transnucleation. Cortisone located in the head-tail interface of the membranes also in the presence of cholesterol. The cholesterol molecules were found to be tilted and displaced towards the bilayer center as function of cortisone concentration, away from their canonical position. Our results show that membrane cholesterol may play an important role in the ability of lipid bilayers to catalyze the formation of corticosteroid crystallites.

Systematic Coarse-Grained Lipid Force Fields with Semiexplicit Solvation via Virtual Sites

Despite the central role of lipids in many biophysical functions, the molecular mechanisms that dictate macroscopic lipid behavior remain elusive to both experimental and computational approaches. As such, there has been much interest in the development of low-resolution, implicit-solvent coarse-grained (CG) models to dynamically simulate biologically relevant spatiotemporal scales with molecular fidelity. However, in the absence of solvent, a key challenge for CG models is to faithfully emulate solvent-mediated forces, which include both hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions that drive lipid aggregation and self-assembly. In this work, we provide a new methodological framework to incorporate semiexplicit solvent effects through the use of virtual CG particles, which represent structural features of the solvent-lipid interface. To do so, we leverage two systematic coarse-graining approaches, multiscale coarse-graining (MS-CG) and relative entropy minimization (REM), in a hybrid fashion to construct our virtual-site CG (VCG) models. As a proof-of-concept, we focus our efforts on two lipid species, 1,2-dioleoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), which adopt a liquid-disordered and gel phase, respectively, at room temperature. Through our analysis, we also present, to our knowledge, the first direct comparison between the MS-CG and REM methods for a complex biomolecule and highlight each of their strengths and weaknesses. We further demonstrate that VCG models recapitulate the rich biophysics of lipids, which enable self-assembly, morphological diversity, and multiple phases. Our findings suggest that the VCG framework is a powerful approach for investigation into macromolecular biophysics.

Physical properties of model biological lipid bilayers: insights from all-atom molecular dynamics simulations

The physical properties of lipid bilayers are sensitive to the specific type and composition of the lipids that make up the many different types of cell membranes. Studying model bilayers of representative heterogeneous compositions can provide key insights into membrane functionality. In this work, we use atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to characterize key properties in a number of bilayer membranes of varying composition. We first examine basic properties, such as lipid area, volume, and bilayer thickness, of simple, homogeneous bilayers comprising several lipid types, which are prevalent in biological membranes. Such lipids are then used in simulations of heterogeneous systems representative of bacterial, mammalian, and cancer membranes. Our analysis is especially focused on depth-dependent, transmembrane profiles; in particular, we calculate lateral pressure and dipole potential profiles, two fundamental properties which play key roles in a large number of biological functions.