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Caselli L, Conti L, De Santis I, Berti D. Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering applied to lipid-based nanoparticles: Recent advancements across different length scales. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 327:103156. [PMID: 38643519 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs), ranging from nanovesicles to non-lamellar assemblies, have gained significant attention in recent years, as versatile carriers for delivering drugs, vaccines, and nutrients. Small-angle scattering methods, employing X-rays (SAXS) or neutrons (SANS), represent unique tools to unveil structure, dynamics, and interactions of such particles on different length scales, spanning from the nano to the molecular scale. This review explores the state-of-the-art on scattering methods applied to unveil the structure of lipid-based nanoparticles and their interactions with drugs and bioactive molecules, to inform their rational design and formulation for medical applications. We will focus on complementary information accessible with X-rays or neutrons, ranging from insights on the structure and colloidal processes at a nanoscale level (SAXS) to details on the lipid organization and molecular interactions of LNPs (SANS). In addition, we will review new opportunities offered by Time-resolved (TR)-SAXS and -SANS for the investigation of dynamic processes involving LNPs. These span from real-time monitoring of LNPs structural evolution in response to endogenous or external stimuli (TR-SANS), to the investigation of the kinetics of lipid diffusion and exchange upon interaction with biomolecules (TR-SANS). Finally, we will spotlight novel combinations of SAXS and SANS with complementary on-line techniques, recently enabled at Large Scale Facilities for X-rays and neutrons. This emerging technology enables synchronized multi-method investigation, offering exciting opportunities for the simultaneous characterization of the structure and chemical or mechanical properties of LNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucrezia Caselli
- Physical Chemistry 1, University of Lund, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
| | - Laura Conti
- Consorzio Sistemi a Grande Interfase, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Ilaria De Santis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence 50019, Italy
| | - Debora Berti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence 50019, Italy; Consorzio Sistemi a Grande Interfase, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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2
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Collier CP, Bolmatov D, Elkins JG, Katsaras J. Nanoscopic lipid domains determined by microscopy and neutron scattering. Methods 2024; 223:127-135. [PMID: 38331125 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2024.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological membranes are highly complex supramolecular assemblies, which play central roles in biology. However, their complexity makes them challenging to study their nanoscale structures. To overcome this challenge, model membranes assembled using reduced sets of membrane-associated biomolecules have been found to be both excellent and tractable proxies for biological membranes. Due to their relative simplicity, they have been studied using a range of biophysical characterization techniques. In this review article, we will briefly detail the use of fluorescence and electron microscopies, and X-ray and neutron scattering techniques used over the past few decades to study the nanostructure of biological membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles P Collier
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Dima Bolmatov
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA; Shull Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - James G Elkins
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - John Katsaras
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA; Shull Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA; Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratorry, Oak Ridege, TN, USA
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3
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Nagao M, Seto H. Neutron scattering studies on dynamics of lipid membranes. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:021306. [PMID: 38504928 PMCID: PMC10903442 DOI: 10.1063/5.0144544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hideki Seto
- Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0801, Japan
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4
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Kinnun JJ, Scott HL, Bolmatov D, Collier CP, Charlton TR, Katsaras J. Biophysical studies of lipid nanodomains using different physical characterization techniques. Biophys J 2023; 122:931-949. [PMID: 36698312 PMCID: PMC10111277 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
For the past 50 years, evidence for the existence of functional lipid domains has been steadily accumulating. Although the notion of functional lipid domains, also known as "lipid rafts," is now widely accepted, this was not always the case. This ambiguity surrounding lipid domains could be partly attributed to the fact that they are highly dynamic, nanoscopic structures. Since most commonly used techniques are sensitive to microscale structural features, it is therefore, not surprising that it took some time to reach a consensus regarding their existence. In this review article, we will discuss studies that have used techniques that are inherently sensitive to nanoscopic structural features (i.e., neutron scatting, nuclear magnetic resonance, and Förster resonance energy transfer). We will also mention techniques that may be of use in the future (i.e., cryoelectron microscopy, droplet interface bilayers, inelastic x-ray scattering, and neutron reflectometry), which can further our understanding of the different and unique physicochemical properties of nanoscopic lipid domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob J Kinnun
- Large Scale Structures Group, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Shull Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
| | - Haden L Scott
- Large Scale Structures Group, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Shull Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | - Dima Bolmatov
- Shull Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - C Patrick Collier
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | - Timothy R Charlton
- Large Scale Structures Group, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | - John Katsaras
- Shull Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee; Labs and Soft Matter Group, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
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5
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Nanoscale Bending Dynamics in Mixed-Chain Lipid Membranes. Symmetry (Basel) 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/sym15010191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipids that have two tails of different lengths are found throughout biomembranes in nature, yet the effects of this asymmetry on the membrane properties are not well understood, especially when it comes to the membrane dynamics. Here we study the nanoscale bending fluctuations in model mixed-chain 14:0–18:0 PC (MSPC) and 18:0–14:0 PC (SMPC) lipid bilayers using neutron spin echo (NSE) spectroscopy. We find that despite the partial interdigitation that is known to persist in the fluid phase of these membranes, the collective fluctuations are enhanced on timescales of tens of nanoseconds, and the chain-asymmetric lipid bilayers are softer than an analogous chain-symmetric lipid bilayer with the same average number of carbons in the acyl tails, di-16:0 PC (DPPC). Quantitative comparison of the NSE results suggests that the enhanced bending fluctuations at the nanosecond timescales are consistent with experimental and computational studies that showed the compressibility moduli of chain-asymmetric lipid membranes are 20% to 40% lower than chain-symmetric lipid membranes. These studies add to growing evidence that the partial interdigitation in mixed-chain lipid membranes is highly dynamic in the fluid phase and impacts membrane dynamic processes from the molecular to mesoscopic length scales without significantly changing the bilayer thickness or area per lipid.
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Lakey JH, Paracini N, Clifton LA. Exploiting neutron scattering contrast variation in biological membrane studies. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:021307. [PMID: 38505417 PMCID: PMC10903484 DOI: 10.1063/5.0091372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Biological membranes composed of lipids and proteins are central for the function of all cells and individual components, such as proteins, that are readily studied by a range of structural approaches, including x-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. However, the study of complex molecular mixtures within the biological membrane structure and dynamics requires techniques that can study nanometer thick molecular bilayers in an aqueous environment at ambient temperature and pressure. Neutron methods, including scattering and spectroscopic approaches, are useful since they can measure structure and dynamics while also being able to penetrate sample holders and cuvettes. The structural approaches, such as small angle neutron scattering and neutron reflectometry, detect scattering caused by the difference in neutron contrast (scattering length) between different molecular components such as lipids or proteins. Usually, the bigger the contrast, the clearer the structural data, and this review uses examples from our research to illustrate how contrast can be increased to allow the structures of individual membrane components to be resolved. Most often this relies upon the use of deuterium in place of hydrogen, but we also discuss the use of magnetic contrast and other elements with useful scattering length values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy H. Lakey
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Bioscience, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolò Paracini
- Biofilms Research Center for Biointerfaces, Malmö University, Per Albin Hanssons väg 35, 21432 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Luke A. Clifton
- ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
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Migliore R, Biver T, Barone G, Sgarlata C. Quantitative Analysis of the Interactions of Metal Complexes and Amphiphilic Systems: Calorimetric, Spectroscopic and Theoretical Aspects. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030408. [PMID: 35327600 PMCID: PMC8946196 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Metals and metal-based compounds have many implications in biological systems. They are involved in cellular functions, employed in the formation of metal-based drugs and present as pollutants in aqueous systems, with toxic effects for living organisms. Amphiphilic molecules also play important roles in the above bio-related fields as models of membranes, nanocarriers for drug delivery and bioremediating agents. Despite the interest in complex systems involving both metal species and surfactant aggregates, there is still insufficient knowledge regarding the quantitative aspects at the basis of their binding interactions, which are crucial for extensive comprehension of their behavior in solution. Only a few papers have reported quantitative analyses of the thermodynamic, kinetic, speciation and binding features of metal-based compounds and amphiphilic aggregates, and no literature review has yet addressed the quantitative study of these complexes. Here, we summarize and critically discuss the recent contributions to the quantitative investigation of the interactions of metal-based systems with assemblies made of amphiphilic molecules by calorimetric, spectrophotometric and computational techniques, emphasizing the unique picture and parameters that such an analytical approach may provide, to support a deep understanding and beneficial use of these systems for several applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Migliore
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy;
| | - Tarita Biver
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Giampaolo Barone
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 17, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Carmelo Sgarlata
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Lombardo D, Kiselev MA. Methods of Liposomes Preparation: Formation and Control Factors of Versatile Nanocarriers for Biomedical and Nanomedicine Application. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14030543. [PMID: 35335920 PMCID: PMC8955843 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14030543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Liposomes are nano-sized spherical vesicles composed of an aqueous core surrounded by one (or more) phospholipid bilayer shells. Owing to their high biocompatibility, chemical composition variability, and ease of preparation, as well as their large variety of structural properties, liposomes have been employed in a large variety of nanomedicine and biomedical applications, including nanocarriers for drug delivery, in nutraceutical fields, for immunoassays, clinical diagnostics, tissue engineering, and theranostics formulations. Particularly important is the role of liposomes in drug-delivery applications, as they improve the performance of the encapsulated drugs, reducing side effects and toxicity by enhancing its in vitro- and in vivo-controlled delivery and activity. These applications stimulated a great effort for the scale-up of the formation processes in view of suitable industrial development. Despite the improvements of conventional approaches and the development of novel routes of liposome preparation, their intrinsic sensitivity to mechanical and chemical actions is responsible for some critical issues connected with a limited colloidal stability and reduced entrapment efficiency of cargo molecules. This article analyzes the main features of the formation and fabrication techniques of liposome nanocarriers, with a special focus on the structure, parameters, and the critical factors that influence the development of a suitable and stable formulation. Recent developments and new methods for liposome preparation are also discussed, with the objective of updating the reader and providing future directions for research and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Lombardo
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, 98158 Messina, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-090-39762222
| | - Mikhail A. Kiselev
- Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia;
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Dubna State University, 141980 Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Moscow Region, Russia
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9
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Surovtsev NV, Adichtchev SV. Dynamic response on a nanometer scale of binary phospholipid-cholesterol vesicles: Low-frequency Raman scattering insight. Phys Rev E 2021; 104:054406. [PMID: 34942765 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.104.054406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Low-frequency Raman spectroscopy was used to study the dynamic response on a nanometer scale of aqueous suspensions of two-component lipid vesicles. Binary mixtures of saturated phospholipid (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, DPPC) and cholesterol are interesting for possible coexistence of solidlike and liquid-ordered phases, while the phase coexistence was not reported for unsaturated phospholipid (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, DOPC) and cholesterol mixtures. The DOPC-DPPC mixtures represent the well-documented case of coexisting domains of solidlike and liquid-disordered phases. These three series of lipid mixtures are studied here. A broad peak with the maximum in the range of 30-50cm^{-1} and a narrow peak near 10cm^{-1} are observed in the Raman susceptibility of the binary mixtures and attributed to the acousticlike vibrational density of states and layer modes, respectively. Parameters of the broad and narrow peaks are sensitive to lateral and conformational hydrocarbon chain ordering. It was also demonstrated that the low-frequency Raman susceptibility of multicomponent lipid bilayers allows one to determine the phase state of lipid bilayers and distinguish the homogeneous distribution of molecular complexes from coexisting domains with sizes above several nanometers. Thus, the low-frequency Raman spectroscopy provides unique information in studying phase coexistence in lipid bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- N V Surovtsev
- Institute of Automation and Electrometry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - S V Adichtchev
- Institute of Automation and Electrometry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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10
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Ilangumaran Ponmalar I, Sarangi NK, Basu JK, Ayappa KG. Pore Forming Protein Induced Biomembrane Reorganization and Dynamics: A Focused Review. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:737561. [PMID: 34568431 PMCID: PMC8459938 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.737561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pore forming proteins are a broad class of pathogenic proteins secreted by organisms as virulence factors due to their ability to form pores on the target cell membrane. Bacterial pore forming toxins (PFTs) belong to a subclass of pore forming proteins widely implicated in bacterial infections. Although the action of PFTs on target cells have been widely investigated, the underlying membrane response of lipids during membrane binding and pore formation has received less attention. With the advent of superresolution microscopy as well as the ability to carry out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the large protein membrane assemblies, novel microscopic insights on the pore forming mechanism have emerged over the last decade. In this review, we focus primarily on results collated in our laboratory which probe dynamic lipid reorganization induced in the plasma membrane during various stages of pore formation by two archetypal bacterial PFTs, cytolysin A (ClyA), an α-toxin and listeriolysin O (LLO), a β-toxin. The extent of lipid perturbation is dependent on both the secondary structure of the membrane inserted motifs of pore complex as well as the topological variations of the pore complex. Using confocal and superresolution stimulated emission depletion (STED) fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and MD simulations, lipid diffusion, cholesterol reorganization and deviations from Brownian diffusion are correlated with the oligomeric state of the membrane bound protein as well as the underlying membrane composition. Deviations from free diffusion are typically observed at length scales below ∼130 nm to reveal the presence of local dynamical heterogeneities that emerge at the nanoscale-driven in part by preferential protein binding to cholesterol and domains present in the lipid membrane. Interrogating the lipid dynamics at the nanoscale allows us further differentiate between binding and pore formation of β- and α-PFTs to specific domains in the membrane. The molecular insights gained from the intricate coupling that occurs between proteins and membrane lipids and receptors during pore formation are expected to improve our understanding of the virulent action of PFTs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nirod K. Sarangi
- School of Chemical Science, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jaydeep K. Basu
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - K. Ganapathy Ayappa
- Center for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
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11
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Single-molecule fluorescence vistas of how lipids regulate membrane proteins. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:1685-1694. [PMID: 34346484 DOI: 10.1042/bst20201074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The study of membrane proteins is undergoing a golden era, and we are gaining unprecedented knowledge on how this key group of proteins works. However, we still have only a basic understanding of how the chemical composition and the physical properties of lipid bilayers control the activity of membrane proteins. Single-molecule (SM) fluorescence methods can resolve sample heterogeneity, allowing to discriminate between the different molecular populations that biological systems often adopt. This short review highlights relevant examples of how SM fluorescence methodologies can illuminate the different ways in which lipids regulate the activity of membrane proteins. These studies are not limited to lipid molecules acting as ligands, but also consider how the physical properties of the bilayer can be determining factors on how membrane proteins function.
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