Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Justyna B. Startek, Alina Milici, Robbe Naert, Andrei Segal, Yeranddy A. Alpizar, Thomas Voets, Karel Talavera
Summary: The study demonstrates that TRPA1 channel can sense non-electrophilic compounds by inducing mechanical perturbations in the cell membrane, leading to TRPA1 activation. Non-electrophilic alkylphenols enhance the activation potency of TRPA1 by increasing lipid order and membrane rigidity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Grazyna Neunert, Jolanta Tomaszewska-Gras, Marlena Gauza-Wlodarczyk, Stanislaw Witkowski, Krzysztof Polewski
Summary: The effect of a-tocopheryl malonate (TM) on DPPC liposomes was investigated, and it was found that the presence of TM altered the physical and structural properties of the liposomes. TM concentration affected the phase transition temperatures, structural order, dynamics, and hydration of head groups in the liposomes. The incorporation of TM disrupted the membrane packing order and induced structural changes. These findings suggest that TM presence could regulate membrane properties and potentially disrupt cell membranes.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Candace Drysdale, Keunha Park, Kirstan A. Vessey, Xin Huang, Emily Caruso, Yihan Li, Joelyn Wong, James S. Wiley, Erica Fletcher, Robyn H. Guymer, Ben J. Gu
Summary: This study examined the membrane fluidity of peripheral blood leucocytes in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and in a mouse model lacking the P2X7 gene. The results showed decreased membrane fluidity in all types of leucocytes in late AMD patients. Pre-treatment with ATP increased membrane fluidity in monocytes and lymphocytes. P2X7 was found to mediate these ATP-driven increases in membrane fluidity, but without affecting pore formation or phagocytosis. The findings suggest a novel biological function of P2X7 in modulating membrane fluidity.
PURINERGIC SIGNALLING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gustavo Scanavachi, Ana Coutinho, Alexander Andreevich Fedorov, Manuel Prieto, Ana M. Melo, Rosangela Itri
Summary: The study investigated the structural and dynamic changes induced by hydroperoxidized lipids in fluid membranes. The results show that the hydroperoxide group decreases lipid bilayer bending rigidity and increases the swelling and hydration between stacked bilayers, indicating alterations in membrane organization.
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Francisco Guillen-Gonzalez, Maria Angeles Rodriguez-Bellido, Giordano Tierra
Summary: In this study, a new model was proposed to represent the interaction between flows and vesicle membranes with liquid crystalline phases. A new numerical scheme was introduced to approximate the model, demonstrating good performance and showcasing the dynamics of such vesicle membranes through several numerical results.
PHYSICA D-NONLINEAR PHENOMENA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicolas Farber, Jonas Reitler, Andrej Kamenac, Christoph Westerhausen
Summary: The study investigates the influence of shear forces on the phase state and membrane permeability of giant unilamellar vesicles. It is found that the membrane permeability increases in a step function at the transition from the gel to the fluid phase. Shear forces also induce a reversible melting temperature shift in the vesicle membranes. These findings are important for understanding the release mechanism of thermo-responsive drug carriers and designing thermo-responsive liposomes.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENERAL SUBJECTS
(2022)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Fei-Fei Chen, Xiao-Juan Yu, Hui Wang, Xu Zhang, Ying Tan, Zhen Qu, Su-Xia Wang, Feng Yu, Min Chen, Ming-Hui Zhao
Summary: This study aimed to establish a renal thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) scoring system based on clinical needs and investigate its predictive value for patients' long-term outcomes. The scoring system showed good reproducibility and correlated well with clinical parameters, indicating its potential prognostic value.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhao Zhang, Zhaomeng Feng, Xiaowei Zhao, Dominique Jean, Zhiheng Yu, Edwin R. Chapman
Summary: Researchers utilize DNA nanostructures to coat, cluster, and pattern sub-100nm liposomes, creating controlled vesicle networks, strings, and dimers. The DNA coating allows for protein attachment to liposomes and temporal control of membrane fusion through SNARE protein complexes. This convenient and versatile method is highly relevant to bottom-up biology and targeted delivery.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Grazyna Neunert, Jolanta Tomaszewska-Gras, Aneta Baj, Marlena Gauza-Wlodarczyk, Stanislaw Witkowski, Krzysztof Polewski
Summary: Steady-state emission spectroscopy, fluorescence anisotropy, and DSC methods were used to characterize the interaction of the newly synthesized 1-carba-alpha-tocopherol (CT) with a 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) membrane. Results showed that even low concentrations of CT can perturb the DPPC structure significantly, leading to the formation of new phases and disruption of the ordered structure. Increasing CT concentrations induced further changes in the DPPC structure, ultimately causing melting at lower temperatures and disruption of the membrane.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xuefeng Shi, Xingzheng Li, Xianyu Li, Zhaoxiang He, Xia Chen, Jianlou Song, Lingsen Zeng, Qianni Liang, Junying Li, Guiyun Xu, Jiangxia Zheng
Summary: This study explores the antibacterial function of trimethylamine (TMA) in egg yolk and finds that increasing TMA concentration enhances its inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the study reveals that the quality of the eggshell cuticle and the lysozyme content and activity in the egg white decrease during storage, while the TMA content in yolk significantly increases.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ruijie D. Teo, D. Peter Tieleman
Summary: Simvastatin is a commonly prescribed drug for reducing high cholesterol levels, but high doses can lead to side effects like myopathy and kidney failure. Research shows that both forms of simvastatin can penetrate lipid bilayers, with differences in their localization and interactions within the bilayer.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Yuliang Liu, Martin van Sint Annaland, Fausto Gallucci
Summary: In this study, dual-phase membranes were developed by pairing an oxygen ionic conductor with electronic/mixed conductive oxides. The CGO/BSCF membrane exhibited the highest permeation flux, but was sensitive to CO2. Triple-phase membranes were then developed, which showed lower sensitivity to CO2 and improved oxygen permeation flux compared to dual-phase membranes when swept with pure CO2. These results provide useful insights for material selection and performance optimization of multi-phase membranes for oxygen permeation.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Benjamin Verlhac, Lorena Niggli, Anders Bergman, Umut Kamber, Andrey Bagrov, Diana Iusan, Lars Nordstrom, Mikhail Katsnelson, Daniel Wegner, Olle Eriksson, Alexander A. Khajetoorians
Summary: This study presents an unusual magnetic transition in neodymium, where long-range multi-Q magnetic order emerges from a self-induced spin glass with increasing temperature. The local order of the spin glass phase is characterized using temperature-dependent spin-polarized scanning tunnelling microscopy, and the emergence of long-range multi-Q order is quantified. Analysis tools are developed to determine the glass transition temperature from measurements of spatially dependent magnetization. Atomistic spin dynamics simulations reproduce the observed phase transition and trace the origin of the high-temperature order. These findings demonstrate an example of order from disorder and provide a platform for studying the magnetization dynamics of a self-induced spin glass.
Article
Polymer Science
Anabella A. Abate, Cristian M. Piqueras, Daniel A. Vega
Summary: When a cylinder forming triblock copolymer thin film is exposed to supercritical carbon dioxide, it undergoes an order-order phase transition from parallel to perpendicularly oriented cylinders. Defects modify the energetic barriers for nucleation during the phase transition, with topological defects in the primitive phase surviving the transition to provide a lower bound for the density of defects in the post-transitional phase. Control over the orientational order in the primitive phase can be used to manipulate order and defects in the transversely isotropic hexagonal pattern.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Nicolas Faerber, Jonas Reitler, Julian Schaefer, Christoph Westerhausen
Summary: This study measures dye uptake in HeLa cells and determines membrane lipid chain order on single cell level using spectral analysis of Laurdan. The study finds that the membrane order affects transport across the cell membrane, with higher lipid chain order leading to increased transport. Environmental factors, such as temperature and cell density, also influence transport. In addition, the study analyzes membrane state and transport during in vitro wound healing, showing that uptake decreases with lower membrane lipid chain order.
Article
Biophysics
Sandeep Shrivastava, Parijat Sarkar, Pascal Preira, Laurence Salome, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2020)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Parijat Sarkar, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parijat Sarkar, Bhagyashree D. Rao, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bhagyashree D. Rao, Parijat Sarkar, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parijat Sarkar, Md. Jafurulla, Sukanya Bhowmick, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bhagyashree D. Rao, Parijat Sarkar, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
Summary: The mechanism of action of local anesthetics is not fully understood, with theories suggesting direct interaction with membrane proteins and modulation of membrane physical properties. The role of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in local anesthetic action is a new area of research. Results show that tetracaine has a pronounced effect on the serotonin(1A) receptor and F-actin levels, providing new insights into the action of local anesthetics.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abhishek Kumar, Parijat Sarkar, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
Summary: The depletion of sphingolipids has been shown to reduce the cell surface expression of the serotonin(1A) receptor, without altering the total cellular level of the receptor. This impairment in receptor trafficking was reversed upon replenishment with sphingolipids, indicating a role for sphingolipids in neurotransmitter receptor signaling and trafficking.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parijat Sarkar, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
Summary: Biological membranes play a crucial role in cellular compartmentalization and signaling. This review analyzes cellular signaling within a dynamic biophysical framework, with a focus on the role of membrane-embedded GPCRs in cellular functions.
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parijat Sarkar, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
Summary: This Perspective discusses the emerging feature of closely bound cholesterol molecules in high-resolution GPCR structures and shares recent advancements in the field. The laboratory's journey in elucidating the functional sensitivity of GPCRs to membrane cholesterol, particularly using the serotonin(1A) receptor, is highlighted. A critical analysis of caveats involved in GPCR structure determination is also provided.
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS OF LIPIDS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parijat Sarkar, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
Summary: Bound cholesterol molecules play important roles in GPCR structures, with statistical prevalence and biological relevance being analyzed in this commentary.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bhagyashree D. Rao, Parijat Sarkar, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
Summary: The role of lipids in cell cycle regulation is still emerging, and this study explored the modulation of eukaryotic cell cycle by sphingolipids using metabolic depletion experiments in CHO-K1 cells. The results showed no effect on cell cycle progression, suggesting that the role of sphingolipids in cell cycle regulation may be context and cell-type dependent.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parijat Sarkar, Kaleeckal G. Harikumar, Satinder S. Rawat, Sanjib Das, Tushar K. Chakraborty, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
Summary: Serotonin is a crucial neurotransmitter that regulates various functions by binding to different serotonin receptors. Novel fluorescent analogs of serotonin have been synthesized and characterized, showing high environmental sensitivity and specific binding to serotonin receptors, providing a new fluorescent approach for studying the molecular environment of serotonin receptors.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
G. Aditya Kumar, Parijat Sarkar, Tomasz Maciej Stepniewski, Md Jafurulla, Shishu Pal Singh, Jana Selent, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
Summary: Several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) exhibit cholesterol sensitivity, attributed to specific sequences and structural features like the CRAC motif. This study explored the molecular basis of cholesterol sensitivity in the serotonin(1A) receptor and found a crucial lysine residue for sensing altered membrane cholesterol levels. Insights from molecular dynamics simulations revealed that cholesterol-sensitive functional states in the receptor are associated with reduced conformational dynamics of extracellular loops.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aritri Dutta, Parijat Sarkar, Sandeep Shrivastava, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
Summary: Cellular hypoxia disrupts oxygen homeostasis and leads to various pathophysiological conditions. This study demonstrates that the function of the serotonin(1A) receptor is affected under hypoxic conditions, accompanied by cell cycle arrest and accumulation of lanosterol in cell membranes. These findings contribute to our understanding of the molecular basis underlying neurological disorders associated with hypoxia.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parijat Sarkar, G. Aditya Kumar, Sandeep Shrivastava, Amitabha Chattopadhyay
Summary: This study quantitatively measured the changes in F-actin content upon cholesterol depletion and explored the signaling crosstalk between cholesterol and the actin cytoskeleton. The results showed that chronic cholesterol depletion increases F-actin content, while acute cholesterol depletion does not. Additionally, the study revealed the involvement of multiple pathways in the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton.
JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Raja Narayanasamy, Dandamudi Usharani, Ram Rajasekharan
Summary: This study investigated the role of ABHD16B in lipid metabolism. The overexpression of ABHD16B was found to decrease cellular triacylglycerol levels and increase phospholipid synthesis in yeast cells. Additionally, ABHD16B overexpression led to a reduction in lipid droplets and significant modifications in fatty acid composition. These findings highlight the importance of ABHD16B in lipid homeostasis and provide insights into its regulatory function in cellular lipid metabolism.
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS OF LIPIDS
(2024)