Article
Chemistry, Physical
Minoru Nakano, Hiroyuki Nakao, Shigeharu Yoshida, Masakazu Fukuda, Manjiro Imai, Keisuke Ikeda
Summary: This study investigates the dynamic changes of lipids with membrane curvature, revealing that lipids in membranes with high positive curvature have unique packing properties, resulting in enhanced hydrophobic hydration and increased activation entropy. These findings provide important insights into the functions and structural changes of biomembranes.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Milena Timcenko, Anton A. A. Autzen, Henriette E. Autzen
Summary: Amphiphilic copolymers have the potential to extract membrane proteins directly from lipid bilayers into native nanodiscs. However, many such copolymers are polyanionic and sensitive to divalent cations. In this study, we characterized the Ca2+ and Mg2+ sensitivity of poly(acrylic acid-co-styrene) (AASTY) copolymers and found that divalent cations promote aggregation and precipitation of both free and lipid-bound copolymers. Excess, free copolymer acts as a cation sink that protects nanodiscs from Ca2+-induced aggregation. Removal of the free copolymer induces aggregation, which can be mitigated by KCl. Our findings also revealed that the size of the nanodiscs is dynamic and dependent on lipid concentration.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ramsia Geisler, Martin Cramer Pedersen, Natalie Preisig, Yvonne Hannappel, Sylvain Prevost, Rajeev Dattani, Lise Arleth, Thomas Hellweg
Summary: The study investigates the self-assembly and morphological transition of nm-sized discoidal lipid nanoparticles composed of beta-aescin and the phospholipid DMPC. The transition of the lipid nanoparticles is mainly triggered by the phase state change of the phospholipid, resulting in different final morphologies depending on the phospholipid-to-saponin ratio and temperature. Techniques like SAXS, TEM, and FFEM are used to analyze the nano-particles at different length scales, with models applied to evaluate possible geometries and molecular mixing.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michael Overduin, Holger Wille, David Westaway
Summary: Prions exhibit specific interactions with lipids, with structured binding elements mediating lipid recognition. Conserved motifs suggest a long evolutionary attachment of prions to membranes, providing stable interactions and complex orientations. Lipids play a protective role in resistance or susceptibility to prion disease, with copolymers allowing resolution of various prion states and potential applications in understanding neurodegenerative diseases.
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS OF LIPIDS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brandy N. Curtis, Ellysa J. D. Vogt, Kevin S. Cannon, Amy S. Gladfelter
Summary: Most cells can sense and change their shape to carry out cell processes, with the septin cytoskeleton playing a vital role in coordinating shape changes. Septins assemble into higher-order structures and are found in regions of positive curvature on the cell membrane. Reconstituting the septin cytoskeleton in a cell-free system has allowed for the study of assembly mechanisms at high resolution. Understanding how septins assemble and sense curvature at different stages is crucial for understanding cell shape changes.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Jan Kobierski, Anita Wnetrzak, Anna Chachaj-Brekiesz, Patrycja Dynarowicz-Latka
Summary: Lipid molecules form the backbone of biological membranes and self-organize into various structures depending on the shape factor or critical packing parameter, CPP. The value of CPP predicts the type of self-assembled structure and affects molecular interactions, playing a significant role in physiological and pathological conditions. Using molecular dynamics, a method has been developed to successfully determine packing parameters for different membrane lipids and amphiphilic molecules.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Henry Sawczyc, Sabine Heit, Anthony Watts
Summary: This study compared the solubilisation properties of three common commercial polymers (SMA 3:1, SMA 2:1, and DIBMA) and also characterised a novel polymethacrylate copolymer (PMA). The solubilisation was evaluated under different buffer conditions using absorbance and dynamic light scattering measurements. The results showed that SMA variants formed lipid-polymer nanoparticles that were most affected by the buffer conditions, with nanoparticles from charged membranes only forming under specific salinity and pH conditions. Conversely, DIBMA-lipid nanoparticles were stable under a broader range of conditions, while PMA-lipid nanoparticles exhibited stability across all tested conditions. However, both DIBMA and PMA nanoparticles showed poor solubilisation performance in non-optimal conditions or when using charged membranes. Additionally, the fluidity analysis of DMPC-polymer nanoparticles revealed a lack of cooperative gel-fluid transition observed in native lipid membranes.
EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew T. Birnie, Matthew D. B. Claydon, Oliver Troy, Benjamin P. Flynn, Mitsuhiro Yoshimura, Yvonne M. Kershaw, Zidong Zhao, Rebecca C. R. Demski- Allen, Gareth R. I. Barker, E. Clea Warburton, Zuner A. Bortolotto, Stafford L. Lightman, Becky L. Conway- Campbell
Summary: The coordinator of circadian biological systems is adrenal glucocorticoid secretion, which plays a role in regulating various physiological processes. However, disruption of this circadian rhythm during corticosteroid therapy can lead to memory impairment, and the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. This study investigates the impact of corticosteroid treatment on the hippocampal transcriptome and synaptic plasticity in rats, revealing misalignment with natural circadian cues and resulting in memory deficits. These findings provide insights into the molecular basis of memory deficits in patients treated with long-acting synthetic corticosteroids.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Stephen C. L. Hall, Cecilia Tognoloni, Richard A. Campbell, Joanna Richens, Paul O'Shea, Ann E. Terry, Gareth J. Price, Tim R. Dafforn, Karen J. Edler, Thomas Arnold
Summary: This study investigates the dynamic behavior of nanodiscs with different membrane charges and polymer chemistry. The findings reveal that in the presence of external lipids, polymer chains embed throughout lipid membranes, and nanodiscs exchange lipids and polymer with monolayers.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jo Cutler, Marco K. Wittmann, Ayat Abdurahman, Luca D. Hargitai, Daniel Drew, Masud Husain, Patricia L. Lockwood
Summary: Findings indicate that individuals across the lifespan are capable of learning to benefit others, with older adults showing a higher propensity for prosocial learning compared to younger individuals.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ian J. Roney, David Z. Rudner
Summary: Sorting of phospholipids between membrane bilayers is a fundamental problem, and the enzymes that catalyze phospholipid reorientation in bacteria remain unknown. Members of the DedA superfamily have been implicated in lipid carrier transport and lipid scrambling.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Victoria Vitkova, Galya Staneva, Rusina Hazarosova, Stela I. Georgieva, Iva Valkova, Krassimira Antonova, Petar Todorov
Summary: New analogues of VV-hemorphin-5 were synthesised to tailor the peptide activity in vivo. Investigation of the alterations of lipid bilayers' physicochemical parameters induced by hemorphin revealed the membrane-mediated mechanisms of interaction with cells and subcellular structures. Modified valorphins were found to have lower bending rigidity and higher specific capacitance in phosphatidylcholine bilayers.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Jose L. Martinez, Catherine Eichwald, Elisabeth M. Schraner, Susana Lopez, Carlos F. Arias
Summary: Lipid metabolism is crucial for rotavirus replication, not only in viroplasm assembly but also in maintaining infectious virus production and membrane synthesis.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hu Zhang, Juntao Wang, Mingrong Qian, Yuanxiang Jin
Summary: This study exposed mice to the azole fungicide Mefentrifluconazole (MFZ) to evaluate its toxic effects on liver and gut tissues. The results showed that MFZ exposure disrupted liver structure, lipid metabolism, and gut barrier function, leading to inflammation. The study also revealed changes in gut microbiota, suggesting a potential link between gut microbiota function and liver lipid metabolism disruption caused by MFZ exposure. This research provides new insights for risk assessment of MFZ and highlights the importance of studying novel fungicides.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zhibiao Wang, Pu Shan, Shuxiang Li, Duoqian Wei, Zhuan Zhang, Shaojie Hao, Wei Li, Xinyi Wang, Jing Xu
Summary: This study investigated whether lipid droplets (LDs) can be used as vaccine adjuvants. Artificial nano-LDs were designed and prepared, and in vivo tests showed that they have good biocompatibility and similar adjuvant effects compared to MF59 (AddaVax).
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2022)