Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joao Aguilar, Leonel Malacrida, German Gunther, Belen Torrado, Viviana Torres, Bruno F. Urbano, Susana A. Sanchez
Summary: Cells adapt to their environment to maintain their identity, and the plasma membrane plays a crucial role in this adaptation. Nanometer and micrometer areas in the plasma membrane change their distribution in response to mechanical signals. However, investigations on the connection between fluidity domains and mechanical stimuli are still ongoing.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Natalia Stein, Witold K. Subczynski
Summary: Eye lens membranes are complex biological samples consisting of lipid bilayer matrix, integral proteins, and peripheral proteins. The lipid domains within the membrane exhibit specific physical properties, with nuclear membranes showing greater local rigidity compared to cortical membranes. Oxygen transport parameters are similar between the two sources, but the spin lattice relaxation rates differ. Stretched exponential function analysis of SR signals can provide insights into the heterogeneity and rigidity of lipid membranes.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ya Liu, Xiaohua Li, Wen Shi, Huimin Ma
Summary: This study introduces new near-infrared fluorescent probes for monitoring the viscosity of cell membranes. The probes are selective and sensitive to viscosity, and they quickly and stably anchor onto the cell membrane. These probes could serve as a reliable tool for studying viscosity-related processes of cell membranes.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Dora L. Cano-Ramirez, Laura Carmona-Salazar, Francisco Morales-Cedillo, Jorge Ramirez-Salcedo, Edgar B. Cahoon, Marina Gavilanes-Ruiz
Summary: The lipid matrix in cell membranes is dynamic and plays a role in membrane fluidity changes in response to temperature fluctuation. The plasma membrane (PM) of plants is highly fluid and sensitive to temperature variations, serving as an ideal temperature detector with the ability to quickly adjust in response to small temperature changes. This makes the PM an optimal alternative for temperature detection in plants.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yanyun Lin, Xingjuan Wu, Kaicheng Wang, Sen Shang, Yubin Gong, Hongwei Zhao, Dai Wu, Peng Zhang, Xiaoyun Lu
Summary: This study examined the THz spectrum of several phospholipid components in biological membranes and found different resonant absorption patterns. The absorption peak at approximately 3.0 THz of DSPE and DPPC was confirmed to originate from a collective vibration of their hydrophobic tails. Additionally, irradiation at 3.1 THz significantly enhanced cell membrane fluidity and improved phagocytosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lais Alonso, Karlos Eduardo Pianoski, Antonio Alonso, Fernanda Andreia Rosa
Summary: The isoxazole core is essential in discovering new and potent leishmanicidal agents. In this study, 35 3,4,5-trisubstituted isoxazole derivatives were tested against L. amazonensis, with 8 compounds showing potent antileishmanial activity, particularly compounds 2e and 3de which also exhibited low toxicity for mammalian cells.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chikako Shibata, Motoyuki Otsuka, Takahiro Seimiya, Kazunaga Ishigaki, Yu Miyakawa, Takahiro Kishikawa, Mitsuhiro Fujishiro
Summary: The size of EVs is influenced by different types of cancers, with EVs derived from pancreatic cancer cells being smaller than those from non-cancer cells. Low glucose conditions reduce EVs' size distribution and increase levels of unsaturated fatty acids in EVs. Increased uptake of smaller EVs by recipient cells may lead to enhanced functional outcomes.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giada Bianchetti, Salome Azoulay-Ginsburg, Nimrod Yosef Keshet-Levy, Aviv Malka, Sofia Zilber, Edward E. Korshin, Shlomo Sasson, Marco De Spirito, Arie Gruzman, Giuseppe Maulucci
Summary: Free fatty acids play crucial roles in regulating the metabolism, development, and cell cycle of most cell types. Novel fluorescent, polarity-sensitive fatty acid derivatives with increasing chain length were engineered to study their intracellular distribution and the influence of membrane environment on their localization. The study found that fatty acid derivatives with longer chain lengths compartmentalize more preferentially in fluid regions, and those with the longest chain lengths are found in lipid droplets and lysosomes, making them promising tools for monitoring lipophagy and related events.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Gang Nie, Jinjin Che, Yangzhen Feng, Wenjie Liang, Dugang Chen, Huiling Wang
Summary: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has gained significant attention due to increasing alcohol consumption and high morbidity. Currently, there is a lack of effective detection methods to prevent disease progression. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the microscopic changes of cell membrane fluidity (CMF) and lipid droplets (LDs) in ALD. Aggregation induced emission luminogens (AIEgens), which have controllable emission and subcellular specificity, were used as probes to study CMF and LDs. Two AIE probes (TPCN and NDPB) were designed based on the typical AIE skeleton, tetraphenylethylene (TPE), and showed promising results in sensing the correlated changes of CMF and LDs in the ALD model. This study contributes to understanding the microscopic process of ALD pathogenesis and the development of therapeutic drugs.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Marco Eigenfeld, Leonie Wittmann, Roland Kerpes, Sebastian Schwaminger, Thomas Becker
Summary: For industrial processes, it is crucial to have a fast, precise, and reliable method for determining the physiological state, particularly viability, of yeast cells. This study examined the impact of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) on yeast cell viability and the assay itself, testing two types of yeast cells. The results showed that traditional colorimetric staining was only reliable for cells with good viability, while fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry-based assays demonstrated high precision and reliability in determining viability, even in the presence of MNPs. Moreover, the study revealed a non-linear relationship between membrane fluidity and yeast cell viability. The use of CFDA and membrane fluidity provided accurate results for both yeast types, allowing for efficient viability determination in experiments involving yeast cell manipulation or separation using MNPs.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Florina Zakany, Istvan M. Mandity, Zoltan Varga, Gyorgy Panyi, Peter Nagy, Tamas Kovacs
Summary: Every cell textbook states that the primary function of the plasma membrane is to separate cells and control the intracellular space. While most hydrophilic molecules larger than 1 kDa cannot permeate the hydrophobic cell membrane, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) can do so without compromising membrane integrity. Coupling biologically relevant cargos to CPPs shows promise in delivering membrane-impermeable drugs into specific cell types. This review aims to outline the membrane penetration pathways of CPPs and examine how membrane properties influence their uptake mechanisms.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xia Zheng, Chuanbiao Zhang, Huimei Cao, Xin Zhou, Zhang Liu, Jianjun Wang
Summary: This study demonstrates that using a small amount of zinc ions instead of high concentration conventional cryoprotective agents can achieve comparable post-thaw recovery rate for red blood cells while avoiding the removal process of cryoprotective agents. The interaction between zinc ions and lipid molecules facilitates the formation of small and dynamic lipid clusters, maintaining the membrane fluidity and enhancing the resilience of cells during cryopreservation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ariana Abawi, Xiaoyi Wang, Julien Bompard, Anna Berot, Valentina Andretto, Leslie Gudimard, Chloe Devillard, Emma Petiot, Benoit Joseph, Giovanna Lollo, Thierry Granjon, Agnes Girard-Egrot, Ofelia Maniti
Summary: Novel nanomedicines have been developed to deliver therapeutic molecules effectively, with lipid-based carriers like liposomes being one of the most advanced drug delivery systems. By modulating the liposome composition, selective uptake from tumor cells while sparing normal cells can be achieved, demonstrating the potential of fluid liposomes grafted with MMAE as an interesting drug carrier option.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Joana A. Loureiro, Stephanie Andrade, Maria Joao Ramalho, Nuno Oliveira, Maria Carmo Pereira
Summary: Terbutaline sulphate is a selective short-acting 132 adrenoceptor agonist used for asthma treatment. Studies on its interaction with cell membranes show an affinity for lipid membranes, influenced by membrane compositions and structures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gerhard J. Schuetz, Georg Pabst
Summary: One persistent puzzle in the life sciences is the asymmetric lipid composition of the cellular plasma membrane. In this paper, the authors propose that this asymmetry represents a potential solution for harmonizing the conflicting requirements of the plasma membrane. They view the plasma membrane as a composite material, with the exoplasmic leaflet responsible for barrier function and the cytoplasmic leaflet responsible for fluidity. The validity of the proposed mechanism is reinforced with quantitative data and examples.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara Sameni, Run Zhang, Michelle A. Digman
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Sara Sameni, Run Zhang, Michelle A. Digman
Summary: In this study, the phasor FLIM method was used to measure the change in NADH fluorescence lifetime after internalization of PolyQ proteins. The research found a significant decrease in the fraction of bound NADH in both cytoplasmic and nucleus regions when cells were co-cultured or when healthy cells uptake supernatant containing polyQ proteins and aggregates. These findings suggest the influence of neighboring cells expressing the expanded Htt protein on regulating energy metabolism in healthy cells.
METHODS AND APPLICATIONS IN FLUORESCENCE
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
German Gunther, Leonel Malacrida, David M. Jameson, Enrico Gratton, Susana A. Sanchez
Summary: Chemists studying membrane bilayer heterogeneity may encounter phase segregation in artificial bilayers and small sterol and sphingolipid-enriched dynamic domains in biological bilayers. Techniques using fluorescent probes and microscopy can assess membrane heterogeneity at different temporal and spatial levels, providing valuable information about the physical-chemical aspects of the membrane.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xuyuan Kuang, Kyle Nunn, Jennifer Jiang, Paul Castellano, Uttara Hardikar, Arianna Horgan, Joyce Kong, Zhiqun Tan, Wei Dai
Summary: Studies have shown that mHTT can spread between cells, leading to the propagation of misfolded protein pathology. By using correlative light and electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography, researchers identified the structure of transmissive mHTT species and highlighted the potential role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the transmission process.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ophthalmology
William S. Gange, James B. Qiao, Paul J. Park, James F. McDonnell, Zhiqun Tan, Jay I. Perlman, Ping Bu
Summary: AZT treatment demonstrated protective effects on retinal structure and function following ischemic insult, suggesting its potential therapeutic value in managing retinal ischemic diseases.
JOURNAL OF OCULAR PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Austin E. Y. T. Lefebvre, Dennis Mai, Kai Kessenbrock, Devon A. Lawson, Michelle A. Digman
Summary: Mitometer is an algorithm for fast, unbiased, and automated segmentation and tracking of mitochondria in live-cell time-lapse images, which can identify mitochondrial motion and morphology, including fusion and fission events. Using Mitometer, it was found that mitochondria in triple-negative breast cancer cells are faster, more directional, and more elongated than those in receptor-positive counterparts. Furthermore, mitochondrial motility and morphology in breast cancer, but not in normal breast epithelia, correlate with metabolic activity.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Belen Torrado, Leonel Malacrida, Suman Ranjit
Summary: The phasor approach improves the analysis of fluorescence lifetime imaging and hyperspectral fluorescence imaging by increasing analytical speed, reducing data dimensionality, and utilizing the reciprocity principle in the phasor space. It allows for the calculation of phasor coordinates and fractional intensity contributions from multiple fluorescent species, even in the presence of complex fluorescence lifetime decays.
Letter
Cell Biology
Xu Chen, Riccardo Calandrelli, John Girardini, Zhangming Yan, Zhiqun Tan, Xiangmin Xu, Annie Hiniker, Sheng Zhong
Correction
Biochemical Research Methods
Austin E. Y. T. Lefebvre, Dennis Ma, Kai Kessenbrock, Devon A. Lawson, Michelle A. Digman
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Zi Yao, Caroline K. Brennan, Lorenzo Scipioni, Hongtao Chen, Kevin K. Ng, Giulia Tedeschi, Kshitij Parag-Sharma, Antonio L. Amelio, Enrico Gratton, Michelle A. Digman, Jennifer A. Prescher
Summary: By combining bioluminescence with phasor analysis, we have overcome the challenges associated with bioluminescence detection at the microscale, enabling quantitative, instantaneous, and multiplexed imaging, as well as dynamic measurement of cellular and molecular features.
Article
Neurosciences
Zhiqun Tan, B. Maximiliano Garduno, Pedro Fernandez Aburto, Lujia Chen, Nicole Ha, Patricia Cogram, Todd C. Holmes, Xiangmin Xu
Summary: This study focuses on aged degus with AD-like behavioral deficits and correlative neuropathology, and finds that they exhibit similar neuropathological markers to human AD such as amyloid deposits and tau abnormalities. The study also establishes outbred degus as a natural model of sporadic AD, highlighting the importance of wild-type outbred genetic backgrounds for AD pathogenesis.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Alexander Vallmitjana, Irene Vorontsova, Belen Torrado, Thomas F. Schilling, James E. Hall, Enrico Gratton, Leonel S. Malacrida
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2020)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Irene Vorontsova, Alexander Vallmitjana, Yosuke Nakazawa, Belen Torrado, Thomas Schilling, James E. Hall, Enrico Gratton, Leonel S. Malacrida
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2020)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Belen Torrado, Lorenzo Scipioni, Enrico Gratton, Jose L. Badano, Leonel S. Malacrida, Florencia Irigoin
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2020)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Leonel S. Malacrida, Alexander Vallmitjana, Belen Tornado, Thomas F. Schilling, James E. Hall, Enrico Gratton, Irene Vorontsova
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2020)