Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arnaud Landra-Willm, Ameya Karapurkar, Alexia Duveau, Anne Amandine Chassot, Lucille Esnault, Gerard Callejo, Marion Bied, Stephanie Hafner, Florian Lesage, Brigitte Wdziekonski, Anne Baron, Pascal Fossat, Laurent Marsollier, Xavier Gasull, Eric Boue-Grabot, Michael A. Kienzler, Guillaume Sandoz
Summary: By manipulating neuronal activity using optogenetics and photopharmacology, researchers have developed a light-activatable molecule called LAKI that can block pain-related potassium channels. This molecule has the potential to be a valuable tool for studying these channels, and it can also be used to remotely control pain in animal models without the need for genetic manipulations or viral infection. This non-invasive and reversible approach has applications in pain research and drug screening.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
C. Alex Safsten, Volodmyr Rybalko, Leonid Berlyand
Summary: This study focuses on the onset of motion of a living cell driven by myosin contraction. The results show that stable asymmetric moving states bifurcate from unstable radial stationary states, and these moving states have nonlinear asymptotic stability in modeling observable steady cell motion.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuri Kim, Ramar Thangam, Jounghyun Yoo, Jeongyun Heo, Jung Yeon Park, Nayeon Kang, Sungkyu Lee, Jiwon Yoon, Kwang Rok Mun, Misun Kang, Sunhong Min, Seong Yeol Kim, Subin Son, Jihwan Kim, Hyunsik Hong, Gunhyu Bae, Kanghyeon Kim, Sanghyeok Lee, Letao Yang, Ja Yeon Lee, Jinjoo Kim, Steve Park, Dong-Hyun Kim, Ki-Bum Lee, Woo Young Jang, Bong Hoon Kim, Ramasamy Paulmurugan, Seung-Woo Cho, Hyun-Cheol Song, Seok Ju Kang, Wujin Sun, Yangzhi Zhu, Junmin Lee, Han-Jun Kim, Ho Seong Jang, Jong Seung Kim, Ali Khademhosseini, Yongju Kim, Sehoon Kim, Heemin Kang
Summary: This study developed a method to induce the swelling and deswelling of microgels using different wavelengths of light, controlling the availability of RGD in the microgels and affecting the polarization of host macrophages, with potential biomedical applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ryan M. Woloschuk, P. Maximilian M. Reed, Anna S. Jaikaran, Karl Z. Demmans, Jeffrey Youn, Voula Kanelis, Maruti Uppalapati, G. Andrew Woolley
Summary: The research focused on developing a photo-controlled affinity reagent Z-PYP to achieve controllable switching of target affinity in the dark and under light. Experimental results confirmed that mutants with decreased Z-domain folding energy could alter target affinity without affecting switching.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joost J. B. van der Tol, Tom A. P. Engels, Ruth Cardinaels, Ghislaine Vantomme, E. W. Meijer, Fabian Eisenreich
Summary: Reported a method for light-controlled liquid-to-solid transition of polysiloxanes, which forms strong supramolecular cross-links through photoisomerization. This method allows for tailoring the mechanical properties of polymers without the use of plasticizers or hardeners.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nadab H. Wubshet, Allen P. Liu
Summary: Cells have an active boundary made of phospholipids and membrane proteins, which allows communication between the intracellular and extracellular environment. Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are used as models for the cell membrane and have been modified to enhance their mechanical properties. Various perturbation techniques have been developed to mechanically characterize GUVs.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Mohammad Arif Kamal, Josip Augustin Janes, Long Li, Franck Thibaudau, Ana-Suncana Smith, Kheya Sengupta
Summary: Tremendous progress has been made in imaging the contacts between intra-cellular organelles, but they are still difficult to study. Researchers have used a mimetic approach to study Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) interacting via DNA sequences, and discovered a different interaction between the two membranes.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chetan Aditya, Francois Bertaux, Gregory Batt, Jakob Ruess
Summary: Cell-to-cell variability creates couplings between single-cell circuits and population processes, leading to the failure of simple models to accurately predict experimental outcomes when modifying the studied system or its operating conditions. By utilizing multiscale stochastic kinetic models that simultaneously track single-cell and population processes, it is possible to quantitatively predict complex population dynamics of synthetic circuits in growing populations without adjusting model parameters.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Markus Vogt, Benjamin Schulz, Ahmed Wagdi, Jan Lebert, Gijsbert J. van Belle, Jan Christoph, Tobias Bruegmann, Robert Patejdl
Summary: This study demonstrates the direct optogenetic stimulation of smooth muscle cells to control gastric contractility, showing promising potential for restoring motility in gastroparesis in the future.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ling Li, Lian He, Bo Wu, Chuandi Yu, Hongxin Zhao, Yubin Zhou, Junfeng Wang, Lei Zhu
Summary: OptoPB is an optogenetic tool that selectively and reversibly binds to the plasma membrane under blue light excitation. Through NMR spectroscopy and other assays, it was found to bind to membrane mimetics containing phosphatidylinositols, specifically PI(4,5)P-2, in a specific mechanism dependent on PI(4,5)P-2. The interaction is activated by blue light and essential residues in Rit-PB are crucial for membrane binding.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Desiree Sauter, Martin Schroeter, Christoph Frey, Cornelia Weber, Ulrike Mersdorf, Jan-Willi Janiesch, Ilia Platzman, Joachim P. Spatz
Summary: This study introduces a method for assembling an artificial cytoskeleton in a synthetic cell model system, and investigates the temperature-mediated contraction/release behavior of the cytoskeleton. The results show that the deformation induced by hydrogel can be used to controllably manipulate the motility of droplet-based synthetic cells.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Lorenza Bellusci, Selena N. Garcia DuBar, Michelle Kuah, David Castellano, Vinona Muralidaran, Elizabeth Jones, Aaron M. Rozeboom, Richard A. Gillis, Stefano Vicini, Niaz Sahibzada
Summary: NPY neurons in the DVC play a crucial role in the network that controls vagal transmission to the stomach, and their interactions with SST neurons affect gastric motility.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Aiguo Xia, Rongrong Zhang, Yajia Huang, Lei Ni, Lu Pu, Ye Li, Shuai Yang, Fan Jin
Summary: In this study, a novel illumination method called adaptive tracking illumination (ATI) was established to precisely manipulate the gene expression and behaviors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the single-cell level. This method has significant implications for microbiology research.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Runchen Zhao, Siqi Cui, Zhuoxu Ge, Yuqi Zhang, Kaustav Bera, Lily Zhu, Sean X. Sun, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos
Summary: Cells transitioning from amoeboid to mesenchymal phenotypes in response to increasing hydraulic resistance exhibit oscillatory changes in actin network formation and focal adhesion maturation. Blocking the mechanosensor TRPM7 eliminates the dependence of transition period on resistance, and mathematical modeling reveals the role of intracellular calcium oscillations in this process. Hydraulic resistance emerges as a critical physical factor influencing cell phenotype, with a proposed framework for linking fluorescence signal fluctuations to morphological changes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Changchun Li, Jize Liu, Xiaoyan Qiu, Xin Yang, Xin Huang, Xinxing Zhang
Summary: Inspired by the glowing sucker octopus, researchers have developed a reversible fluorescent eutectogel for holographic information encryption and anti-counterfeiting. The eutectogel has adjustable fluorescence, high transparency, and can adhere to various irregular substrates.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Nika Marusic, Ziliang Zhao, Lado Otrin, Rumiana Dimova, Ivan Ivanov, Kai Sundmacher
Summary: Giant unilamellar vesicles can serve as membrane models and primitive mockups of natural cells, with potential for creating truly synthetic cells using amphiphilic polymers. The influence of experimental parameters on the fusion of nanometer-sized vesicles is investigated in detail, leading to an optimized method for obtaining giant vesicles. This method allows for the creation of giant vesicles equipped with membrane and cytosolic biomachinery in the presence of salts at physiological concentrations.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nika Marusic, Lado Otrin, Jonas Rauchhaus, Ziliang Zhao, Fotis L. Kyrilis, Farzad Hamdi, Panagiotis L. Kastritis, Rumiana Dimova, Ivan Ivanov, Kai Sundmacher
Summary: Biomimetic polymer/lipid hybrid compartments have great potential as substitutes for natural liposomes. This study explores the protein-free fusion of these semisynthetic membranes and finds that the membrane mixing of oppositely charged hybrids exceeds that of liposomes. The charge is not the sole determinant of the final adenosine triphosphate synthesis rate, and the fusion strategy can be used for the delivery of membrane proteins and the automation of synthetic cell assembly.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Mina Aleksanyan, Rafael B. Lira, Jan Steinkuehler, Rumiana Dimova
Summary: Cell membrane asymmetry plays a crucial role in the stability and closure of pores. Our study reveals that GM1 ganglioside enriched in the outer leaflet of neuronal cell membranes can stabilize pores and hinder their closure through the formation of internal membrane nanotubes, leading to membrane leakage. This has significant implications for biotechnology applications based on poration and membrane repair processes.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hazel Erkan-Candag, Denis Krivic, Mathias A. F. Gsell, Mina Aleksanyan, Thomas Stockner, Rumiana Dimova, Oleksandra Tiapko, Klaus Groschner
Summary: Azobenzene-based photochromic lipids are useful for studying ion channel-lipid interactions. The rapid photoisomerization of these lipids allows for analysis of lipid gating kinetics and provides information on lipid sensing. The study found that the thermal relaxation of the cis conformation to the trans conformation in the dark is slow, but binding of cis OptoDArG to TRPC channels promotes the transition to the trans conformation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anton Joseph, Anna M. Wagner, Manuela Garay-Sarmiento, Mina Aleksanyan, Tamas Haraszti, Dominik Soeder, Vasil N. Georgiev, Rumiana Dimova, Virgil Percec, Cesar Rodriguez-Emmenegger
Summary: In this study, a new type of Janus dendrimer is introduced, which can self-assemble into a mimetic cell membrane structure that closely resembles the characteristics of a natural cell membrane in terms of thickness, flexibility, and fluidity. This mimetic cell membrane exhibits resilience to harsh conditions and faster dynamics in closing pores in the event of membrane rupture. It can be used to create hybrid structures with components of natural cell membranes and has the potential to simulate life-like features such as vesicle fusion, motility, and environmental sensing.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Mina Aleksanyan, Hammad A. Faizi, Maria-Anna Kirmpaki, Petia M. Vlahovska, Karin A. Riske, Rumiana Dimova
Summary: Knowledge of the material properties of membranes is crucial to understanding cell viability and physiology. In this review, we focus on techniques employing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) to probe membrane properties. GUV deformation, dynamic response, and poration can be used to deduce important properties such as bending rigidity, pore edge tension, membrane capacitance, surface shear viscosity, excess area, and membrane stability. These techniques are simple, widely available, and easily implemented and analyzed.
ADVANCES IN PHYSICS-X
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Barbara Schamberger, Ricardo Ziege, Karine Anselme, Martine Ben Amar, Michal Bykowski, Andre P. G. Castro, Amaia Cipitria, Rhoslyn A. Coles, Rumiana Dimova, Michaela Eder, Sebastian Ehrig, Luis M. Escudero, Myfanwy E. Evans, Paulo R. Fernandes, Peter Fratzl, Liesbet Geris, Notburga Gierlinger, Edouard Hannezo, Ales Iglic, Jacob J. K. Kirkensgaard, Philip Kollmannsberger, Lucja Kowalewska, Nicholas A. Kurniawan, Ioannis Papantoniou, Laurent Pieuchot, Tiago H. V. Pires, Lars D. Renner, Andrew O. Sageman-Furnas, Gerd E. Schroder-Turk, Anupam Sengupta, Vikas R. Sharma, Antonio Tagua, Caterina Tomba, Xavier Trepat, Sarah L. Waters, Edwina F. Yeo, Andreas Roschger, Cecile M. Bidan, John W. C. Dunlop
Summary: Surface curvature plays an important role in biological systems, from cell membranes to tissues and organs. Experimental and theoretical investigations have supported the relevance of surface curvature in biology. This review provides an introduction to the key concepts of surface curvature in biological systems and discusses the challenges in measuring it. The review also highlights the response of cells, tissues, and organisms to curvature, as well as the interplay between the distribution of morphogens or micro-organisms and the emergence of curvature.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Rafaela R. M. Cavalcanti, Rafael B. Lira, Eleanor J. Ewins, Rumiana Dimova, Karin A. Riske
Summary: Lateral phase heterogeneity in biomembranes plays an important role in cellular functions and fusion process. We studied the effects of membrane phase state and charge, as well as phase coexistence, on fusion efficiency. By modulating the lipid composition of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), we targeted fusion to specific domains on phase-separated membranes and observed high fusion efficiency even in phase-separated GUVs. Extensive fusion led to dissolution of the gel domains. These findings provide insights into the regulation of cell-liposome interactions in drug delivery systems.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Mareike S. Stephan, Valentin Dunsing, Shreya Pramanik, Salvatore Chiantia, Stefanie Barbirz, Tom Robinson, Rumiana Dimova
Summary: Gram-negative bacteria have a cell wall that includes lipids, proteins, and glycans, forming a protective layer. The outer membrane contains lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), which play a significant role. Incorporating LPS into artificial membranes is challenging due to their water solubility. This study introduces a new emulsification step to incorporate LPS into specific leaflets of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and quantifies the LPS content and membrane asymmetry. Diffusion coefficient measurements show that increased LPS concentrations in the membranes lead to decreased diffusivity.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yunuen Avalos-Padilla, Vasil N. Georgiev, Eleanor Ewins, Tom Robinson, Esther Orozco, Reinhard Lipowsky, Rumiana Dimova
Summary: This study combines giant unilamellar vesicles, microfluidic technology, and micropipette aspiration to continuously track the ESCRT-III-mediated membrane remodeling at the single-vesicle level. They identify different mechanisms by which a minimal set of three ESCRT-III proteins from Entamoeba histolytica reshape the membrane. These proteins modulate the membrane stiffness and spontaneous curvature to regulate bud size and generate intraluminal vesicles even in the absence of ATP.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Agustin Mangiarotti, Nannan Chen, Ziliang Zhao, Reinhard Lipowsky, Rumiana Dimova
Summary: Cells compartmentalize their interiors into liquid-like condensates, and these condensates can interact with membranes, leading to morphological transformations. This study demonstrates that the interaction between protein condensates and membranes can result in two wetting transitions, and the observed morphologies are influenced by adhesion, membrane elasticity, and interfacial tension.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Reinhard Lipowsky, Shreya Pramanik, Amelie S. Benk, Miroslaw Tarnawski, Joachim P. Spatz, Rumiana Dimova
Summary: Artificial or synthetic organelles are a challenge in bottom-up synthetic biology. Synthetic organelles are typically based on spherical membrane compartments for spatially confining chemical reactions. However, cellular organelles, like the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), have more complex architectures. The morphology of ER, including its straight appearance and nanoscopic shapes, as well as the formation and maintenance of its reticular networks, are closely related to the dimerization of membrane proteins and the generation of membrane tension.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brice Nzigou Mombo, Brent M. Bijonowski, Christopher A. Raab, Stephan Niland, Katrin Brockhaus, Marc Mueller, Johannes A. Eble, Seraphine V. Wegner
Summary: E-cadherin-based cell-cell adhesions play essential roles in various biological processes, but the lack of tools for precise control has hindered the investigation of underlying mechanisms. In this study, a new optogenetic tool named opto-E-cadherin is introduced, which enables reversible control of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesions using blue light. This tool provides remote control over cell aggregation, intracellular signaling, and F-actin organization, and can switch multicellular behavior and cell invasiveness. Opto-E-cadherin offers a powerful approach to studying the dynamics and spatiotemporal control of E-cadherin in biological processes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Agustin Mangiarotti, Macarena Siri, Nicky W. Tam, Ziliang Zhao, Leonel Malacrida, Rumiana Dimova
Summary: Membrane wetting by biomolecular condensates plays an important role in cell biology, but the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon are still not well understood. Using nano-environmental sensors and advanced imaging microscopy, the study investigated the formation of protein condensates and their interaction with lipid membranes. The findings suggest a correlation between wetting affinity and lipid packing.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Kayla Sapp, Mina Aleksanyan, Kaitlyn Kerr, Rumiana Dimova, Alexander Sodt
Summary: The stiffness of biological membranes can be determined by observing the surface undulations of model membranes using phase contrast microscopy. The coupling between lateral fluctuations of lipid composition and surface undulations depends on the curvature sensitivity of the constituent lipids. This study validates the molecular mechanism that makes the membrane 25% softer by analyzing the undulations of giant unilamellar vesicles made of phosphatidylcholine-phosphatidylethanolamine mixtures.