Configuration of PKCalpha-C2 domain bound to mixed SOPC/SOPS lipid monolayers.

X-ray reflectivity measurements are used to determine the configuration of the C2 domain of protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha-C2) bound to a lipid monolayer of a 7:3 mixture of 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine supported on a buffered aqueous solution. The reflectivity is analyzed in terms of the known crystallographic structure of PKCalpha-C2 and a slab model representation of the lipid layer. The configuration of lipid-bound PKCalpha-C2 is described by two angles that define its orientation, theta = 35 degrees +/- 10 degrees and phi =210 degrees +/- 30 degrees, and a penetration depth (=7.5 +/- 2 A) into the lipid layer. In this structure, the beta-sheets of PKCalpha-C2 are nearly perpendicular to the lipid layer and the domain penetrates into the headgroup region of the lipid layer, but not into the tailgroup region. This configuration of PKCalpha-C2 determined by our x-ray reflectivity is consistent with many previous findings, particularly mutational studies, and also provides what we believe is new molecular insight into the mechanism of PKCalpha enzyme activation. Our analysis method, which allows us to test all possible protein orientations, shows that our data cannot be explained by a protein that is orientated parallel to the membrane, as suggested by earlier work.

alpha-Synuclein misfolding: single molecule AFM force spectroscopy study.

Protein misfolding and aggregation are the very first and critical steps in development of various neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, induced by misfolding of alpha-synuclein. Thus, elucidating properties of proteins in misfolded states and understanding the mechanisms of their assembly into the disease prone aggregates are critical for the development of rational approaches to prevent protein misfolding-mediated pathologies. To accomplish this goal and as a first step to elucidate the mechanism of alpha-synuclein misfolding, we applied single-molecule force spectroscopy capable of detecting protein misfolding. We immobilized alpha-synuclein molecules at their C-termini at the atomic force microscope tips and substrate surfaces, and measured the interaction between the proteins by probing the microscope tip at various locations on the surface. Using this approach, we detected alpha-synuclein misfolded states by enhanced interprotein interaction. We used a dynamics force spectroscopy approach to measure such an important characteristic of dimers of misfolded alpha-synuclein as their lifetimes. We found that the dimer lifetimes are in the range of seconds and these values are much higher than the characteristics for the dynamics of the protein in monomeric state. These data show that compared to highly dynamic monomeric forms, alpha-synuclein dimers are much more stable and thus can serve as stable nuclei for the formation of multimeric and aggregated forms of alpha-synuclein. Importantly, two different lifetimes were observed for the dimers, suggesting that aggregation can follow different pathways that may lead to different aggregated morphologies of alpha-synuclein.

Why the wrinkling transition in partially polymerized membranes is not universal? Fractal-multifractal hierarchy.

When partially polymerized membranes wrinkle they exhibit a passage from a conventional buckling (due to an instability caused by chiral symmetry breaking) at low polymerization to a local roughening (due to a frustration in the local packing of the chiral molecules composing the membrane) as a function of the polymerization of the lipids aliphatic tails. This transition was found to be non-universal and here we used neutron scattering to elucidate that this behavior is due to the onset of stretching in the membrane accompanied by a bilayer thickness variation. Close to the percolation limit this deformation is plastic similar to mutated lysozymes. We draw an analogy between this transition and echinocytes in red blood cells.

Orientation and penetration depth of monolayer-bound p40phox-PX.

X-ray reflectivity was used to study the interaction of the PX domain of p40(phox) protein (p40(phox)-PX) with a Langmuir monolayer of a mixture of SOPC (1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), SOPS (1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine), and DPPtdIns(3)P (1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate) lipids supported on a buffered aqueous solution. The reflectivity is analyzed in terms of the known crystallographic structure of the p40(phox)-PX domain and a slab model that represents the lipid layer, yielding an electron density profile of the lipid layer and bound PX domains. This analysis determines the angular orientation and penetration depth of the p40(phox)-PX domain bound to the SOPC/SOPS/DPPtdIns(3)P monolayer. The best fit orientation is characterized by the following angles: theta = 30 +/- 10 degrees and phi = 140 +/- 30 degrees. These angles describe rotations, about axes in a coordinate system fixed to the domain, that are required to orient the domain with respect to the lipid layer at the interface. The protein penetrated into the lipid layer by 9 +/- 2 A, indicating that the protein penetrated into the headgroup region, but not deeply into the hydrocarbon region of the monolayer. In this analysis, polar Tyr(94) and hydrophobic Val(95) penetrated deepest into the lipid monolayer. The backbone of these residues was approximately 5 A above the headgroup-buffer interface, i.e., at the level of the SOPC/SOPS lipid phosphates. Positively charged Lys(92) and Lys(98) were also near the SOPC/SOPS lipid phosphates. This position of the protein allows for a favorable electrostatic contribution to binding.

Structure of the interface between two polar liquids: nitrobenzene and water.

Synchrotron X-ray reflectivity is used to study the electron density as a function of depth through the bulk nitrobenzene-water interface at four different temperatures. The measured interfacial width differs from the predictions of capillary wave theory with a progressively smaller deviation as the temperature is raised. Computer simulations suggest the presence of both molecular layering and dipole ordering parallel to the interface. Either layering or a bending rigidity, that can result from dipole ordering, can explain these measurements.

Ion distributions near a liquid-liquid interface.

Mean field theories of ion distributions, such as the Gouy-Chapman theory that describes the distribution near a charged planar surface, ignore the molecular-scale structure in the liquid solution. The predictions of the Gouy-Chapman theory vary substantially from our x-ray reflectivity measurements of the interface between two electrolyte solutions. Molecular dynamics simulations, which include the liquid structure, were used to calculate the potential of mean force on a single ion. We used this potential of mean force in a generalized Poisson-Boltzmann equation to predict the full ion distributions. These distributions agree with our measurements without any adjustable parameters.

X-ray reflectivity studies of cPLA2{alpha}-C2 domains adsorbed onto Langmuir monolayers of SOPC.

X-ray reflectivity is used to study the interaction of C2 domains of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)alpha-C2) with a Langmuir monolayer of 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (SOPC) supported on a buffered aqueous solution containing Ca(2+). The reflectivity is analyzed in terms of the known crystallographic structure of cPLA(2)alpha-C2 domains and a slab model representing the lipid layer to yield an electron density profile of the lipid layer and bound C2 domains. This new method of analysis determines the angular orientation and penetration depth of the cPLA(2)alpha-C2 domains bound to the SOPC monolayer, information not available from the standard slab model analysis of x-ray reflectivity. The best-fit orientation places the protein-bound Ca(2+) ions within 1 A of the lipid phosphate group (with an accuracy of +/-3 A). Hydrophobic residues of the calcium-binding loops CBL1 and CBL3 penetrate deepest into the lipid layer, with a 2 A penetration into the tailgroup region. X-ray measurements with and without the C2 domain indicate that there is a loss of electrons in the headgroup region of the lipid monolayer upon binding of the domains. We suggest that this is due to a loss of water molecules bound to the headgroup. Control experiments with a non-calcium buffer and with domain mutants confirm that the cPLA(2)alpha-C2 binding to the SOPC monolayer is Ca(2+)-dependent and that the hydrophobic residues in the calcium-binding loops are critical for membrane binding. These results indicate that an entropic component (due to water loss) as well as electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions contributes to the binding mechanism.

X-ray studies of the interface between two polar liquids: neat and with electrolytes.

We demonstrate the use of X-ray reflectivity to probe the electron density profile normal to the interface between two polar liquids. Measurements of the interfacial width at the neat nitrobenzene/water and the neat water/2-heptanone interfaces are presented. These widths are consistent with predictions from capillary wave theory that describe thermal interfacial fluctuations determined by the tension and bending rigidity of the interface. Variation of the temperature of the water/nitrobenzene interface from 25 degrees C to 55 degrees C indicates that the role of the bending rigidity decreases with increasing temperature. X-ray reflectivity measurements of the electrified interface between an aqueous solution of BaCl2 and a nitrobenzene solution of TBATPB demonstrate the sensitivity of these measurements to the electrolyte distribution at the interface. A preliminary analysis of these data illustrates the inadequacy of the simplest, classical Gouy-Chapman theory of the electrolyte distribution.