Spatial distribution and activity of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase in lipid bilayer membranes with phase boundaries.

We have reconstituted functional Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (NKA) into giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) of well-defined binary and ternary lipid composition including cholesterol. The activity of the membrane system can be turned on and off by ATP. The hydrolytic activity of NKA is found to depend on membrane phase, and the water relaxation in the membrane on the presence of NKA. By collapsing and fixating the GUVs onto a solid support and using high-resolution atomic-force microscopy (AFM) imaging we determine the protein orientation and spatial distribution at the single-molecule level and find that NKA is preferentially located at lo/ld interfaces in two-phase GUVs and homogeneously distributed in single-phase GUVs. When turned active, the membrane is found to unbind from the support suggesting that the protein function leads to softening of the membrane.

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons do not disturb liquid-liquid phase coexistence, but increase the fluidity of model membranes.

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is a group of compounds, many of which are toxic, formed by incomplete combustion or thermal processing of organic material. They are highly lipophilic and thus present in some seed oils used for human consumption as well as being increasingly common in aquaculture diets due to inclusion of vegetable oils. Cytotoxic effects of PAHs have been thought to be partly due to a membrane perturbing effect of these compounds. A series of studies were here performed to examine the effects of three different PAHs (naphthalene, phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene) with different molecular sizes (two, three and five rings, respectively) and fat solubility (Kow 3.29, 4.53 and 6.04, respectively) on membrane models. The effects of PAHs on liquid-liquid phase coexistence in solid-supported lipid bilayers (dioleoylphosphocholine:dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine:cholesterol) were assessed using fluorescence microscopy. Benzo[a]pyrene had a slight affinity for the liquid-ordered phase, but there were no effects of adding any of the other PAHs on the number or size of the liquid domains (liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered). Benzo[a]pyrene and phenanthrene, but not naphthalene, lowered the transition temperature (Tm) and the enthalpy (ΔH) characterising the transition from the solid to the liquid-crystalline phase in DPPC vesicles. The membrane effects of the PAH molecules are likely related to size, with bigger and more fat-soluble molecules having a fluidising effect when embedded in the membrane, possibly causing some of the observed toxic effects in fish exposed to these contaminants.

Compositional and structural characterization of monolayers and bilayers composed of native pulmonary surfactant from wild type mice.

This work comprises a structural and dynamical study of monolayers and bilayers composed of native pulmonary surfactant from mice. Spatially resolved information was obtained using fluorescence (confocal, wide field and two photon excitation) and atomic force microscopy methods. Lipid mass spectrometry experiments were also performed in order to obtain relevant information on the lipid composition of this material. Bilayers composed of mice pulmonary surfactant showed coexistence of distinct domains at room temperature, with morphologies and lateral packing resembling the coexistence of liquid ordered (lo)/liquid disordered (ld)-like phases reported previously in porcine lung surfactant. Interestingly, the molar ratio of saturated (mostly DPPC)/non-saturated phospholipid species and cholesterol measured in the innate material corresponds with that of a DOPC/DPPC/cholesterol mixture showing lo/ld phase coexistence at a similar temperature. This suggests that at quasi-equilibrium conditions, key lipid classes in this complex biological material are still able to produce the same scaffold observed in relevant but simpler model lipid mixtures. Also, robust structural and dynamical similarities between mono- and bi-layers composed of mice pulmonary surfactant were observed when the monolayers reach a surface pressure of 30mN/m. This value is in line with theoretically predicted and recently measured surface pressures, where the monolayer-bilayer equivalence occurs in samples composed of single phospholipids. Finally, squeezed out material attached to pulmonary surfactant monolayers was observed at surface pressures near the beginning of the monolayer reversible exclusion plateau (~40mN/m). Under these conditions this material adopts elongated tubular shapes and displays ordered lateral packing as indicated by spatially resolved LAURDAN GP measurements.

An outlook on organization of lipids in membranes: searching for a realistic connection with the organization of biological membranes.

Lipid-bilayer membranes are formed by self-assembly processes. The molecular interactions within the bilayer and with the environment impart a unique trans-bilayer lateral pressure profile and provide a set of physical mechanisms for formation of lipid domains and laterally differentiated regions in the plane of the membrane. Results from a number of experimental and theoretical studies of model lipid bilayers are reviewed, emphasizing the significance of these fundamental physical properties for the structure and dynamics of biological membranes. Particular attention is paid to the relevance of postulating the existence of equilibrium thermodynamic phases in biological membranes. This includes a discussion of the possible significance of equilibrium critical points in biological membrane systems that normally exist under non-equilibrium conditions. The need for a new model to replace the celebrated Nicolson-Singer fluid-mosaic model of biological membranes is also discussed.

Segregated phases in pulmonary surfactant membranes do not show coexistence of lipid populations with differentiated dynamic properties.

The composition of pulmonary surfactant membranes and films has evolved to support a complex lateral structure, including segregation of ordered/disordered phases maintained up to physiological temperatures. In this study, we have analyzed the temperature-dependent dynamic properties of native surfactant membranes and membranes reconstituted from two surfactant hydrophobic fractions (i.e., all the lipids plus the hydrophobic proteins SP-B and SP-C, or only the total lipid fraction). These preparations show micrometer-sized fluid ordered/disordered phase coexistence, associated with a broad endothermic transition ending close to 37 degrees C. However, both types of membrane exhibit uniform lipid mobility when analyzed by electron paramagnetic resonance with different spin-labeled phospholipids. A similar feature is observed with pulse-field gradient NMR experiments on oriented membranes reconstituted from the two types of surfactant hydrophobic extract. These latter results suggest that lipid dynamics are similar in the coexisting fluid phases observed by fluorescence microscopy. Additionally, it is found that surfactant proteins significantly reduce the average intramolecular lipid mobility and translational diffusion of phospholipids in the membranes, and that removal of cholesterol has a profound impact on both the lateral structure and dynamics of surfactant lipid membranes. We believe that the particular lipid composition of surfactant imposes a highly dynamic framework on the membrane structure, as well as maintains a lateral organization that is poised at the edge of critical transitions occurring under physiological conditions.

Texture of lipid bilayer domains.

We investigate the texture of gel (g) domains in binary lipid membranes composed of the phospholipids DPPC and DOPC. Lateral organization of lipid bilayer membranes is a topic of fundamental and biological importance. Whereas questions related to size and composition of fluid membrane domain are well studied, the possibility of texture in gel domains has so far not been examined. When using polarized light for two-photon excitation of the fluorescent lipid probe Laurdan, the emission intensity is highly sensitive to the angle between the polarization and the tilt orientation of lipid acyl chains. By imaging the intensity variations as a function of the polarization angle, we map the lateral variations of the lipid tilt within domains. Results reveal that gel domains are composed of subdomains with different lipid tilt directions. We have applied a Fourier decomposition method as a convenient way to analyze the angular intensity variations. Texture patterns of the same type have been associated with the presence of hexatic order in monolayers. The present results provide some support for the notion that hexatic order may persist in bilayers. Laurdan exhibits an emission spectral shift which correlates with the phase state of the membrane. This is quantified by the generalized polarization (GP) function, and we demonstrate that a GP analysis can be performed on supported membranes. The results show that although the gel domains have heterogeneous texture, the membrane phase state does not show spatial variation within each domain.

DNA controlled assembly of liposomes.

DNA-encoding of solid nanoparticles requires surface-chemistry, which is often tedious and not generally applicable. In the present study non-covalently attached DNA are used to assemble soft nanoparticles (liposomes) in solution. This process displays remarkably sharp thermal transitions from assembled to disassembled state for which reason this method allows easy and fast detection of polynucleotides (e.g. DNA or RNA), including single nucleotide polymorphisms as well as insertions and deletions.

DNA controlled assembly of soft nanoparticles.

DNA-encoding of solid nanoparticles requires surface-chemistry, which is often tedious and not generally applicable. In the present study non-covalently attached DNA are used to assemble soft nanoparticles (liposomes) in solution. This process displays remarkably sharp thermal transitions from assembled to disassembled state for which reason this method allows easy and fast detection of polynucleotides (e.g. DNA or RNA), including single nucleotide polymorphisms as well as insertions and deletions.

DNA-controlled assembly of soft nanoparticles.

Immobilization of DNA (encoding) on solid nanoparticles requires surface chemistry, which is well established for gold surfaces but often tedious and not generally applicable for many other inorganic surface materials. While substantial effort has been devoted to expanding surface chemistry techniques for solid nanoparticles, considerably less attention has been given to the development of noncovalent attachment of DNA to soft nanoparticles, like liposomes. Here we report a DNA-controlled assembly of liposomes in solution and on solid supported membranes, this process displays remarkably sharp thermal transitions from an assembled to a disassembled state, allowing application of DNA-controlled liposome assembly for the detection of polynucleotides (e.g., DNA) with single mismatch discrimination power. The method is based on a single DNA strand (contains two lipid membrane anchors), which is able to noncovalently attach to a liposome surface. This design enables detection of biological polynucleotide targets as the complementary strand can be unmodified DNA and RNA strands.

Interactions between a polystyrene particle and hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces in aqueous solutions.

The interaction between a colloidal polystyrene particle mounted on an AFM cantilever and a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic surface in aqueous solution is investigated. Despite the apparent simplicity of these two types of systems a variety of different types of interactions are observed. The system containing the polystyrene particle and a hydrophilic surface shows DLVO-like interactions characteristic of forces between charged surfaces. However, when the surface is hydrophobized the interaction changes dramatically and shows evidence of a bridging air bubble being formed between the particle and the surface. For both sets of systems, plateaus of constant force in the force curves are obtained when the particle is retracted from the surface after being in contact. These events are interpreted as a number of individual polystyrene molecules that are bridging the polystyrene particle and the surface. The plateaus of constant force are expected for pulling a hydrophobic polymer in a bad (hydrophilic) solvent. The plateau heights are found to be of uniform spacing and independent of the type of surface, which suggests a model by which collapsed polymers are extended into the aqueous medium. This model is supported by a full stretching curve showing also the backbone elasticity and a stretching curve obtained in pentanol, where the plateau changes to a nonlinear force response, which is typical for a polymer in a good or neutral solvent. We suggest that these polymer bridges are important in particular for the interaction between polystyrene and the hydrophilic surface, where they to some extent counteract the long-range electrostatic repulsion.

Force trace hysteresis and temperature dependence of bridging nanobubble induced forces between hydrophobic surfaces.

An atomic force microscope and the colloidal probe technique are used to probe the interaction between a hydrophobic particle and a hydrophobic surface in water. The characteristics of the observed force curves strongly suggest that a gas bubble is formed when the particle is moved toward the surface and that the bubble ruptures when the particle subsequently is retracted from the surface. We demonstrate that this type of interaction is not unique for hydrophobic surfaces in water since the interaction between hydrophilic surfaces in air provides very similar force curves. However, the interaction between hydrophobic surfaces vanish if water is replaced by an organic solvent with low polarity. The bridging bubble model is employed to explain the hysteresis observed between approach and retraction force traces and experimental conditions where the hysteresis can be almost eliminated are identified. Finally, it is demonstrated that the hydrophobic interaction is strongly temperature dependent and this dependence can be attributed mainly to the decreasing solubility of air in water with increasing temperature.

Ligand-receptor interactions and membrane structure investigated by AFM and time-resolved fluorescence microscopy.

The atomic force microscope (AFM) and the associated dynamic force spectroscopy technique have been exploited to quantitatively assess the interaction between proteins and their binding to specific ligands and membrane surfaces. In particular, we have studied the specific interaction between lung surfactant protein D and various carbohydrates. In addition, we have used scanning AFM and time-resolved fluorescence microscopy to image the lateral structure of different lipid bilayers and their morphological changes as a function of time. The various systems studied illustrate the potential of modern AFM techniques for application to biomedical research, specifically within immunology and liposome-based drug delivery.

Dynamic strength of the interaction between lung surfactant protein D (SP-D) and saccharide ligands.

In order to investigate the dynamic strength of the interaction between lung surfactant protein D (SP-D) and different sugars, maltose, mannose, glucose, and galactose, we have used an atomic force microscope to monitor the interaction on a single molecule scale. The experiment is performed by measuring the rupture force when the SP-D-sugar bond is subjected to a continuously increasing force. Under these dynamic conditions, SP-D binds strongest to d-mannose and weakest to maltose and d-galactose. These results differ from equilibrium measurements wherein SP-D exhibits preference for maltose. On the basis of this finding, we propose that the binding of the disaccharide maltose to SP-D, which is energetically stronger than the binding of any of the monosacchrides, alters the structure of the binding site in a way that lowers the dynamic strength of the bond. We conclude that determining the strength of a protein-ligand bond under dynamic stress using an atomic force microscope is possibly more relevant for mimicking the actual nonequilibrium physiological situation in the lungs.

Characteristics of fibers formed by cytochrome c and induced by anionic phospholipids.

Recent publications described the formation of millimeter-length fibers by diverse lipid-binding proteins (e.g., histone H1, cytochrome c, indolicidin, and endostatin) when they are mixed with 80:20 phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine vesicles. Further, these fibers displayed amyloid characteristics when stained with Congo Red. In the study presented here, we found by FTIR the amide I absorption band to reveal significant variation in fibers formed by cytochrome c, with some consisting of cytochrome c in a nativelike conformation and some exhibiting strong amyloid (beta-sheet) characteristics. Protein structure also varied from amyloid to nearly native within single fibers. Fibers were frequently blue or bluish and sometimes iridescent, likely due to interference of light in the fibers. The amyloid-type amide I band was observed for blue fibers only. AFM shows that fibers consist of smaller 3-4 nm diameter fibers with 10 nm lateral spacing.

Cholesterol rules: direct observation of the coexistence of two fluid phases in native pulmonary surfactant membranes at physiological temperatures.

Pulmonary surfactant, the lipid-protein material that stabilizes the respiratory surface of the lungs, contains approximately equimolar amounts of saturated and unsaturated phospholipid species and significant proportions of cholesterol. Such lipid composition suggests that the membranes taking part in the surfactant structures could be organized heterogeneously in the form of inplane domains, originating from particular distributions of specific proteins and lipids. Here we report novel results concerning the lateral organization of bilayer membranes made of native pulmonary surfactant where the coexistence of two distinct micrometer sized fluid phases (fluid ordered and fluid disordered-like phases) is observed at physiological temperatures by using fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Additional experiments using fluorescent-labeled proteins SP-B and SP-C show that at physiological temperatures these hydrophobic proteins are located exclusively in the fluid disordered-like phase. Most interestingly, the microscopic coexistence of fluid phases is maintained up to 37.5 degrees C, where most fluid ordered phases melt. This observation suggests that the particular composition of this material is naturally designed to be at the "edge" of a lateral structure transition under physiological conditions, likely providing particular structural and dynamic properties for its mechanical function. The observed lateral structure in native pulmonary surfactant membranes is dramatically affected by the extraction of cholesterol, an effect not observed upon extraction of the surfactant proteins. Furthermore, the spreading properties of the native surfactant material at the air-liquid interface were also greatly affected by cholesterol extraction, suggesting a connection between the observed lateral structure and a physiologically relevant function of the material. We suggest that the particular lipid composition of surfactant could be finely tuned to provide, under physiological conditions, a structural scaffold for surfactant proteins to act at appropriate local densities and lipid composition.