Modulation of membrane surface curvature by peptide-lipid interactions

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Batenburg ◽  
B. de Kruijff

Recent reports on the interaction of cardiotoxin and melittin with phospholipid model membranes are reviewed and analyzed. These types of peptide toxins are able to modulate lipid surface curvature and polymorphism in a highly lipid-specific way. It is demonstrated that the remarkable variety of effects of melittin on the organization of different membrane phospholipids can be understood in a relatively simple model, based on the shape-structure concept of lipid polymorphism and taking into account the position of the peptide molecule with respect to the lipids. Based on the strong preference of the peptides for negatively charged lipids and the structural consequences thereof, and on preliminary studies of signal peptide-lipid interaction, a role of inverted or concave lipid structures in the process of protein translocation across membranes is suggested.

Author(s):  
Hideo Hayashi ◽  
Yoshikazu Hirai ◽  
John T. Penniston

Spectrin is a membrane associated protein most of which properties have been tentatively elucidated. A main role of the protein has been assumed to give a supporting structure to inside of the membrane. As reported previously, however, the isolated spectrin molecule underwent self assemble to form such as fibrous, meshwork, dispersed or aggregated arrangements depending upon the buffer suspended and was suggested to play an active role in the membrane conformational changes. In this study, the role of spectrin and actin was examined in terms of the molecular arrangements on the erythrocyte membrane surface with correlation to the functional states of the ghosts.Human erythrocyte ghosts were prepared from either freshly drawn or stocked bank blood by the method of Dodge et al with a slight modification as described before. Anti-spectrin antibody was raised against rabbit by injection of purified spectrin and partially purified.


Author(s):  
A.J. Mia ◽  
L.X. Oakford ◽  
T. Yorio

Protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes, when activated, are translocated to particulate membrane fractions for transport to the apical membrane surface in a variety of cell types. Evidence of PKC translocation was demonstrated in human megakaryoblastic leukemic cells, and in cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts, using FTTC immunofluorescent antibody labeling techniques. Recently, we reported immunogold localizations of PKC subtypes I and II in toad urinary bladder epithelia, following 60 min stimulation with Mezerein (MZ), a PKC activator, or antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Localization of isozyme subtypes I and n was carried out in separate grids using specific monoclonal antibodies with subsequent labeling with 20nm protein A-gold probes. Each PKC subtype was found to be distributed singularly and in discrete isolated patches in the cytosol as well as in the apical membrane domains. To determine if the PKC isozymes co-localized within the cell, a double immunogold labeling technique using single grids was utilized.


Author(s):  
James F. Hainfeld

Lipids are an important class of molecules, being found in membranes, HDL, LDL, and other natural structures, serving essential roles in structure and with varied functions such as compartmentalization and transport. Synthetic liposomes are also widely used as delivery and release vehicles for drugs, cosmetics, and other chemicals; soap is made from lipids. Lipids may form bilayer or multilammellar vesicles, micelles, sheets, tubes, and other structures. Lipid molecules may be linked to proteins, carbohydrates, or other moieties. EM study of this essential ingredient of life has lagged, due to lack of direct methods to visualize lipids without extensive alteration. OsO4 reacts with double bonds in membrane phospholipids, forming crossbridges. This has been the method of choice to both fix and stain membranes, thus far. An earlier work described the use of tungstate clusters (W11) attached to lipid moieties to form lipid structures and lipid probes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 411 (3) ◽  
pp. 657-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna K. Larsen ◽  
René Lametsch ◽  
John S. Elce ◽  
Jørgen K. Larsen ◽  
Bo Thomsen ◽  
...  

Dynamic regulation of the actin cytoskeleton is important for cell motility, spreading and the formation of membrane surface extensions such as lamellipodia, ruffles and blebs. The ubiquitous calpains contribute to integrin-mediated cytoskeletal remodelling during cell migration and spreading, by cleavage of focal adhesion components and signalling molecules. In the present study, the live-cell morphology of calpain-knockout and wild-type cells was examined by time-lapse fluorescence microscopy, and a role of calpain in mediating the formation of sporadic membrane blebs was established. Membrane blebbing was significantly reduced in calpain-knockout cells, and genetic rescue fully restored the wild-type phenotype in knockout cells. Proteomic comparison of wild-type and knockout cells identified decreased levels of RhoGDI-1 (Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor) and cofilin 1, and increased levels of tropomyosin in calpain-knockout cells, suggesting a role of calpain in regulating membrane extensions involving these proteins. RhoGDI, cofilin and tropomyosin are known regulators of actin filament dynamics and membrane extensions. The reduced levels of RhoGDI-1 in calpain-knockout cells observed by proteome analysis were confirmed by immunoblotting. Genetic rescue of the calpain-knockout cells enhanced RhoGDI-1-expression 2-fold above that normally present in wild-type cells. These results suggest a regulatory connection between calpain and RhoGDI-1 in promoting formation of membrane blebs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (21) ◽  
pp. eabg0942
Author(s):  
Jae Ho Lee ◽  
Ahmad Jomaa ◽  
SangYoon Chung ◽  
Yu-Hsien Hwang Fu ◽  
Ruilin Qian ◽  
...  

The conserved signal recognition particle (SRP) cotranslationally delivers ~30% of the proteome to the eukaryotic endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The molecular mechanism by which eukaryotic SRP transitions from cargo recognition in the cytosol to protein translocation at the ER is not understood. Here, structural, biochemical, and single-molecule studies show that this transition requires multiple sequential conformational rearrangements in the targeting complex initiated by guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase)–driven compaction of the SRP receptor (SR). Disruption of these rearrangements, particularly in mutant SRP54G226E linked to severe congenital neutropenia, uncouples the SRP/SR GTPase cycle from protein translocation. Structures of targeting intermediates reveal the molecular basis of early SRP-SR recognition and emphasize the role of eukaryote-specific elements in regulating targeting. Our results provide a molecular model for the structural and functional transitions of SRP throughout the targeting cycle and show that these transitions provide important points for biological regulation that can be perturbed in genetic diseases.


1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (3) ◽  
pp. H877-H883 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Prasad ◽  
L. M. Popescu ◽  
I. I. Moraru ◽  
X. K. Liu ◽  
S. Maity ◽  
...  

We investigated the role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and phospholipase C (PLC) in myocardial phosholipid degradation and cellular injury during reperfusion of ischemic myocardium. For this purpose, isolated rat hearts were perfused with isotopic arachidonic acid to label its membrane phospholipids. Hearts preperfused with antiphospholipase A2 (anti-PLA2) retained a significantly higher amount of radiolabel in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol and a corresponding lower amount of radiolabel in lysophosphatidylcholine and nonesterified fatty acids (P less than 0.05) after 30 min of reperfusion following 30 min of normothermic global ischemia compared with hearts preperfused with nonimmune immunoglobulin G. In similar experiments, antiphospholipase C (anti-PLC)-treated hearts were associated with significantly (P less than 0.05) higher radiolabel in all phospholipids and lower radiolabel in diacyglycerol compared with nonimmune immunoglobulin G-treated hearts. Measurement of phospholipase activity in subcellular organelles of these hearts showed decreased PLA2 activity in cytosol, mitochondria, and microsomes of anti-PLA2-treated hearts and decreased PLC activity of microsomes in anti-PLC-treated hearts. Furthermore, both the antiphospholipases attenuated the release of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase into perfusate and increased contractility as well as coronary flow in the reperfused hearts. Results of this study suggest that both PLA2 and PLC are involved in the degradation of phospholipids and cellular injury that occur during reperfusion of ischemic myocardium.


2007 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
pp. 223-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Michell

Several of the nine hexahydroxycylohexanes (inositols) have functions in Biology, with myo-inositol (Ins) in most of the starring roles; and Ins polyphosphates are amongst the most abundant organic phosphate constituents on Earth. Many Archaea make Ins and use it as a component of diphytanyl membrane phospholipids and the thermoprotective solute di-L-Ins-1,1′-phosphate. Few bacteria make Ins or use it, other than as a carbon source. Those that do include hyperthermophilic Thermotogales (which also employ di-l-Ins-1,1′-phosphate) and actinomycetes such as Mycobacterium spp. (which use mycothiol, an inositol-containing thiol, as an intracellular redox reagent and have characteristic phosphatidylinositol-linked surface oligosaccharides). Bacteria acquired their Ins3P synthases by lateral gene transfer from Archaea. Many eukaryotes, including stressed plants, insects, deep-sea animals and kidney tubule cells, adapt to environmental variation by making or accumulating diverse inositol derivatives as ‘compatible’ solutes. Eukaryotes use phosphatidylinositol derivatives for numerous roles in cell signalling and regulation and in protein anchoring at the cell surface. Remarkably, the diradylglycerol cores of archaeal and eukaryote/bacterial glycerophospholipids have mirror image configurations: sn-2,3 and sn-1,2 respectively. Multicellular animals and amoebozoans exhibit the greatest variety of functions for PtdIns derivatives, including the use of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 as a signal. Evolutionarily, it seems likely that (i) early archaeons first made myo-inositol approx. 3500 Ma (million years) ago; (ii) archeons brought inositol derivatives into early eukaryotes (approx. 2000 Ma?); (iii) soon thereafter, eukaryotes established ubiquitous functions for phosphoinositides in membrane trafficking and Ins polyphosphate synthesis; and (iv) since approx. 1000 Ma, further waves of functional diversification in amoebozoans and metazoans have introduced Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor Ca2+ channels and the messenger role of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3.


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