| 1. |
- Eriksson, Emma K.
(författare)
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Effects of Ubiquinone-10 on the Stability and Mechanical Properties of Lipid Membranes
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ubiquinones are a group of fat-soluble molecules present in many biological membranes. The most abundant version in humans, ubiquinone-10 (Q10), plays an important role in the mitochondrial respiration chain and also functions as a powerful antioxidant. Accumulating evidence suggests that Q10 also could have other functions in the membrane. The aim of this thesis has been to explore Q10’s possible role as a membrane stabilizer.To investigate the potential effect of Q10 in membranes, liposomes with compositions of biological relevance were used as models systems. In lipid systems mimicking that of the inner membrane of the mitochondria, Q10 was found to lower the membrane’s permeability to hydrophilic solutes, render the membrane more resistant to rupturing and promote membrane lipid order. In models mimicking the plasma membrane of E.coli, Q10 was observed to decrease the water permeability and increase the elastic resistance against membrane deformation during osmotic shock. All in all, the results suggest a general membrane stabilizing effect of Q10. The results indicate, however, that the extent of, as well as the mechanisms behind, the membrane stabilizing effects of Q10 vary depending on the membrane lipid composition. Part of the reason for this can likely be traced back to differences in the intermembrane location of Q10.Supplementary experiments, which facilitated the investigations of Q10 membrane effects, revealed that the choice of cuvette material was of importance for liposome leakage experiments with fluorescent hydrophilic dyes. The results of these experiments highlight the need to take liposome-cuvette interactions into account when planning and evaluating spectroscopic studies involving liposomes.
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| 2. |
- Ainalem, Marie-Louise, et al.
(författare)
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DNA Binding to Zwitterionic Model Membranes
- 2010
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Ingår i: Langmuir. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1520-5827 .- 0743-7463. ; 26:7, s. 4965-4976
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study shows that DNA (linearized plasmid, 4331 base pairs and salmon sperm, 2000 base pairs, respectively) adsorbs to model membranes of zwitterionic liquid crystalline phospholipid bilayers in solutions containing divalent Ca2+ rations, and also in solutions containing monovalent Na+. The interaction between DNA and surface-supported model membranes was followed in situ using null ellipsometry, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, as well as neutron reflectometry. In the presence of Na+ (in the absence Of multivalent ions), DNA adopts an extended coil conformation upon adsorption. The solvent content in the adsorbed layer is high, and DNA is positioned on top of the membrane. In the presence of divalent Ca2+. the driving force for the adsorption of DNA is electrostatic, and the adsorbed DNA film is not as dilute its in a solution containing Na+. Cryo-TEM and SANS were further used to investigate the interaction in bulk solution using vesicles as model membrane systems. DNA adsorption could not be identified in the presence of Na+ using SANS, but cryo-TEM indicates the presence of DNA between neighboring unilamellar vesicles. In the presence of Ca2+. DNA induces the formation of multilamellar vesicles in which DNA intercalates the lamellae. Possible electrostatic and hydrophobic mechanisms for the adsorption of DNA in solutions containing monovalent salt are discussed and compared to the observations in divalent salt.
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Alexandra, et al.
(författare)
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Single-vesicle intensity and colocalization fluorescence microscopy to study lipid vesicle fusion, fission, and lipid exchange
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1662-5099. ; 15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interactions of lipid vesicles play important roles in a large variety of functions and dysfunctions in the human body. Vital for several biochemical functions is the interaction between monomeric proteins and lipid membranes, and the induced phenomena such as fusion between vesicles and cell membranes, lipid exchange between the membranes, or vesicle fission. Identification of single events and their frequency of occurrence would provide valuable information about protein-lipid interactions in both healthy and degenerative pathways. In this work, we present a single-vesicle intensity and colocalization fluorescence microscopy assay with a custom-written MATLAB analysis program. The assay can be used to study lipid exchange as well as vesicle fusion and fission between two vesicle populations labeled with different fluorescent dyes. Vesicles from the two populations are first mixed and docked to a glass surface. The sample is then simultaneously imaged using two separate wavelength channels monitoring intensity changes and colocalization of vesicles from the two populations. The monomeric pre-synaptic protein α-synuclein (α-syn) and small unilamellar vesicles consisting of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine, (DOPS), and monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1) were used as a model system to evaluate the method. From our analysis, neither α-syn induced fusion nor lipid exchange was observed for vesicles consisting of DOPC:DOPS (7:3). However, including 10% GM1 in the vesicles resulted in a 91% increase of the number of vesicles within 10 min, combined with a 57% decrease in the average fluorescence intensity per vesicle, indicating that approximately half of the vesicles underwent fission. The method facilitates the study of lipid vesicle fusion, fission, and lipid exchange under controlled conditions. It also allows these events to be studied for systems with more complex composition including exosomes and lipid-based drug carriers, to enable a better understanding of their physicochemical properties.
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| 4. |
- Andersson, Alexandra, et al.
(författare)
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The density of anionic lipids modulates the adsorption of α-Synuclein onto lipid membranes
- 2024
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Ingår i: Biophysical Chemistry. - 0301-4622. ; 305
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- α-Synuclein is an intrinsically disordered presynaptic protein associated with Parkinson's disease. The physiological role of α-Synuclein is not fully understood, but the protein is known to interact with lipid membranes. We here study how membrane charge affects the adsorption of α-Synuclein to (i) supported lipid bilayers and (ii) small unilamellar vesicles with varying amounts of anionic lipids. The results showed that α-Synuclein adsorbs onto membranes containing ≥5% anionic phosphatidylserine (DOPS) lipids, but not to membranes containing ≤1% DOPS. The density of adsorbed α-Synuclein increased steadily with the DOPS content up to 20% DOPS, after which it leveled off. The vesicles were saturated with α-Synuclein at a 3–5 times higher protein density compared to the supported bilayers, which suggests that a more deformable membrane binds more α-Synuclein. Altogether, the results show that both membrane charge density and flexibility influence the association of α-Synuclein to lipid membranes.
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| 5. |
- Andersson, Jenny Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of cholesterol on the molecular structure and transitions in a clinical-grade lung surfactant extract
- 2017
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424. ; 114:18, s. 3592-3601
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The lipid-protein film covering the interface of the lung alveolar in mammals is vital for proper lung function and its deficiency is related to a range of diseases. Here we present a molecular-level characterization of a clinical-grade porcine lung surfactant extract using a multitechnique approach consisting of 1H-13C solid-state nuclear magnetic spectroscopy, small-And wide-Angle X-ray scattering, and mass spectrometry. The detailed characterization presented for reconstituted membranes of a lung extract demonstrates that the molecular structure of lung surfactant strongly depends on the concentration of cholesterol. If cholesterol makes up about 11% of the total dry weight of lung surfactant, the surfactant extract adopts a single liquid-ordered lamellar phase, Lα(o), at physiological temperatures. This Lα(o) phase gradually changes into a liquid-disordered lamellar phase, Lα(d), when the temperature is increased by a few degrees. In the absence of cholesterol the system segregates into one lamellar gel phase and one Lα(d) phase. Remarkably, it was possible to measure a large set of order parameter magnitudes /SCH/ from the liquiddisordered and -ordered lamellar phases and assign them to specific C-H bonds of the phospholipids in the biological extract with no use of isotopic labeling. These findings with molecular details on lung surfactant mixtures together with the presented NMR methodology may guide further development of pulmonary surfactant pharmaceuticals that better mimic the physiological selfassembly compositions for treatment of pathological states such as respiratory distress syndrome.
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| 6. |
- Andersson, Jenny Marie, et al.
(författare)
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The Impact of Nonequilibrium Conditions in Lung Surfactant : Structure and Composition Gradients in Multilamellar Films
- 2018
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Ingår i: ACS Central Science. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2374-7943 .- 2374-7951. ; 4:10, s. 1315-1325
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The lipid-protein mixture that covers the lung alveoli, lung surfactant, ensures mechanical robustness and controls gas transport during breathing. Lung surfactant is located at an interface between water-rich tissue and humid, but not fully saturated, air. The resulting humidity difference places the lung surfactant film out of thermodynamic equilibrium, which triggers the buildup of a water gradient. Here, we present a millifluidic method to assemble multilamellar interfacial films from vesicular dispersions of a clinical lung surfactant extract used in replacement therapy. Using small-angle X-ray scattering, infrared, Raman, and optical microscopies, we show that the interfacial film consists of several coexisting lamellar phases displaying a substantial variation in water swelling. This complex phase behavior contrasts to observations made under equilibrium conditions. We demonstrate that this disparity stems from additional lipid and protein gradients originating from differences in their transport properties. Supplementing the extract with cholesterol, to levels similar to the endogenous lung surfactant, dispels this complexity. We observed a homogeneous multilayer structure consisting of a single lamellar phase exhibiting negligible variations in swelling in the water gradient. Our results demonstrate the necessity of considering nonequilibrium thermodynamic conditions to study the structure of lung surfactant multilayer films, which is not accessible in bulk or monolayer studies. Our reconstitution methodology also opens avenues for lung surfactant pharmaceuticals and the understanding of composition, structure, and property relationships at biological air-liquid interfaces.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Jenny Marie, et al.
(författare)
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The plant dehydrin Lti30 stabilizes lipid lamellar structures in varying hydration conditions[S]
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Lipid Research. - 0022-2275 .- 1539-7262. ; 61:7, s. 1014-1024
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A major challenge to plant growth and survival are changes in temperature and diminishing water supply. During acute temperature and water stress, plants often express stress proteins, such as dehydrins, which are intrinsically disordered hydrophilic proteins. In this article, we investigated how the dehydrin Lti30 fromArabidopsis thalianastabilizes membrane systems that are exposed to large changes in hydration. We also compared the effects of Lti30 on membranes with those of the simple osmolytes urea and trimethylamineN-oxide. Using X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR, we studied lipid-protein self-assembly at varying hydration levels. We made the following observations:1) the association of Lti30 with anionic membranes relies on electrostatic attraction, and the protein is located in the bilayer interfacial membrane region;2) Lti30 can stabilize the lamellar multilayer structure, making it insensitive to variations in water content;3) in lipid systems with a composition similar to those present in some seeds and plants, dehydrin can prevent the formation of nonlamellar phases upon drying, which may be crucial for maintaining membrane integrity; and4) Lti30 stabilizes bilayer structures both at high and low water contents, whereas the small osmolyte molecules mainly prevent dehydration-induced transitions. These results corroborate the idea that dehydrins are part of a sensitive and multifaceted regulatory mechanism that protects plant cells against stress.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Axell, Emil, et al.
(författare)
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The role of shear forces in primary and secondary nucleation of amyloid fibrils
- 2024
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - 1091-6490. ; 121:25, s. 2322572121-2322572121
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Shear forces affect self-assembly processes ranging from crystallization to fiber formation. Here, the effect of mild agitation on amyloid fibril formation was explored for four peptides and investigated in detail for Aβ42, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease. To gain mechanistic insights into the effect of mild agitation, nonseeded and seeded aggregation reactions were set up at various peptide concentrations with and without an inhibitor. First, an effect on fibril fragmentation was excluded by comparing the monomer-concentration dependence of aggregation kinetics under idle and agitated conditions. Second, using a secondary nucleation inhibitor, Brichos, the agitation effect on primary nucleation was decoupled from secondary nucleation. Third, an effect on secondary nucleation was established in the absence of inhibitor. Fourth, an effect on elongation was excluded by comparing the seeding potency of fibrils formed under idle or agitated conditions. We find that both primary and secondary nucleation steps are accelerated by gentle agitation. The increased shear forces facilitate both the detachment of newly formed aggregates from catalytic surfaces and the rate at which molecules are transported in the bulk solution to encounter nucleation sites on the fibril and other surfaces. Ultrastructural evidence obtained with cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and free-flow electrophoresis in microfluidics devices imply that agitation speeds up the detachment of nucleated species from the fibril surface. Our findings shed light on the aggregation mechanism and the role of detachment for efficient secondary nucleation. The results inform on how to modulate the relative importance of different microscopic steps in drug discovery and investigations.
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| 10. |
- Bankell, Elisabeth, et al.
(författare)
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The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 triggers release of apoptosis-inducing factor and shows direct effects on mitochondria
- 2022
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Ingår i: Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 2405-5808. ; 29
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 permeabilizes the plasma membrane of host cells, but LL-37-induced direct effects on mitochondrial membrane permeability and function has not been reported. Here, we demonstrate that LL-37 is rapidly (within 20 min) internalized by human osteoblast-like MG63 cells, and that the peptide co-localizes with MitoTracker arguing for accumulation in mitochondria. Subcellular fractionation and Western blot disclose that stimulation with LL-37 (8 μM) for 2 h triggers release of the mitochondrial protein apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) to the cytosol, whereas LL-37 causes no release of cytochrome C oxidase subunit IV of the inner mitochondrial membrane, suggesting that LL-37 affects mitochondrial membrane permeability in a specific manner. Next, we investigated release of AIF and cytochrome C from isolated mitochondria by measuring immunoreactivity by dot blot. The media of mitochondria treated with LL-37 (8 μM) for 2 h contained 50% more AIF and three times more cytochrome C than that of control mitochondria, showing that LL-37 promotes release of both AIF and cytochrome C. Moreover, in vesicles reflecting mitochondrial membrane lipid composition, LL-37 stimulates membrane permeabilization and release of tracer molecules. We conclude that LL-37 is rapidly internalized by MG63 cells and accumulates in mitochondria, and that the peptide triggers release of pro-apoptotic AIF and directly affects mitochondrial membrane structural properties.
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