Membrane chemical stability and seed longevity

Here, we investigate the relationships between the chemical stability of the membrane surface and seed longevity. Dry embryos of long-lived tomato and short-lived onion seeds were labeled with 5-doxyl-stearic acid (5-DS). Temperature-induced loss of the electron spin resonance signal caused by chemical conversion of 5-DS to nonparamagnetic species was used to characterize the membrane surface chemical stability. No difference was found between temperature plots of 5-DS signal intensity in dry onion and tomato below 345 K. Above this temperature, the 5-DS signal remained unchanged in tomato embryos and irreversibly disappeared in onion seeds. The role of the physical state and chemical status of the membrane environment in the chemical stability of membrane surfaces was estimated for model systems containing 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) dried alone or in the presence of trehalose or glucose. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to follow temperature-induced structural changes in dry POPC. Spin-label technique was used to relate the chemical stability of 5-DS with the dynamic properties of the bilayer and 5-DS motion behavior. In all the models, the decrease in 5-DS signal intensity was always observed above T _m for the membrane surface. The 5-DS signal was irreversibly lost at high temperature when dry POPC was embedded in a glucose matrix. The loss of 5-DS signal was moderate when POPC was dried alone or in the presence of trehalose. Comparison of model and in vivo data shows that the differences in longevity between onion and tomato seeds are caused by differences in the chemical status of the membrane surface rather than the degree of its immobilization.     

Membrane and intracellular modes of sugar-dependent increments in red cell stability

Sugar-dependent increments in red cell stability under osmotic stress can be ascribed to changes either in the membrane or in the intracellular matrix. These two possible modes of action have been tested and characterized.Rheological investigation of membrane-free haemoglobin solutions has shown that D-glucose, but not D-fructose, promotes the formation of a visco-plastic gel structure. gel strength is a function of glucose concentration, haemoglobin concentration and temperature. The ability of various sugars to promote gel formation correlates with their solution properties. The existence of gel structure reduces K⁺ and haemoglobin leak from red cells whose membranes were partially destroyed by γ- radiation. Reduced osmotic swelling in the presence of glucose is also due to gel formation since the glucose effect is lost in resealed red cell ghost.D-Fructose does not protect red cells against radiation damage; its mode of action in increasing red cell stability under osmotic stress is a membrane effect. Cell sizing using the Coulter Counter has shown that fructose, but not glucose, can increase the maximal volume at lysis. At 50 mM., D-fructose expands the red cell ghost voloume by 11.2%; this represents a 7.2% increase in membrane area. Ghost expansion by fructose is fructose concentration dependent (0–100 mM) and is insensitive to temperature variation (0–37 °C).     

Membrane and intracellular modes of sugar-dependent increments in red cell stability.

Sugar-dependent increments in red cell stability under osmotic stress can be ascribed to changes either in the membrane or in the intracellular matrix. These two possible modes of action have been tested and characterized. Rheological investigation of membrane-free haemoglobin solutions has shown that D-glucose, but not D-fructose, promotes the formation of a visco-plastic gel structure. Gel strength is a function of glucose concentration, haemoglobin concentration and temperature. The ability of various sugars to promote gel formation correlates with their solution properties. The existence of gel structure reduces K+ and haemoglobin leak from red cells whose membranes were partially destroyed by gamma-radiation. Reduced osmotic swelling in the presence of glucose is also due to gel formation since the glucose effect is lost in resealed red cell ghosts. D-Fructose does not protect red cells against radiation damage; its mode of action in increasing red cell stability under osmotic stress is a membrane effect. Cell sizing using the Coulter Counter has shown that fructose, but not glucose, can increase the maximal volume at lysis. At 50 mM, D-fructose expands the red cell ghost volume by 11.2%; this represents a 7.2% increase in membrane area. Ghost expansion by fructose is fructose concentration dependent (0-100 mM) and is insensitive to temperature variation (0-37 degrees C).     

Membrane bending is critical for the stability of voltage sensor segments in the membrane

The interaction between membrane proteins and the surrounding membrane is becoming increasingly appreciated for its role in regulating protein function, protein localization, and membrane morphology. In particular, recent studies have suggested that membrane deformation is needed to stably accommodate proteins harboring charged amino acids in their transmembrane (TM) region, as it is energetically prohibitive to bury charge in the hydrophobic core of the bilayer. Unfortunately, current computational methods are poorly equipped for describing such deformations, as atomistic simulations are often too short to observe large-scale membrane reorganization and most continuum approaches assume a flat membrane. Previously, we developed a method that overcomes these shortcomings by using elasticity theory to characterize equilibrium membrane distortions in the presence of a TM protein, while using traditional continuum electrostatic and nonpolar energy models to determine the energy of the protein in the membrane. Here, we linked the elastostatics, electrostatics, and nonpolar numeric solvers to permit the calculation of energies for nontrivial membrane deformations. We then coupled this procedure to a robust search algorithm that identifies optimal membrane shapes for a TM protein of arbitrary chemical composition. This advance now permits us to explore a host of biological phenomena that were beyond the scope of our original method. We show that the energy required to embed charged residues in the membrane can be highly nonadditive, and our model provides a simple mechanical explanation for this nonadditivity. Our results also predict that isolated voltage sensor segments do not insert into rigid membranes, but membrane bending dramatically stabilizes these proteins in the bilayer despite their high charge content. Additionally, we use the model to explore hydrophobic mismatch with regard to nonpolar peptides and mechanosensitive channels. Our method is in quantitative agreement with molecular dynamics simulations at a tiny fraction of the computational cost.     

Membrane potential and ion concentration stability conditions for a cell with a restricted extracellular space.

For an isolated membrane, the resting (zero current) potential is stable is the slope conductance is positive, and is unstable if the slope conductance is negative. Recent work suggests that the properties of many preparations are influenced by the presence of an extracellular space that is not in good diffusive contact with the bulk extracellular fluid. Ionic current flow across the membrane changes the ion concentrations in this space. These concentration changes affect the stability of the membrane potential. Even if the slope conductance is negative, the presence of the extracellular space can confer stability on the resting potential. Conversely, even if the slope conductance is positive, the extracellular space can produce instability of the resting potential. Evaluation of the relevant parameters for cardiac Purkinje fibres, from published experimental data, suggests that concentration changes in the extracellular space may play a significant role in determining when an action potential is initiated.     

红细胞膜蛋白与膜骨架

近10多年红细胞膜领域的研究取得了可观的进展,在红细胞膜蛋白的结构-功能相关和相互作用以及红细胞膜障碍多方面都有新的发现和开拓．现主要就国内外有关报道作一扼要综述,涉及红细胞膜蛋白的组成、功能及其相互作用,红细胞膜骨架和红细胞膜蛋白疾病等研究进展．     

Protein-Induced Membrane Curvature Alters Local Membrane Tension

Adsorption of proteins onto membranes can alter the local membrane curvature. This phenomenon has been observed in biological processes such as endocytosis, tubulation, and vesiculation. However, it is not clear how the local surface properties of the membrane, such as membrane tension, change in response to protein adsorption. In this article, we show that the partial differential equations arising from classical elastic model of lipid membranes, which account for simultaneous changes in shape and membrane tension due to protein adsorption in a local region, cannot be solved for nonaxisymmetric geometries using straightforward numerical techniques; instead, a viscous-elastic formulation is necessary to fully describe the system. Therefore, we develop a viscous-elastic model for inhomogeneous membranes of the Helfrich type. Using the newly available viscous-elastic model, we find that the lipids flow to accommodate changes in membrane curvature during protein adsorption. We show that, at the end of protein adsorption process, the system sustains a residual local tension to balance the difference between the actual mean curvature and the imposed spontaneous curvature. We also show that this change in membrane tension can have a functional impact such as altered response to pulling forces in the presence of proteins.     

Protein-Induced Membrane Curvature Alters Local Membrane Tension

Adsorption of proteins onto membranes can alter the local membrane curvature. This phenomenon has been observed in biological processes such as endocytosis, tubulation, and vesiculation. However, it is not clear how the local surface properties of the membrane, such as membrane tension, change in response to protein adsorption. In this article, we show that the partial differential equations arising from classical elastic model of lipid membranes, which account for simultaneous changes in shape and membrane tension due to protein adsorption in a local region, cannot be solved for nonaxisymmetric geometries using straightforward numerical techniques; instead, a viscous-elastic formulation is necessary to fully describe the system. Therefore, we develop a viscous-elastic model for inhomogeneous membranes of the Helfrich type. Using the newly available viscous-elastic model, we find that the lipids flow to accommodate changes in membrane curvature during protein adsorption. We show that, at the end of protein adsorption process, the system sustains a residual local tension to balance the difference between the actual mean curvature and the imposed spontaneous curvature. We also show that this change in membrane tension can have a functional impact such as altered response to pulling forces in the presence of proteins.     

Membrane biogenesis

The literary data on the problem of the membrane biogenesis are generalized. The mechanisms of formation, possible ways of metabolism of biomembrane structure in cells and the ways of their degradation are considered. A conclusion has been made on the existence in the cells several types of movement as for the separate components and membrane fragments as well.     

Membrane tubulin

Tubulin has been identified as a membrane component of nerve synaptosomes and myelin, plasma membranes of platelets, thyroid, and tissue culture cells, brain and liver coated vesicles, mitochondria, and in cilia but not flagella of certain molluscs. Membrane tubulin can differ from cytoplasmic forms in isoelectric point, non-polar amino acid substitutions, lack of carboxy-terminal tyrosine, carbohydrate content, and selective ability to reassociate with lipids. This tubulin may function as an attachment site for binding vesicles or plasma membranes to cytoplasmic microtubules, as a source of precursor tubulin at the growing tips of axonemes, or as a component of signal transduction in sensory cilia.     

Membrane fusion

Membrane fusion, one of the most fundamental processes in life, occurs when two separate lipid membranes merge into a single continuous bilayer. Fusion reactions share common features, but are catalyzed by diverse proteins. These proteins mediate the initial recognition of the membranes that are destined for fusion and pull the membranes close together to destabilize the lipid/water interface and to initiate mixing of the lipids. A single fusion protein may do everything or assemblies of protein complexes may be required for intracellular fusion reactions to guarantee rigorous regulation in space and time. Cellular fusion machines are adapted to fit the needs of different reactions but operate by similar principles in order to achieve merging of the bilayers.     

Sensitivity of Prestin-Based Membrane Motor to Membrane Thickness

Prestin is the membrane protein in outer hair cells that harnesses electrical energy by changing its membrane area in response to changes in the membrane potential. To examine the effect of membrane thickness on this protein, phosphatidylcholine (PC) with various acyl-chain lengths were incorporated into the plasma membrane by using γ-cyclodextrin. Incorporation of short chain PCs increased the linear capacitance and positively shifted the voltage dependence of prestin, up to 120 mV, in cultured cells. PCs with long acyl chains had the opposite effects. Because the linear capacitance is inversely related to the membrane thickness, these voltage shifts are attributable to membrane thickness. The corresponding voltage shifts of electromotility were observed in outer hair cells. These results demonstrate that electromotility is extremely sensitive to the thickness of the plasma membrane, presumably involving hydrophobic mismatch. These observations indicate that the extended state of the motor molecule, which is associated with the elongation of outer hair cells, has a conformation with a shorter hydrophobic height in the lipid bilayer.     

Unexpected Membrane Dynamics Unveiled by Membrane Nanotube Extrusion

In cell mechanics, distinguishing the respective roles of the plasma membrane and of the cytoskeleton is a challenge. The difference in the behavior of cellular and pure lipid membranes is usually attributed to the presence of the cytoskeleton as explored by membrane nanotube extrusion. Here we revisit this prevalent picture by unveiling unexpected force responses of plasma membrane spheres devoid of cytoskeleton and synthetic liposomes. We show that a tiny variation in the content of synthetic membranes does not affect their static mechanical properties, but is enough to reproduce the dynamic behavior of their cellular counterparts. This effect is attributed to an amplified intramembrane friction. Reconstituted actin cortices inside liposomes induce an additional, but not dominant, contribution to the effective membrane friction. Our work underlines the necessity of a careful consideration of the role of membrane proteins on cell membrane rheology in addition to the role of the cytoskeleton.     

Membrane fusion

The process of membrane fusion in the case of lipid bilayers, as well as induced by influenza virus is reviewed shortly. The methods of studying fusion kinetics in pure lipid and lipid-protein systems are described. The main theories of molecular fusion machines are presented. Open questions and unsolved problems are discussed in details. In conclusion, possible ways to solve the remaining problems are suggested.