The effect of trypsin treatment on the incorporation and energy-transducing properties of bacteriorhodopsin in liposomes

Bacteriorhodopsin and trypsin-modified bacteriorhodopsin have been reconstituted into liposomes by means of a low pH-sonication procedure. The incorporation of bacteriorhodopsin in these proteoliposomes is predominantly in the same direction as in vivo and the direction of proton pumping is from inside to outside the liposomes. The direction of proton translocation and electrical potential generation was studied as a function of the reconstitution pH. Light-dependent proton extrusion and generation of a Δp, interior negative and alkaline was observed at a reconstitution pH below 3.0 using bacteriorhodopsin, and at a pH below 3.5 using trypsin-modified bacteriorhodopsin. The shift in inflection point is explained in terms of differences between bacteriorhodopsin and trypsin-modified bacteriorhodopsin in a specific protein-phospholipid interaction which depends on the surface charge density of the cytoplasmic side of bacteriorhodopsin. The magnitude of the protonmotive force (Δp) generated by trypsin-modified bacteriorhodopsin in liposomes was quantitated. Illumination of the proteoliposomes resulted in the generation of a high Δp (135 mV, inside negative and alkaline), with a major contribution of the pH gradient. The ionophores nigericin and valinomycin induced, respectively, a compensatory interconversion of ΔpH into Δψ and vice versa. If no endogenous proton permeability of the membrane would exist, a protonmotive force could be generated of − 143 mV as electrical potential alone or − 162 mV as pH gradient alone.     

External calcium, intrasynaptosomal free calcium and neurotransmitter release

In a physiological medium the resting membrane potential of synaptosomes from guinea-pig cerebral cortex, estimated from rhodamine 6G fluorescence measurements, was nearly -50mV. This agreed with calculations using the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation. With external [Ca2+] less than or equal to 3 mM veratridine depolarisation (to -30 mV) was accompanied by increases in intrasynaptosomal free calcium concentrations (monitored by entrapped quin2) and parallel increases in total acetylcholine release. With external [Ca2+] greater than 3 mM both intrasynaptosomal free calcium concentrations and transmitter release were paradoxically reduced, providing further evidence for a close correlation between the two events. To support an explanation of these findings based on divalent cation screening of membrane surface charge (increasing the voltage gradient within the membrane and closing voltage-inactivated channels) surface potential measurements were made on synaptic lipid liposomes by using a fluorescent surface-bound pH indicator. These experiments provided evidence for the presence of screenable surface charge on synaptosomes, and it was further shown in depolarised synaptosomes themselves that total external [Ca2+ + Mg2+], and not [Ca2+] alone, set the observed peak in intrasynaptosomal free calcium.     

Surface potential and the interaction of weakly acidic uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation with liposomes and mitochondria

The pH dependence of the binding of weakly acidic uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation to rat-liver mitochondria and liposomes is mainly determined by the pK_a of the uncoupler molecule.

The absorption and fluorescence excitation spectra of the anionic form of weakly acidic uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation are red-shifted upon interaction with liposomal or mitochondrial membranes. The affinity for the liposomes, as deduced from the red shift, is independent of the degree of saturation of the fatty acid chains of different lecithins. The intensity of the spectra at one pH value is strongly dependent upon the surface charge of the liposomes. With positively charged liposomes the results obtained can be almost quantitatively explained with the Gouy-Chapman theory, but with negatively charged ones deviations are observed. At a particular pH, the divalent ion Ca²⁺ strongly influences the intensity of the spectra in the presence of negatively charged liposomes, but has no effect with neutral liposomes.

With mitochondrial membranes an effect of Ca²⁺ similar to that with negatively charged liposomes is observed. Depletion of the phospholipids of the mitochondria and subsequent restoration of the mitochondrial membrane with lecithin, strongly diminishes this effect, but restoration with negatively charged phospholipids does not influence it.

From these observations it is concluded that the anionic form of the uncoupler molecule when bound to mitochondria is located within the partly negatively charged phospholipid moiety of the membrane, with its anionic group pointing to the aqueous solution.     

Acidic pH generated by H+-ATPase pumps triggers the activity of a fusogenic protein associated with rat liver endoplasmic reticulum.

Fusogenic protein (FP) is a glycoprotein ( approximately 50 kDa), previously purified by us from rat liver endoplasmic reticulum, which explicates fusogenic activity at acidic pH in vitro. To suggest a possible role of FP in membrane fusion, the topology of the protein in the membrane and the conditions in which FP is operating in microsomes have been investigated. Anti-FP polyclonal antibodies inhibited pure FP activity, but not the protein activity in microsomes, suggesting interaction of antibodies with a part of FP concealed in intact membranes. FP activity in microsomes was lost after treatment with Pronase. Western blot analysis of Pronase-treated microsomes showed that the proteolysis removed a fragment ( approximately 5 kDa). This fragment is exposed on the outer surface of microsomes and involved in fusogenic activity, whereas the largest part of FP is embedded in microsomal vesicles. Therefore, FP can be affected by modifications on the cytosolic and luminal sides of microsomal membranes. Indeed, when microsomal lumen was acidified by H+-ATPase activity, binding and fusion of fluorescent labelled liposomes to microsomes occurred. Direct involvement of FP in the fusogenic event was observed by reconstituting pure FP in liposomes with a preformed H+ gradient. FP triggered a fusion process in response to the acidic interior of liposomes, despite an exterior 7.4 pH unable to promote fusogenic protein activity. As intracellular membrane fusion occurs at neutral pH involving the cytosolic sides of membranes, FP may participate in this event by exploiting the acidic pH formed in the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum through H+-translocating ATPase activity.     

Dependence on surface pH and surface substrate concentration of activity of microsome-bound arylsulfatase C and the surface charge density in the vicinity of the enzyme

Dependence on the salt concentration of the activity of microsome-bound arylsulfatase C [EC 3.1.6.1] from rat liver was examined. The activity increased with increasing salt concentration in the reaction medium in the whole pH range tested. This effect can be explained by the dependence of the reaction rate on the surface pH and the surface concentration of the ionic substrate. The dependence on salt concentration of the activity of the microsome-bound arylsulfatase C and the pH-dependences of Vmax and Km of the enzyme were used for the estimation of pH at the microsomal surface. The two values of the surface pH (surface potential) and the salt concentration were applied to the Gouy-Chapman equation. The value of -0.39 +/- 0.08 X 10(-3) elementary charge/A2 was obtained as the surface charge density in the vicinity of the microsome-bound arylsulfatase C. This was smaller than the over-all value for microsomes (-1.08 +/- 0.04 X 10(-3) elementary charge/A2; Masamoto, K. (1982) J. Biochem. 92, 365-371). This suggests that the anion concentration in the vicinity of the enzyme on microsomes is lower than that in the bulk aqueous phase and is higher than the average value at the microsomal surface when the salt concentration is low.     

Interaction of arginine oligomer with model membrane

Short oligomers of arginine (R8) have been shown to cross readily a variety of biological barriers. A hypothesis was put forward that inverted micelles form in biological membranes in the presence of arginine oligomer peptides, facilitating their transfer through the membranes. In order to define the role of peptide-lipid interaction in this mechanism, we prepared liposomes as the model membrane to study the ability of R8 inducing calcein release from liposomes, the fusion of liposomes, R8 binding to liposomes and membrane disturbing activity of the bound R8. The results show that R8 binding to liposome membrane depends on lipid compositions, negative surface charge density and interior water phase pH values of liposomes. R8 has no activity to induce the leakage of calcein from liposomes or improve liposome fusion. R8 does not permeabilize through the membrane spontaneously. These peptides delivering drugs through membranes may depend on receptors and energy.     

Binding of GAPR-1 to negatively charged phospholipid membranes: Unusual binding characteristics to phosphatidylinositol

Abstract

Golgi-Associated Plant Pathogenesis-Related protein 1 (GAPR-1) is a mammalian protein that belongs to the superfamily of plant pathogenesis-related proteins group 1 (PR-1). GAPR-1 strongly associates with lipid rafts at the cytosolic leaflet of the Golgi membrane. The myristoyl moiety at the N-terminus of GAPR-1 contributes to membrane binding but is not sufficient for stable membrane anchorage. GAPR-1 is positively charged at physiological pH, which allows for additional membrane interactions with proteins or lipids. To determine the potential contribution of lipids to membrane binding of GAPR-1, we used a liposome binding assay. Here we report that non-myristoylated GAPR-1 stably binds liposomes that contain the negatively charged lipids phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, or phosphatidic acid. GAPR-1 displays the highest preference for phosphatidic acid-containing liposomes. In contrast, lysozyme, which contains a similar surface charge, did not bind to these liposomes, except for a weak membrane association with PA-containing liposomes. Interestingly, GAPR-1 binds to phosphatidylinositol with unusual characteristics. Denaturation or organic extraction of GAPR-1 does not result in dissociation of phosphatidylinositol from GAPR-1. The association of phosphatidylinositol with GAPR-1 results in a diffuse gel-shift in SDS-PAGE. Mass spectrometric analysis of gel-shifted GAPR-1 showed the association of up to 3 molecules of phosphatidylinositol with GAPR-1. These results suggest that the lipid composition contributes to the GAPR-1 binding to biological membranes.     

The application of a potential-sensitive cyanine dye to rat small intestinal brush border membrane vesicles

The sensitivity of the fluorescent dye, 3,3′-diethylthiadicarbocyanine (DiS-C₂(5)), was too low for the detection of membrane potential changes in rat small intestinal membrane vesicles. Only after adding LaCl₃ or after fractionation of the intestinal membranes by free-flow electrophoresis could the dye be used to monitor electrogenic Na⁺-dependent transport systems. It is concluded that the response of this potential-sensitive dye is influenced by the negative surface charge density of the vesicles.     

Glutaryl phosphatidylcholine effects on pH and composition dependent behavior of liposomes studied by spin-labeling method

The influence of glutaryl phosphatidylcholine on the molecular organization of phosphatidylcholine liposomes was studied by spin-labeling technique. The ESR signals given by the 5-nitroxide stearic acid label showed that the presence of glutaryl lecithin (i) significantly increased the negative charge density of the polar liposome surface with increasing proton concentration depending on the bulk solution pH, and (ii) apparently decreased the packing (order) of the hydrophobic region close to the surface, essentially in the presence of saturated phospholipids. The spectral information--S (order parameter) and alpha N (isotropic nitrogen coupling constant)--resulted in the location of the probe near or in the polar zone of the membrane or in the hydrophobic region, depending on the protonation/deprotonation of the fatty acid carboxyl group of the probe. The microviscosity of the inner region of the membrane monitored by the 12- and 16-probes was not significantly altered by glutaryl lecithin. On the other hand, glutaryl lecithin has a lesser effect on liposomes containing anionic polar head groups, such as dipalmitoyl phosphatidylglycerol or phosphatidylinositol, the anionic charge of which already had the same effect on protonation of the polar surface. The temperature dependence of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposome dynamic behavior indicates that the glutaryl lecithin effect is completely different above and below the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition point.     

Characteristics of the Quenching of 9-Aminoacridine Fluorescence by Liposomes Made from Plant Lipids

Several laboratories have determined the surface charge density of membranes utilizing methods based on vesicle-induced quenching of the fluorescence of 9-aminoacridine and its relief by other cations. However, the computational methods by which surface charge density were calculated have not been verified in a model system. In this study, the quenching of 9-aminoacridine fluorescence by liposomes made from varying amounts of digalactosyldiacylglyceride and phosphatidic acid and relief of quenching by salts was examined. Quenching of 9-aminoacridine fluorescence increased with increasing amounts of phosphatidic acid added, independent of the composition of the added liposomes. In certain instances, the computational methods did not yield the surface charge density of the liposomes expected from their composition. However, when the effects of background ionic strength on surface potential were considered, there was a positive correlation between expected and calculated values. Therefore, the data support the contention that changes in the fluorescence of 9-aminoacridine can be used to calculate surface charge density of membranes. Received: 29 November 1999/Revised: 31 July 2000     

Incorporation of bacteriorhodopsin into large unilamellar liposomes by reverse phase evaporation

The reverse phase evaporation procedure was used to prepare large unilamellar liposomes containing bacteriorhodopsin. Electron microscopy showed that proteoliposomes were unilamellar and fairly uniform in size provided the preparation was extruded through calibrated nucleopore membranes : the vesicles have diameters around 200 nm. The spectral properties of the bacteriorhodopsin in the large liposomes resembled those of bacteriorhodopsin in purple membrane. Furthermore, the chromoprotein in the reconstituted vesicles had an inside-out orientation and on illumination, translocated protons efficiently from the external medium into the vesicles in the presence of the ionophore valinomycin. In the absence of the latter, a light-independent transmembrane potential of about 60 mV was measured from thiocyanate distribution. In the presence of valinomycin, this transmembrane electrical potential was abolished and then a light-dependent transmembrane pH gradient of about 2 pH units could be generated.     

Conceptualisation of articular cartilage as a giant reverse micelle: a hypothetical mechanism for joint biocushioning and lubrication

Phospholipid (PL) molecules form the main structure of the membrane that prevents the direct contact of opposing articular cartilage layers. In this paper we conceptualise articular cartilage as a giant reverse micelle (GRM) in which the highly hydrated three-dimensional network of phospholipids is electrically charged and able to resist compressive forces during joint movement, and hence loading. Using this hypothetical base, we describe a hydrophilic-hydrophilic (HL-HL) biopair model of joint lubrication by contacting cartilages, whose mechanism is reliant on lamellar cushioning. To demonstrate the viability of our concept, the electrokinetic properties of the membranous layer on the articular surface were determined by measuring via microelectrophoresis, the adsorption of ions H, OH, Na and Cl on phospholipid membrane of liposomes, leading to the calculation of the effective surface charge density. The surface charge density was found to be -0.08+/-0.002cm(-2) (mean+/-S.D.) for phospholipid membranes, in 0.155M NaCl solution and physiological pH. This value was approximately five times less than that measured in 0.01M NaCl. The addition of synovial fluid (SF) to the 0.155M NaCl solution reduced the surface charge density by 30% which was attributed to the binding of synovial fluid macromolecules to the phospholipid membrane. Our experiments show that particles charge and interact strongly with the polar core of RM. We demonstrate that particles can have strong electrostatic interactions when ions and macromolecules are solubilized by reverse micelle (RM). Since ions are solubilized by reverse micelle, the surface entropy influences the change in the charge density of the phospholipid membrane on cartilage surfaces. Reverse micelles stabilize ions maintaining equilibrium, their surface charges contribute to the stability of particles, while providing additional screening for electrostatic processes.     

Fusion of influenza hemagglutinin-expressing fibroblasts with glycophorin-bearing liposomes: role of hemagglutinin surface density

Influenza virus gains access to the cytoplasm of its host cell by means of a fusion event between viral and host cell membrane. Fusion is mediated by the envelope glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) and is triggered by low pH. To learn how many hemagglutinin trimers are necessary to cause membrane fusion, we have used two NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell lines that express HA protein at different surface densities. On the basis of quantitations of the number of HA trimers per cell and the relative surface areas of the two cell lines, the HAb-2 cells have a 1.9-fold higher plasma membrane surface density than the GP4F cells. The membrane lateral diffusion coefficient and the mobile fraction for HA is the same for both cell lines. A Scatchard analysis of the binding of glycophorin-bearing liposomes to the cells showed 1700 binding sites for the GP4F cells and 3750 binding sites for the HAb-2 cells, with effectively the same liposome-cell binding constant, about 7 x 10(10) M-1. Binding was specific for glycophorin on the liposomes and HA expressed on the cells. A competition experiment employing toxin-containing and empty liposomes allowed us to quantitate the number of liposomes that fused per cell, which was a small constant fraction of the number of bound liposomes. For the HAb-2 cells, about 1 in every 70 bound liposomes fused and for the GP4F cells about 1 in every 300 bound liposomes fused. Hence, the HAb-2 cells showed 4.4 times more fusion per bound liposome, even though the surface density of HA was only 1.9 times greater. We conclude the following: (i) One HA trimer is not sufficient to induce fusion. (ii) The HA bound to glycophorin is not the HA that induces fusion. That is, even though each HA has a binding and a fusion function, those functions are not performed by the same HA trimer.     

Phosphatidylinositol exchange protein. Effects of membrane structure on activity and evidence for a ping-pong mechanism.

Phosphatidylinositol exchange protein, purified from bovine cerebral cortex, catalyzes the transfer of phosphatidylinositol and, to a lesser extent, phosphatidylcholine between rat liver microsomes and egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Transfer activity is sensitive to pH, temperature, and the method of liposome preparation. Variation of the phospholipid composition of the liposomes produces vesicles for which the apparent Michaelis constant decreases with increasing molar proportions of phosphatidylinositol. Interaction of exchange protein with liposomes containing radioactively labeled phosphatidylcholine allows the isolation of a phospholipid-protein complex; dissociation of this complex occurs upon subsequent interaction with unlabeled liposomes. Changes in the concentration of the two membrane species, microsomes and liposomes, yield results which are interpreted in terms of a ping-pong kinetic mechanism for the protein-catalyzed, intermembrane transfer of phospholipids.     

Lipid and protein contributions to the membrane surface potential of vesicular stomatitis virus probed by a fluorescent pH indicator, 4-heptadecyl-7-hydroxycoumarin

The surface potential of membranes of vesicular stomatitis virus and liposomes was determined by shift of ionization over a wide pH range of the membrane-inserted fluorophore, 4-heptadecyl-7-hydroxycoumarin. Incorporation into sonicated vesicles of negatively charged phosphatidylserine markedly increased the surface potential of uncharged phosphatidylcholine, but no significant effect on surface potential was produced by polar but uncharged glucocerebroside incorporated in phosphatidylcholine vesicles. The membrane of vesicular stomatitis virus was found to have a moderately high surface potential. Contributing to this viral membrane surface potential were glycoprotein spikes and phospholipid headgroups as determined by lowered charge after treatment of intact virions with thermolysin to remove glycoprotein or phospholipase C to remove phospholipid headgroups. The role of viral glycoprotein was confirmed by demonstrating increased surface charge of vesicles reconstituted with both viral glycoprotein and lipids compared with vesicles reconstituted with viral lipids alone. An unexpected finding was the large contribution to surface potential of cholesterol present in viral membrane. Increasing cholesterol concentration in virions by interaction with cholesterol-complexed serum lipoproteins resulted in a marked decrease in surface potential, whereas 75% depletion of virion cholesterol by interaction with sphingomyelin-complexed serum lipoproteins resulted in a significant increase in virion membrane surface potential. Although removal of glycoprotein spikes or depletion of cholesterol causes reduction in infectivity of vesicular stomatitis virus, no direct correlation could be found between alteration in surface charge and infectivity.     

Changes in physico-chemical properties of human large intestine tumour cells membrane

Tumour cells produce and excrete to blood many substances which are present in the cell itself in trace amounts only. Our work has been aimed at the determination of changes in electric charge and in phospholipid composition of large intestine normal mucosa and colorectal cancer cells.Surface charge density of tumour unaffected mucosa and of tissue sections from tumours, was measured by electrophoresis. The measurements were carried out at various pH of solution. Membrane isoelectric point was determined by measuring its electric charge in function of pH as well as total positive charge at low pH and total negative charge at high pH. Qualitative and quantitative composition of phospholipids in the membrane was determined by HPLC. Four phospholipid classes were identified: PI, PS, PE and PC and their surface concentrations were determined.The electric charge calculated from phospholipid concentrations is by three orders of magnitude higher than that determined electrophoretically. It indicates that the groups present in the membrane surface are involved in equilibria in which the charge is neutralized.The electric charge calculated from phospholipid concentrations is by three orders of magnitude higher than that determined electrophoretically. It indicates that the groups present in the membrane surface are involved in equilibria in which the charge is neutralized.Tumour changes provoke an increase in surface charge density of large intestine membrane, whereas the content of individual phospholipids increased or decreased depending on a patient.     

Microsomal T system: a stereological analysis of purified microsomes derived from normal and dystrophic skeletal muscle

Heterogeneous populations of microsomes obtained from normal and dystrophic chicken pectoralis muscle were separated into two subfractions by an iterative loading technique. The buoyant density of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) microsomes was increased after loading them with calcium oxalate. Several incubations in the transport medium were necessary to load all of the SR. The fraction that did not form a pellet contained microsomes which displayed freeze-fracture faces that had a low density of particles. A stereological analysis was used on membrane fracture faces of intact muscle to generate reference particle density distributions, which were compared with the distributions measured on the microsomal fracture faces. The concave microsomal fracture faces of purified microsomes which did not load calcium oxalate had particle distributions nearly identical to the distributions of intact P-face T tubules. The morphological data suggest that this subfraction is microsomal T system. Biochemical measurements show negligible amounts of specific Na+, K+-ATPase activity, suggesting that there was little contamination from the surface membrane in this subfraction. Furthermore, an active Ca2+-ATPase is demonstrated in both normal and dystrophic T-tubular membranes.     

Salt-induced pH changes in spinach chloroplast suspension. Changes in surface potential and surface pH of thylakoid membranes

A pH decrease in chloroplast suspension in media of low salt concentration was observed when a salt was added at pH values higher than 4.4, while at lower pH values a pH increase was observed. The salt-induced pH changes depended on the valence and concentration of cations of added salts at neutral pH values (higher than 4.4) and on those of anions at acidic pH values (lower than 4.4). The order of effectiveness was trivalent > divalent > monovalent. The pH value change by salt addition was affected by the presence of ionic detergents depending on the sign of their charges. These characteristics agreed with those expected from the Gouy-Chapman theory on diffuse electrical double layers. The results were interpreted in terms of the changes in surface potential, surface pH and the ionization of surface groups which result in the release (or binding) of H⁺ to (or from) the outer medium.The analysis of the data of KCl-induced pH change suggests that the change in the surface charge density of thylakoid membranes depends mainly on the ionization of carboxyl groups, which is determined by the surface pH. When the carboxyl groups are fully dissociated, the surface charge density reaches ?1.0 ± 0.1 · 10^?3 elementary charge/square Å.Dependence of the estimated surface potential on the bulk pH was similar to that of electrophoretic mobility of thylakoid membrane vesicles.     

Effects of pH on the kinetics of the interaction between anthracyclines and lipid bilayers

In the present study we have analyzed the kinetics of the initial steps (first 10 seconds) of the interaction between the anthracycline daunomycin (DNM) and artificial lipid vesicles bearing opposite surface charge. The process can be monitored by measuring the fluorescence increase of the drug accompanying its association with the lipid bilayers. The results indicated that DNM consistently interacts to a larger extent with the liposomes having negative surface charge than with those having positive surface charge, suggesting the involvement of electrostatic components in the interaction. In contrast, DNM associates with the vesicles bearing positive surface charge 2 – 3 times faster (in terms of the apparent rate constants describing the process of interaction) than with those having negative surface charge, an observation probably related to the more fluid physical state of the former. Regarding the rate of access of DNM to the vesicles, rather than depending on the surface charge of the vesicles, this is critically affected by the ionization state of the drug, i. e. by the pH. Thus, the rate at which the interaction proceeds is increased nearly 15-fold when the pH of the medium increases from 7.0 to 8.3, regardless of the surface charge of the liposomes. On this basis, and taking into account the fact that the anthracyclines enter the cells by passive diffusion, possible effects of pH on the transport of these drugs through the membranes of tumor cells are discussed. Received: 3 December 1996 / Accepted: 4 July 1997