Cell surface damage and morphological changes in Oenococcus oeni after freeze-drying and incubation in synthetic wine

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of freeze-drying in the presence of trehalose as a cryoprotectant, followed by incubation in synthetic wine, on surface damage, viability and l-malic acid consumption of the oenological strain Oenococcus oeni UNQOe 73.2. After freeze-drying, no significant differences were observed in the number of viable cells (for both acclimated and non-acclimated cultures) respect to the fresh culture. In contrast, loss of viability was observed after wine incubation for 24 h, being acclimated freeze-dried cells the best conditions for this. After the preservation process, small changes in cell morphology were observed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The Zeta potential and AFM showed that 24 h of wine incubation was enough to induce several cell surface modifications. Plate count data allowed us to establish that surface damage is an important factor for loss of viability, regardless of the acclimation treatment. Although the number of surviving O. oeni cells decreased dramatically after incubation in synthetic wine for 15 days, the consumption of l-malic acid was higher than 70%, with freeze-dried cells showing a better performance than fresh cultures. These results demonstrate that O. oeni freeze-dried cultures could be applied to direct wine inoculation, to conduct malolactic fermentation, maintaining its technological properties and reducing the time and costs of the winemaking process.     

界面上配基种类对BSA吸附行为的影响

利用双偏振极化干涉测量仪(DPI)研究了界面上配基种类对BSA吸附行为的影响。采用3-氨基丙基三乙氧基硅烷(APTES)、3-(甲氨基)丙基三甲氧基硅烷(MAPTMS)和N,N-二乙基-3-氨基丙基三甲氧基硅烷(DAPTMS)对DPI芯片进行了修饰,利用X射线光电子能谱比较了芯片上不同配基的密度,采用原子力显微镜(AFM)和DPI对界面上BSA吸附行为进行了研究。结果表明APTES修饰界面上BSA呈饼状,高配基密度易导致BSA多位点吸附。相同偶联密度条件下BSA在DAPTMS修饰芯片的吸附量高于MAPTMS修饰芯片,但吸附层厚度一致,表明DAPTMS表面上BSA存在聚集现象;AFM扫描结果与DPI分析结果一致,证明了配基密度和种类不仅影响界面上蛋白质吸附量,而且影响蛋白质吸附密度和表面聚集行为。     

Effects of acetic acid treatment on plant chromosome structures analyzed by atomic force microscopy

Acetic acid treatment has been frequently used to remove cellular contaminants from plant chromosome samples for structural analyses by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). We evaluated the effects of various concentrations of acetic acid treatments on barley chromosome structures by using AFM. The long-term 45% acetic acid treatment significantly damaged the chromosome structures, although the treatment effectively removed the cellular contaminants. On the other hand, the treatment with 15% acetic acid could not obtain sufficiently clean chromosome samples and the chromosome surface structures could not be observed. In contrast, we obtained clean chromosome preparation without severe damage by using an intermediate concentration (30%) of acetic acid treatment. In the centromeric region, we could observe fiber structures with a width of 100 nm, which were composed of ca. 50-nm granules and aligned to the axes of chromosomes. Thus, AFM analysis of chromosomes appropriately treated with acetic acid will provide important insights into the organization of higher-order structures of plant chromosomes.     

Spatial variation in the molecular tilt orientational order within the solid domains of phase-separated, mixed dialkylphosphatidylcholine monolayers

The miscibility of the solid-phase-forming distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) and the fluid-phase-forming dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) at the air/water interface was investigated by the Langmuir film balance. Surface pressure-area isotherms suggest that mixtures containing 25.0-62.5-mol% DLPC (range of composition investigated) are phase-separated. The lateral structure of the DSPC/DLPC monolayers was imaged by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) as a function of the surface pressure. Quasi-circular condensed domains appeared at pressures between 0 and 0.5mN m(-1), and these structures were already fully developed at approximately 1mN m(-1). Further compression of the monolayers above 1mN m(-1) merely brought the domains closer together. The mixed monolayers consisted of solid domains of DSPC, approximately 3-20 micro in size, in a fluid matrix of DLPC. BAM and the phase contrast mode of intermittent-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the quasi-circular DSPC domains are divided into segments of different reflectivities (BAM) or phase shift (AFM) that arise from abrupt changes in the long-range orientational order of the tilted hydrocarbon chains. The DSPC domains in DSPC/DLPC internally exhibited star and cardioid textures that were heretofore only reported for single-component lipid monolayers in the phase coexistence region.     

Resolving the molecular structure of microtubules under physiological conditions with scanning force microscopy

We have imaged microtubules, essential structural elements of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells, in physiological conditions by scanning force microscopy. We have achieved molecular resolution without the use of cross-linking and chemical fixation methods. With tip forces below 0.3 nN, protofilaments with ~6 nm separation could be clearly distinguished. Lattice defects in the microtubule wall were directly visible, including point defects and protofilament separations. Higher tip forces destroyed the top half of the microtubules, revealing the inner surface of the substrate-attached protofilaments. Monomers could be resolved on these inner surfaces.Abbreviations APTS (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane - DETA N¹-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]diethylenetriamine - EM electron microscopy - MT microtubule - SFM scanning force microscopy     

Hyaluronan conformations on surfaces: effect of surface charge and hydrophobicity

Extended, relaxed, condensed, and interacting forms of the polysaccharide hyaluronan have been observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The types of images obtained depend on the properties of the surfaces used. We have investigated several different surface conditions for HA imaging, including unmodified mica, mica chemically modified with two different kinds of amino-terminated silanes (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and N-trimethoxysilylpropyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride), and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. We found the degree of HA molecular extension or condensation to be variable, and the number of bound chains per unit area was low, for all of the mica-based surfaces. HA was more easily imaged on graphite, a hydrophobic surface. Chains were frequently observed in high degrees of extension, maintained by favorable interaction with the surface after molecular combing. This observation suggests that the HA macromolecule interacts with graphite through hydrophobic patches along its surface. AFM studies of HA behavior on differing surfaces under well-controlled environmental conditions provides useful insight into the variety of conformations and interactions likely to be found under differing physiological conditions.     

AFM imaging of surface adsorbed polymeric 3-alkylpyridinium salts from the marine sponge Reniera sarai

Bioactive 3-alkylpyridinium polymers (poly-APS) have recently been isolated from the marine sponge Reniera sarai. Previous results have shown that these molecules in aqueous solutions form supramolecular aggregates with an average hydrodynamic radius of 23±2 nm. To obtain additional evidences about the shape and the dimensions of poly-APS aggregates, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) operating in tapping mode. The images clearly showed adsorbed aggregates with a lateral dimension of ≈40 nm and a thickness of the order of ≈1 nm. The distribution of volumes of the adsorbed aggregates is very similar to the distribution of hydrodynamic radii as obtained from the dynamic light scattering experiments. The volume distribution of these aggregates shows a maximum at 1750 nm³, which corresponds to a sphere with a radius of 7.5 nm.     

Fluorescence anisotropy of a fatty acid covalently linked in vivo to the glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus

The covalently-attached fatty acid of the membrane glycoprotein (G) of vesicular stomatitis virus was fluorescently labeled biologically by isolating vesicular stomatitis virus from infected baby hamster kidney clone 21 cells that had been grown in the presence of 16(9-anthroyloxy)palmitate. The fluorescent labeling was specific for the G protein; the other viral membrane protein, the matrix (M) protein, was not labeled. Steady state fluorescence anisotropy of the 16(9-anthroyloxy)palmitate-labeled G protein reconstituted into dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles indicated that the fatty acid attached to G protein is located in a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine domain that does not undergo the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition.     

AFM studies of water-soluble wheat arabinoxylans--effects of esterase treatment

The degradation products of water-soluble wheat arabinoxylans treated with Aspergillus niger ferulic acid esterase (FAEA-able to cleave 5,5'- and 8-O-4'-ferulic acid dimers) have been characterised by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and size exclusion chromatography. The AFM images of arabinoxylans confirmed that a small proportion ( approximately 15%) of the population of arabinoxylan molecules contain xylan-based branches attached to the xylan-based backbone. Treatment with FAEA reduced the contour length of the molecules suggesting that certain dimeric ferulic acid linkages may play a previously unconfirmed role in the elongation of arabinoxylans. Overnight treatment with FAEA led to a reduction in the density of branches suggesting that they may also be linked to the backbone through phenolic linkages.     

Properties of polylactic acid composites reinforced with oil palm biomass microcrystalline cellulose

In this work, polylactic acid (PLA) composites filled with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from oil palm biomass were successfully prepared through solution casting. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy indicates that there are no significant changes in the peak positions, suggesting that incorporation of MCC in PLA did not result in any significant change in chemical structure of PLA. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted on the samples. The T₅₀ decomposition temperature improved with addition of MCC, showing increase in thermal stability of the composites. The synthesized composites were characterized in terms of tensile properties. The Young's modulus increased by about 30%, while the tensile strength and elongation at break for composites decreased with addition of MCC. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the composites fractured surface shows that the MCC remained as aggregates of crystalline cellulose. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) topographic image of the composite surfaces show clustering of MCC with uneven distribution.     

Global proteomic approach unmasks involvement of keratins 8 and 18 in the delivery of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)/deltaF508-CFTR to the plasma membrane

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF gene (cftr). Physiologically, CF is characterized by an abnormal chloride secretion in epithelia due to a dysfunction of a mutated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is a cAMP-dependent chloride channel whose most frequent mutation, deltaF508, leads to an aberrantly folded protein which causes a dysfunction of the channel. However, a growing number of reports suggest that modifier genes and environmental factors are involved in the physiology of CF. To identify proteins whose expression depends on wild-type WT-CFTR or deltaF508-CFTR, we chose a global proteomic approach based on the use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry. The experiments were carried out with HeLa cells stably transfected with WT-CFTR (pTCFWT) or deltaF508-CFTR (pTCFdeltaF508). These experiments unmasked keratin 8 (K8) and 18 (K18) which were differentially expressed in pTCFWT vs. pTCFdeltaF508. An immunoblot of K18 confirmed the 2-DE results. Intracellular localization experiments of WT-CFTR, deltaF508-CFTR, K8, and K18 suggest that the expression of these proteins are linked, and that the concentrations of K8 and K18 and/or their distribution may be involved in the traffic of WT-CFTR/deltaF508-CFTR. A functional assay for CFTR revealed that specifically lowering K18 expression or changing its distribution leads to the delivery of functional deltaF508-CFTR to the plasma membrane. This work suggests a novel function of K18 in CF.     

Conformational changes in single carboxymethylcellulose chains on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface under different salt conditions

Conformational changes in individual carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) chains deposited on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). A small amount of CMC solution with various salt concentrations was deposited onto the HOPG surface. The CMC molecular chains adsorbed onto the HOPG surface were clearly visualized using tapping-mode AFM under ambient conditions, as compared with those on a hydrophilic mica surface. Each CMC chain was distinguishable at the molecular level based on the vertical profiles of the AFM images, and probably aligned along the HOPG crystal lattice. Higher NaCl concentrations brought about dramatic conformational changes from aligned single chains to globular aggregates via the molecular network structure only on the HOPG surface through electrostatic screening of the CM groups. Although CMC is a water-soluble hydrophilic polyelectrolyte, some interaction, possibly due to a CH-pi bonding between the glucopyranosic axial plane of CMC and the aromatic rings of HOPG, is considered to be effective and dominant for the unique molecular attachment. These phenomena would imply the potential use of HOPG as a substrate for not only molecular imaging, but also for nano-scale morphological control of cellulosic polymers and other structural polysaccharides.     

Molecular imaging of single cellulose chains aligned on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface

Individual cellulose macromolecules were successfully visualized on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface by tapping-mode atomic force microscopy under ambient condition. Monomolecular-level dispersion of cellulose chains was achieved through the momentary contact of dilute cellulose/cupri-ethylenediamine (Cu-ED) solution onto the HOPG substrate. Both concentrations of cellulose and Cu-ED provided critical impacts on the topographical images. Single cellulose chains with molecular height of ca. 0.55 nm could be observed under the optimal conditions, showing rigid molecular rods with a unique morphology of hexagonal regularity. It was strongly suggested that the cellulose chains were aligned along the HOPG crystal lattice through a specific attraction, possibly due to a CH-pi interaction between the axial plane of cellulose and the HOPG pi-conjugated system. These phenomena would imply the potential applications of an HOPG substrate for not only nano-level imaging, but also for molecular alignment of cellulose and other structural polysaccharides.     

原子力显微技术在观测微生物表面形态中的应用

原子力显微技术作为一门新发展起来的显微成像技术,不仅具有在近生理条件下对样本实时、高分辨率三维成像等特点,而且能通过力矩测量探知样本物理性状。即给人们认识微生物的表面结构提供又一平台,也为揭示微生物表面结构与功能之间的关系提供一种新方法。介绍了对微生物表面形态观测中常用测量模式和某些样品固定方法:多孔膜技术、凹陷技术,概括近年来原子力显微技术在微生物学中的应用情况。     

Miscibility and phase behavior of DPPG and perfluorocarboxylic acids at the air-water interface

The miscibility and phase behavior of two components of phospholipids and perfluorocarboxylic acids [FCn; perfluorododecanoic acid (FC12), perfluorotetradecanoic acid (FC14), perfluorohexadecanoic acid (FC16), and perfluorooctadecanoic acid (FC18)] have been systematically investigated using Langmuir monolayer technique. Dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) is utilized as a phospholipid component in biomembranes. Surface pressure (π)-molecular area (A) and surface potential (ΔV)-A isotherms have been measured for the DPPG/FCn systems on 0.15 M NaCl (pH 2.0) at 298.2 K. From the isotherm results, two-dimensional phase diagrams are constructed and classified into miscible and immiscible patterns. Furthermore, the phase behavior of the DPPG/FCn systems has been morphologically examined using fluorescence microscopy (FM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). These images indicate different phases among the four systems. In particular, specific phase morphology is observed in the middle molar fraction range for the DPPG/FC14 system; FC14 is selectively excluded from mixed DPPG-FC14 monolayers to be concentrated in the phase boundary as surface pressure increases. Then DPPG is refined as a patched film. Moreover, the data obtained here are compared to those in the previous systems in which different kinds of phospholipids were treated. Through a series of the miscibility investigations, it is proposed that combinations of hydrophobic chain lengths and of polar headgroups contribute to the monolayer miscibility between phospholipids and perfluorocarboxylic acids.     

Nanoparticle formation from poly(acrylic acid) and oppositely charged peptides

Cationic peptides self assemble upon interacting with sodium salt of oppositely charged polymer, poly(acrylic acid), PAA, giving rise to water-soluble nanoparticles at very low concentration (0.1 mM of PAA). The morphology of these kinds of nanoparticles is mainly governed by the composition of the complexes, which can be expressed as Z+/-, i.e., the ratio of positively charged units to the concentration of anionic units of the polymers present in the system. In the present study, at lower Z+/-, the particles are elongated in shape but adopt spherical shape of 75-100 nm in diameter at higher Z+/- values. We propose that the nanoparticles containing cationic peptides obtained by this methodology can serve as delivery system to enhance the antinociception effect of the chimeric peptide with previously administered doses.     

Thermodynamic and structural study of the main phospholipid components comprising the mitochondrial inner membrane

Cardiolipin (CL) is a phospholipid found in the energy-transducing membranes of bacteria and mitochondria and it is thought to be involved in relevant biological processes as apoptosis. In this work, the mixing properties of CL and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocoline (POPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE) at the air-water interface, have been examined using the thermodynamic framework analysis of compression isotherms. Accordingly, the values of the Gibbs energy of mixing, the more stable monolayers assayed were: POPC:CL (0.6:0.4, mol:mol) and POPE:CL (0.8:0.2, mol:mol). The results reflect that attractive forces are the greatest contributors to the total interaction in these compositions. Supported planar bilayers (SPBs) with such compositions were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) at different temperatures. With the POPC:CL mixture, rounded and featureless SPBs were obtained at 4 °C and 24 °C. In contrast, the extension of the POPE:CL mixture revealed the existence of different lipid domains at 24 °C and 37 °C. Three lipid domains coexisted which can be distinguished by measuring the step height difference between the uncovered mica and the bilayer. While the low and intermediate domains were temperature dependent, the high domain was composition dependent. When cytochrome c (cyt c) was injected into the fluid cell, the protein showed a preferential adsorption onto the high domain of the POPC:CL. These results suggest that the high domain is mainly formed by CL.     

Effect of pyridine on the fatty acid composition of Pimelobacter sp.

Abstract The fatty acid composition of Pimelobacter sp. is of the complex type. When pyridine was used as a sole inhibitory substrate, the fatty acid composition of Pimelobacter sp. was quite different from that within other readily available substrates. When compared with the fatty acid composition in a complex medium, the proportion of isopalmitic acid ( iso -C_16:0) drastically decreased from 68.4% to 7.7%, while the proportion of anteisoheptadecanoic acid ( anteiso -C_17:0) remained almost constant at ca. 7%. Concomitantly, this decrease of the branched-chain fatty acid was accompanied by the increase of the straight-chain, especially long-chain, fatty acid such as heptadecanoic (C_17:0), octadecenoic (Cig:i), 10-methylheptadecanoic (10-me-18) and 10-methyloctadecanoic (10-me-19) acids. Consequently, in response to membrane active organic solvents, Pimelobacter sp. was found to regulate its membrane fatty acid composition in a fashion different from Gram-negative bacteria.