Curvature factor and membrane solubilization, with particular reference to membrane rafts

The composition of membrane rafts (cholesterol/sphingolipid-rich domains) cannot be fully deduced from the analysis of a detergent-resistant membrane fraction after solubilization in Triton X-100 at 4°C. It is hypothesized that the membrane curvature-dependent lateral distribution of membrane components affects their solubilization. The stomatocytogenic, Triton X-100, cannot effectively solubilize membrane components, especially with regard to the outward membrane curvature.     

Lipid lateral organization on giant unilamellar vesicles containing lipopolysaccharides

We developed a new (to our knowledge) protocol to generate giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) composed of mixtures of single lipopolysaccharide (LPS) species and Escherichia coli polar lipid extracts. Four different LPSs that differed in the size of the polar headgroup (i.e., LPS smooth > LPS-Ra > LPS-Rc > LPS-Rd) were selected to generate GUVs composed of different LPS/E. coli polar lipid mixtures. Our procedure consists of two main steps: 1), generation and purification of oligolamellar liposomes containing LPSs; and 2), electroformation of GUVs using the LPS-containing oligolamellar vesicles at physiological salt and pH conditions. Analysis of LPS incorporation into the membrane models (both oligolamellar vesicles and GUVs) shows that the final concentration of LPS is lower than that expected from the initial E. coli lipids/LPS mixture. In particular, our protocol allows incorporation of no more than 15 mol % for LPS-smooth and LPS-Ra, and up to 25 mol % for LPS-Rc and LPS-Rd (with respect to total lipids). We used the GUVs to evaluate the impact of different LPS species on the lateral structure of the host membrane (i.e., E. coli polar lipid extract). Rhodamine-DPPE-labeled GUVs show the presence of elongated micrometer-sized lipid domains for GUVs containing either LPS-Rc or LPS-Rd above 10 mol %. Laurdan GP images confirm this finding and show that this particular lateral scenario corresponds to the coexistence of fluid disordered and gel (LPS-enriched)-like micron-sized domains, in similarity to what is observed when LPS is replaced with lipid A. For LPSs containing the more bulky polar headgroup (i.e., LPS-smooth and LPS-Ra), an absence of micrometer-sized domains is observed for all LPS concentrations explored in the GUVs (up to ∼15 mol %). However, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (using fluorescently labeled LPS) and Laurdan GP experiments in these microscopically homogeneous membranes suggests the presence of LPS clusters with dimensions below our microscope's resolution (∼380 nm radial). Our results indicate that LPSs can cluster into gel-like domains in these bacterial model membranes, and that the size of these domains depends on the chemical structure and concentration of the LPSs.     

Exploring detergent insolubility in bovine hippocampal membranes: a critical assessment of the requirement for cholesterol

The phenomenon of detergent insolubility of bovine hippocampal membranes in Triton X-100 was monitored by estimating the presence of phospholipids in the insoluble pellet. This represents a convenient and unambiguous assay and reports the dependence of the extent of phospholipid solubilization on detergent concentration. The advantage of this approach is its ability to accurately determine the extent of detergent insolubility in natural membranes. Importantly, our results show that when suboptimal concentrations of Triton X-100 are used for solubilization, interpretations of the mechanism and extent of detergent insolubility should be made with adequate caution. At concentrations of Triton X-100 that leads to no further solubilization, ∼44% of phospholipids are left insoluble at 4 °C in bovine hippocampal membranes. Cholesterol depletion using methyl-β-cyclodextrin enhanced phospholipid solubilization at low detergent concentrations but produced no significant change in the amount of insoluble phospholipids at saturating detergent concentration. Progressive solubilization by the detergent resulted in insoluble membranes that contained lipids with higher fatty acyl chain order as reported by fluorescence polarization studies using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH). These results suggest that it is the presence of such lipids rather than their association with cholesterol that determines detergent insolubility in membranes.     

Triton X-100 solubilization of mitochondrial inner and outer membranes

Rat liver mitochondrial inner and outer membranes were subjected to the solubilizing effect of the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 under various conditions. After centrifugation, the supernatants (containing the solubilized fraction) and pellets were characterized chemically and/or ultrastructurally. The detergent seems to act by inducing a phase transition from membrane lamellae to mixed protein-lipid-detergent micelles. Different electron-micro-scopy patterns are shown by the inner membranes after treatment with different amounts of surfactant, whereas the corresponding images from outer membranes vary but slightly. Selective solubilization of various components is observed, especially in the case of the inner membrane. Some membrane lipids (e.g., cardiolipin) are totally solubilized at detergent concentrations when others, such as sphyngomyelin, remain in the membrane. Other inner-membrane components (flavins, cytochromes, coenzymeQ) show different solubilization patterns. This allows the selection of conditions for optimal solubilization of a given membrane component with some degree of selectivity. The influence of Triton X-100 on various mitochondrial inner-membrane enzyme activities was studied. The detergent seems to act especially through disruption of the topology of the functional complexes, although the activity of the individual enzymes appears to be preserved. Relatively simple enzyme activities, such as ATPase, are more or less solubilized according to the detergent concentration, whereas the more complex succinate-cytochromec reductase activity practically disappears even at low Triton X-100 concentrations.     

Stability of giant unilamellar vesicles and large unilamellar vesicles of liquid-ordered phase membranes in the presence of Triton X-100

We have investigated the stability of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) of lipid membranes in the liquid-ordered phase (lo phase) against a detergent, Triton X-100. We found that in the presence of high concentrations of Triton X-100, the structure of GUVs and LUVs of dipalmitoyl-PC (DPPC)/cholesterol (chol) and sphingomyelin (SM)/chol membranes in the lo phase was stable and no leakage of fluorescent probes from the vesicles occurred. We also found that ether-linked dihexadecylphosphatidylcholine (DHPC) membranes containing more than 20 mol% cholesterol were in the lo phase, and that DHPC/chol-GUV and DHPC/chol-LUV in the lo phase were stable and no leakage of internal contents occurred in the presence of Triton X-100. In contrast, octylglucoside solution could easily break these GUVs and LUVs of the lo phase membranes and induced internal contents leakage. These data indicate that GUVs and LUVs of the lo phase membranes are very valuable for practical use.     

Differential solubilization of inner plasma membrane leaflet components by Lubrol WX and Triton X-100

A commonly-used method for analysing raft membrane domains is based on their resistance to extraction by non-ionic detergents at 4 °C. However, the selectivity of different detergents in defining raft membrane domains has been questioned. We have compared the lipid composition of detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) obtained after Triton X-100 or Lubrol WX extraction in MDCK cells in order to understand the differential effect of these detergents on membranes and their selectivity in solubilizing or not proteins. Both Lubrol and Triton DRMs were enriched with cholesterol over the lysate, thus exhibiting characteristics consistent with the properties of membrane rafts. However, the two DRM fractions differed considerably in the ratio between lipids of the inner and outer membrane leaflets. Lubrol DRMs were especially enriched with phosphatidylethanolamine, including polyunsaturated species with long fatty acyl chains. Lubrol and Triton DRMs also differed in the amount of raft transmembrane proteins and raft proteins anchored to the cytoplasmic leaflet. Our results suggest that the inner side of rafts is enriched with phosphatidylethanolamine and cholesterol, and is more solubilized by Triton X-100 than by Lubrol WX.     

Differential sensitivity to detergents of actin cytoskeleton from nerve endings

Detergent-resistant membranes (DRM), an experimental model used to study lipid rafts, are typically extracted from cells by means of detergent treatment and subsequent ultracentrifugation in density gradients, Triton X-100 being the detergent of choice in most of the works. Since lipid rafts are membrane microdomains rich in cholesterol, depletion of this component causes solubilization of DRM with detergent. In previous works from our group, the lack of effect of cholesterol depletion on DRM solubilization with Triton X-100 was detected in isolated rat brain synaptosomes. In consequence, the aim of the present work is to explore reasons for this observation, analyzing the possible role of the actin cytoskeleton, as well as the use of an alternative detergent, Brij 98, to overcome the insensitivity to Triton X-100 of cholesterol-depleted DRM. Brij 98 yields Brij-DRM that are highly dependent on cholesterol, since marker proteins (Flotillin-1 and Thy-1), as well as actin, appear solubilized after MCD treatment. Pretreatment with Latrunculin A results in a significant increase in Flotillin-1, Thy-1 and actin solubilization by Triton X-100 after cholesterol depletion. Studies with transmission electron microscopy show that combined treatment with MCD and Latrunculin A leads to a significant increase in solubilization of DRM with Triton X-100. Thus, Triton-DRM resistance to cholesterol depletion can be explained, at least partially, thanks to the scaffolding action of the actin cytoskeleton, without discarding differential effects of Brij 98 and Triton X-100 on specific membrane components. In conclusion, the detergent of choice is important when events that depend on the actin cytoskeleton are going to be studied.     

Direct Visualization of the Action of Triton X-100 on Giant Vesicles of Erythrocyte Membrane Lipids

The raft hypothesis proposes that microdomains enriched in sphingolipids, cholesterol, and specific proteins are transiently formed to accomplish important cellular tasks. Equivocally, detergent-resistant membranes were initially assumed to be identical to membrane rafts, because of similarities between their compositions. In fact, the impact of detergents in membrane organization is still controversial. Here, we use phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy to observe giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) made of erythrocyte membrane lipids (erythro-GUVs) when exposed to the detergent Triton X-100 (TX-100). We clearly show that TX-100 has a restructuring action on biomembranes. Contact with TX-100 readily induces domain formation on the previously homogeneous membrane of erythro-GUVs at physiological and room temperatures. The shape and dynamics of the formed domains point to liquid-ordered/liquid-disordered (Lo/Ld) phase separation, typically found in raft-like ternary lipid mixtures. The Ld domains are then separated from the original vesicle and completely solubilized by TX-100. The insoluble vesicle left, in the Lo phase, represents around 2/3 of the original vesicle surface at room temperature and decreases to almost 1/2 at physiological temperature. This chain of events could be entirely reproduced with biomimetic GUVs of a simple ternary lipid mixture, 2:1:2 POPC/SM/chol (phosphatidylcholine/sphyngomyelin/cholesterol), showing that this behavior will arise because of fundamental physicochemical properties of simple lipid mixtures. This work provides direct visualization of TX-100-induced domain formation followed by selective (Ld phase) solubilization in a model system with a complex biological lipid composition.     

Direct Visualization of the Action of Triton X-100 on Giant Vesicles of Erythrocyte Membrane Lipids

The raft hypothesis proposes that microdomains enriched in sphingolipids, cholesterol, and specific proteins are transiently formed to accomplish important cellular tasks. Equivocally, detergent-resistant membranes were initially assumed to be identical to membrane rafts, because of similarities between their compositions. In fact, the impact of detergents in membrane organization is still controversial. Here, we use phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy to observe giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) made of erythrocyte membrane lipids (erythro-GUVs) when exposed to the detergent Triton X-100 (TX-100). We clearly show that TX-100 has a restructuring action on biomembranes. Contact with TX-100 readily induces domain formation on the previously homogeneous membrane of erythro-GUVs at physiological and room temperatures. The shape and dynamics of the formed domains point to liquid-ordered/liquid-disordered (Lo/Ld) phase separation, typically found in raft-like ternary lipid mixtures. The Ld domains are then separated from the original vesicle and completely solubilized by TX-100. The insoluble vesicle left, in the Lo phase, represents around 2/3 of the original vesicle surface at room temperature and decreases to almost 1/2 at physiological temperature. This chain of events could be entirely reproduced with biomimetic GUVs of a simple ternary lipid mixture, 2:1:2 POPC/SM/chol (phosphatidylcholine/sphyngomyelin/cholesterol), showing that this behavior will arise because of fundamental physicochemical properties of simple lipid mixtures. This work provides direct visualization of TX-100-induced domain formation followed by selective (Ld phase) solubilization in a model system with a complex biological lipid composition.     

T cell receptor can be recruited to a subset of plasma membrane rafts,independently of cell signaling and attendantly to raft clustering

The constitutive/inducible association of the T cell receptor (TCR) with isolated detergent-resistant, lipid raft-derived membranes has been studied in Jurkat T lymphocytes. Membranes resistant to 1% Triton X-100 contained virtually no CD3epsilon, part of the TCR complex, irrespective of cell stimulation. On the other hand, membranes resistant either to a lower Triton X-100 concentration (i.e. 0.2%) or to the less hydrophobic detergent Brij 58 (1%) contained (i) a low CD3epsilon amount (approximate 2.7% of total) in resting cells and (ii) a several times higher amount of the TCR component, after T cell stimulation with either antigen-presenting cells or with phytohemagglutinin. It appeared that CD3/TCR was constitutively associated with and recruited to a raft-derived membrane subset because (i) all three membrane preparations contained a similar amount of the raft marker tyrosine kinase Lck but no detectable amounts of the conventional membrane markers, CD45 phosphatase and transferrin receptor; (ii) a larger amount of particulate membranes were resistant to solubilization with 0.2% Triton X-100 and Brij 58 than to solubilization with 1% Triton X-100; and (iii) higher cholesterol levels were present in membranes resistant to either the lower Triton X-100 concentration or to Brij 58, as compared with those resistant to 1% Triton X-100. The recruitment of CD3 to the raft-derived membrane subset appeared (i) to occur independently of cell signaling events, such as protein-tyrosine phosphorylation and Ca(2+) mobilization/influx, and (ii) to be associated with clustering of plasma membrane rafts induced by multiple cross-linking of either TCR or the raft component, ganglioside GM(1). We suggest that during T cell stimulation a lateral reorganization of rafts into polarized larger domains can determine the recruitment of TCR into these domains, which favors a polarization of the signaling cascade.     

Association of a photoreceptor-specific tetraspanin protein,ROM-1, with triton X-100-resistant membrane rafts from rod outer segment disk membranes

This study reports the isolation and characterization of a Triton X-100-resistant membrane fraction from homogenates of rod outer segment (ROS) disk membranes purified free of the surrounding plasma membrane. A portion of the ROS disk membrane was found to be resistant to Triton X-100 extraction at 4 degrees C. This detergent-resistant fraction was isolated as a low buoyant density band on sucrose density gradients and exhibited an increase in light scattering detected at 600 nm. Biochemical analysis of the Triton X-100-resistant fraction showed it to be enriched in cholesterol and sphingomyelin relative to phospholipid and in phospholipid relative to protein compared with the soluble fraction. The Triton X-100-resistant membranes described herein did not arise simply from partial solubilization of the ROS disk membranes because detergent-treated low buoyant density fractions isolated from homogenates with octyl glucopyranoside had cholesterol and sphingomyelin content indistinguishable from that of solubilized ROS disk homogenates. Analysis of proteins associated with the Triton X-100-resistant fraction showed it to be enriched in the rim-specific protein ROM-1 and caveolin; surprisingly, the fusion protein peripherin/rds (where rds is retinal degeneration slow), also localized to the disk rim, was entirely absent from the membrane raft domain. The lipid profiles of the Triton X-100-resistant membranes were virtually identical in preparations homogenized in either the light or dark. Slightly more ROM-1 was recovered from samples prepared in the light (23%) than from samples prepared in the dark (13%), but peripherin/rds could not be detected in either preparation. When the Triton X-100-resistant membranes were treated with methyl-beta-cyclodextran to deplete membrane cholesterol, the resultant membranes contained slightly lower levels of ROM-1, specifically in the dimeric form. Cholesterol depletion also resulted in the collapse of the large caveolin complex to monomeric caveolae. The results presented herein characterize a pool of ROM-1, a photoreceptor tetraspanin protein, that may play a regulatory role in peripherin/rds-dependent fusion.     

Comparative study of the interaction of CHAPS and Triton X-100 with the erythrocyte membrane

The zwitterionic detergent CHAPS, a derivative of the bile salts, is widely used in membrane protein solubilization. It is a “facial” detergent, having a hydrophilic side and a hydrophobic back. The objective of this work is to characterize the interaction of CHAPS with a cell membrane. To this aim, erythrocytes were incubated with a wide range of detergent concentrations in order to determine CHAPS partition behavior, and its effects on membrane lipid order, hemolytic effects, and the solubilization of membrane phospholipids and cholesterol. The results were compared with those obtained with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100. It was found that CHAPS has a low affinity for the erythrocyte membrane (partition coefficient K = 0.06 mM^− 1), and at sub-hemolytic concentrations it causes little effect on membrane lipid order. CHAPS hemolysis and phospholipid solubilization are closely correlated. On the other side, binding of Triton X-100 disorders the membrane at all levels, and has independent mechanisms for hemolysis and solubilization. Differential behavior was observed in the solubilization of phospholipids and cholesterol. Thus, the detergent resistant membranes (DRM) obtained with the two detergents will have different composition. The behaviors of the two detergents are related to the differences in their molecular structures, suggesting that CHAPS does not penetrate the lipid bilayer but binds in a flat position on the erythrocyte surface, both in intact and cholesterol depleted erythrocytes. A relevant result for Triton X-100 is that hemolysis is not directly correlated with the solubilization of membrane lipids, as it is usually assumed.     

Biophysical approaches in the study of biomembrane solubilization: quantitative assessment and the role of lateral inhomogeneity

Detergents are amphiphilic molecules widely used to solubilize biological membranes and/or extract their components. Nevertheless, because of the complex composition of biomembranes, their solubilization by detergents has not been systematically studied. In this review, we address the solubilization of erythrocytes, which provide a relatively simple, robust and easy to handle biomembrane, and of biomimetic models, to stress the role of the lipid composition on the solubilization process. First, results of a systematic study on the solubilization of human erythrocyte membranes by different series of non-ionic (Triton, CxEy, Brij, Renex, Tween), anionic (bile salts) and zwitterionic (ASB, CHAPS) detergents are shown. Such quantitative approach allowed us to propose R_e ^sat—the effective detergent/lipid molar ratio in the membrane for the onset of hemolysis as a new parameter to classify the solubilization efficiency of detergents. Second, detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) obtained as a result of the partial solubilization of erythrocytes by TX-100, C₁₂E₈ and Brij detergents are examined. DRMs were characterized by their cholesterol, sphingolipid and specific proteins content, as well as lipid packing. Finally, lipid bilayers of tuned lipid composition forming liposomes were used to investigate the solubilization process of membranes of different compositions/phases induced by Triton X-100. Optical microscopy of giant unilamellar vesicles revealed that pure phospholipid membranes are fully solubilized, whereas the presence of cholesterol renders the mixture partially or even fully insoluble, depending on the composition. Additionally, Triton X-100 induced phase separation in raft-like mixtures, and selective solubilization of the fluid phase only.     

Sphingomyelin-rich domains are sites of lysenin oligomerization: Implications for raft studies

Lysenin is a self-assembling, pore-forming toxin which specifically recognizes sphingomyelin. Mutation of tryptophan 20 abolishes lysenin oligomerization and cytolytic activity. We studied the interaction of lysenin WT and W20A with sphingomyelin in membranes of various lipid compositions which, according to atomic force microscopy studies, generated either homo- or heterogeneous sphingomyelin distribution. Liposomes composed of SM/DOPC, SM/DOPC/cholesterol and SM/DPPC/cholesterol could bind the highest amounts of GST-lysenin WT, as shown by surface plasmon resonance analysis. These lipid compositions enhanced the release of carboxyfluorescein from liposomes induced by lysenin WT, pointing to the importance of heterogeneous sphingomyelin distribution for lysenin WT binding and oligomerization. Lysenin W20A bound more weakly to sphingomyelin-containing liposomes than did lysenin WT. The same amounts of lysenin W20A bound to sphingomyelin mixed with either DOPC or DPPC, indicating that the binding was not affected by sphingomyelin distribution in the membranes. The mutant lysenin had a limited ability to penetrate hydrophobic region of the membrane as indicated by measurements of surface pressure changes. When applied to detect sphingomyelin on the cell surface, lysenin W20A formed large conglomerates on the membrane, different from small and regular clusters of lysenin WT. Only lysenin WT recognized sphingomyelin pool affected by formation of raft-based signaling platforms. During fractionation of Triton X-100 cell lysates, SDS-resistant oligomers of lysenin WT associated with membrane fragments insoluble in Triton X-100 while monomers of lysenin W20A partitioned to Triton X-100-soluble membrane fractions. Altogether, the data suggest that oligomerization of lysenin WT is a prerequisite for its docking in raft-related domains.     

A comparison of techniques for isolation of the outer membrane proteins of Haemophilus influenzae type b

We compared several rapid techniques used for extraction of outer membrane proteins from gram-negative enteric bacteria to Haemophilus influenzae type b. After lysis of cells with a French press, the inner and outer membranes were separated by isopycnic centrifugation. Each membrane was identified by density, morphology, enzymatic activity, and susceptibility to solid-phase iodination of intact cells. By sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we identified 10 polypeptides which were enriched in the outer membrane band compared to the inner membrane band. Using these proteins, we compared the polypeptide pattern of outer membranes with that obtained by (1) selective solubilization with sodium dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside, octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, Triton X-100, sodium, or cholamidopropyl dimethylaminopropanesulfonate; (2) extraction with chaotropic agents and heat; and (3) differential centrifugation of vesicles shed during transition from log growth phase to stationary growth phase. There were definable differences between the polypeptide pattern of membranes obtained with each rapid technique compared to the polypeptide pattern of isolated outer membranes. The polypeptide pattern of lithium extracts and the Triton X-100 insoluble fractions of total membranes most closely approximated the polypeptide pattern of isopycnically isolated outer membranes. Depending on the outer membrane protein sought, one of these rapid techniques can be utilized when a rapid method of outer membrane protein isolation is required.     

Measurement of lipid nanodomain (raft) formation and size in sphingomyelin/POPC/cholesterol vesicles shows TX-100 and transmembrane helices increase domain size by coalescing preexisting nanodomains but do not induce domain formation

Mixtures of unsaturated lipids, sphingolipids, and cholesterol form coexisting liquid-disordered and sphingolipid and cholesterol-rich liquid-ordered (Lo) phases in water. The detergent Triton X-100 does not readily solubilize Lo domains, but does solubilize liquid-disordered domains, and is commonly used to prepare detergent-resistant membranes from cells and model membranes. However, it has been proposed that in membranes with mixtures of sphingomyelin (SM), 1-palmitoyl 2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC), and cholesterol Triton X-100 may induce Lo domain formation, and therefore detergent-resistant membranes may not reflect the presence of preexisting domains. To examine this hypothesis, the effect of Triton on Lo domain formation was measured in SM/POPC/cholesterol vesicles. Nitroxide quenching methods that can detect ordered nanodomains with radii >12 Å showed that in the absence of Triton X-100 this mixture formed ordered state domains that melt with a midpoint (= T_mid) at ∼45°C. However, T_mid was lower when detected using various fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) pairs. Furthermore, the T_mid value was Ro dependent, and decreased as Ro increased. Because FRET can only readily detect domains with radii >Ro, this result can be explained by domain radii that are close to Ro and decrease as temperature increases. An analysis of FRET and quenching data suggests that nanodomain radius gradually decreases from ≥150 Å to <40 Å as temperature increases from 10 to 45°C. Interestingly, the presence of Triton X-100 or a transmembrane-type peptide did not stabilize ordered state formation when detected by nitroxide quenching, i.e., did not increase T_mid. However, FRET-detected T_mid did increase in the presence of Triton X-100 or a transmembrane peptide, indicating that both increased domain size. Controls showed that the results could not be accounted for by probe-induced perturbations. Thus, SM/POPC/cholesterol, a mixture similar to that in the outer leaflet of plasma membranes, forms nanodomains at physiological temperatures, and TX-100 does not induce domain formation or increase the fraction of the bilayer in the ordered state, although it does increase domain size by coalescing preexisting domains.     

Amyloid precursor protein in unique cholesterol-rich microdomains different from caveolae-like domains

To determine the localization of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) on the cellular membrane, we performed membrane fractionation of cultured cells including that of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) and P19 cells transfected with human APP cDNA, non-transfected SH-SY5Y cells, and rat cerebral cortices. In MDCK cells, APP was exclusively present in abundance in the supernatant following solubilization of the plasma membranes using Triton X-100, and in high-density fractions of sucrose density gradient fractionation (SDGF) following Triton X-100 solubilization of whole cellular membranes. Caveolin-1 was not cofractionated with APP. In experiments using P19 cells and rat cerebral cortices, we detected two isoforms of APP. The APP with the apparently lower molecular weight (immature type) coexisted in abundance with integrin in the high-density fractions, whereas the APP with the apparently higher molecular weight (mature type) was recovered predominantly in the low-density fractions with cholesterol and GM1 gangliosides, the concentrations of which were higher than those in the bulk plasma membranes, but lower than those in caveolae-like domains (CLDs), following SDGF of Triton X-100-solubilized cellular membranes. The results of this study suggest the following; first, APP is not present in abundance in caveolae or CLDs, but is in unique cholesterol-rich microdomains; second, the targeting of APP to these unique microdomains may be linked to the maturation of APP in some cells.     

High-Melting Lipid Mixtures and the Origin of Detergent-Resistant Membranes Studied with Temperature-Solubilization Diagrams

The origin of resistance to detergent solubilization in certain membranes, or membrane components, is not clearly understood. We have studied the solubilization by Triton X-100 of binary mixtures composed of egg sphingomyelin (SM) and either ceramide, diacylglycerol, or cholesterol. Solubilization has been assayed in the 4–50°C range, and the results are summarized in a novel, to our knowledge, form of plots, that we have called temperature-solubilization diagrams. Despite using a large detergent excess (lipid/detergent 1:20 mol ratio) and extended solubilization times (24–48 h) certain mixtures were not amenable to Triton X-100 solubilization at one or more temperatures. DSC of all the lipid mixtures, and of all the lipid + detergent mixtures revealed that detergent resistance was associated with the presence of gel domains at the assay temperature. Once the system melted down, solubilization could occur. In general adding high-melting lipids limited the solubilization, whereas the addition of low-melting lipids promoted it. Lipidomic analysis of Madin-Darby canine kidney cell membranes and of the corresponding detergent-resistant fraction indicated a large enrichment of the nonsolubilized components in saturated diacylglycerol and ceramide. SM-cholesterol mixtures were special in that detergent solubilization was accompanied, for certain temperatures and compositions, by an independent phenomenon of reassembly of the partially solubilized lipid bilayers. The temperature at which lysis and reassembly prevailed was ∼25°C, thus for some SM-cholesterol mixtures solubilization occurred both above and below 25°C, but not at that temperature. These observations can be at the origin of the detergent resistance effects observed with cell membranes, and they also mean that cholesterol-containing detergent-resistant membrane remnants cannot correspond to structures existing in the native membrane before detergent addition.     

Lipopolysaccharides and divalent cations are involved in the formation of an assembly-competent intermediate of outer-membrane protein PhoE of E.coli.

To identify the requirements for the biogenesis of outer-membrane proteins in Gram-negative bacteria, the sorting and assembly of the trimeric, pore-forming protein PhoE was studied in vitro. Purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in combination with low amounts of Triton X-100 and divalent cations induced the formation of folded monomers. LPS of deep-rough strains was far less efficient in the formation of folded monomers than wild-type LPS was. These folded monomers could be converted into heat-stable trimers upon addition of outer membranes and higher amounts of Triton X-100. Trimerization could precede the insertion step. These in vitro data suggest that the assembly in vivo proceeds sequentially by (i) formation of a folded monomer by interaction with LPS; (ii) sorting of the folded monomers to assembly sites in the outer membrane; (iii) trimerization; and (iv) insertion.     

Differential solubilization of inner plasma membrane leaflet components by Lubrol WX and Triton X-100

A commonly-used method for analysing raft membrane domains is based on their resistance to extraction by non-ionic detergents at 4 degrees C. However, the selectivity of different detergents in defining raft membrane domains has been questioned. We have compared the lipid composition of detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) obtained after Triton X-100 or Lubrol WX extraction in MDCK cells in order to understand the differential effect of these detergents on membranes and their selectivity in solubilizing or not proteins. Both Lubrol and Triton DRMs were enriched with cholesterol over the lysate, thus exhibiting characteristics consistent with the properties of membrane rafts. However, the two DRM fractions differed considerably in the ratio between lipids of the inner and outer membrane leaflets. Lubrol DRMs were especially enriched with phosphatidylethanolamine, including polyunsaturated species with long fatty acyl chains. Lubrol and Triton DRMs also differed in the amount of raft transmembrane proteins and raft proteins anchored to the cytoplasmic leaflet. Our results suggest that the inner side of rafts is enriched with phosphatidylethanolamine and cholesterol, and is more solubilized by Triton X-100 than by Lubrol WX.