• BMB Reports
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• 제51권12호
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• pp.623-629
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• 2018

For mechanical force to induce changes in cellular behaviors, two main processes are inevitable; perception of the force and response to it. Perception of mechanical force by cells, or mechanosensing, requires mechanical force-induced conformational changes in mechanosensors. For this, at least one end of the mechanosensors should be anchored to relatively fixed structures, such as extracellular matrices or the cytoskeletons, while the other end should be pulled along the direction of the mechanical force. Alternatively, mechanosensors may be positioned in lipid bilayers, so that conformational changes in the embedded sensors can be induced by mechanical force-driven tension in the lipid bilayer. Responses to mechanical force by cells, or mechanotransduction, require translation of such mechanical force-induced conformational changes into biochemical signaling. For this, protein-protein interactions or enzymatic activities of mechanosensors should be modulated in response to force-induced structural changes. In the last decade, several molecules that met the required criteria of mechanosensors have been identified and proven to directly sense mechanical force. The present review introduces examples of such mechanosensors and summarizes their mechanisms of action.

• 대한화학회지
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• 제67권2호
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• pp.89-98
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• 2023

The cell membrane, also known as the biological membrane, surrounds every living cell. The main components of cell membranes are lipids and therefore called as lipid membranes. These membranes are mainly made up of a two-dimensional lipid bilayer along with integral and peripheral proteins. The complex nature of lipid membranes makes it difficult to study and hence artificial lipid membranes are prepared which mimic the original lipid membranes. These artificial lipid membranes are prepared from phospholipid vesicles (liposomes). The liposomes are formed when self-forming phospholipid bilayer comes in contact with water. Liposomes can be unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles which comprises of phospholipids that can be produced naturally or synthetically. The phospholipids are non-toxic, biodegradable and are readily produced on a large scale. These liposomes are mostly used in the drug delivery systems. This paper offers comprehensive literature with insights on developing basic understanding of lipid membranes from its structure, organization, and phase behavior to its potential use in biomedical applications. The progress in the field of artificial membrane models considering methods of preparation of liposomes for mimicking lipid membranes, interactions between the lipid membranes, and characterizing techniques such as UV-visible, FTIR, Calorimetry and X-ray diffraction are explained in a concise manner.

• BMB Reports
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.460-465
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• 2004

A 16-residue polypeptide model with the sequence acetyl-YALSLAATLLKEAASL-OH was derived by rational de novo peptide design. The designed sequence consists of amino acid residues with high propensity to adopt an alpha helical conformation, and sequential order was arranged to produce an amphipathic surface. The designed sequence was chemically synthesized using a solid-phase method and the polypeptide was purified by reverse-phase liquid chromatography. Molecular mass analysis by electro-spray ionization mass spectroscopy confirmed the correct designed sequence. Structural characterization by circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrated that the peptide adopts the expected alpha helical conformation in 50% acetonitrile solution. Liposome binding assay using Small Unilamellar Vesicle (SUV) showed a marked release of entrapped glucose by interaction between the lipid membrane and the tested peptide. The channel-forming activity of the peptide was revealed by a planar lipid bilayer experiment. An analysis of the conducting current at various applied potentials suggested that the peptide forms a cationic ion channel with an intrinsic conductance of 188 pS. These results demonstrate that a simple rational de novo design can be successfully employed to create short peptides with desired structures and functions.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.543-553
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• 1992

Properties of unitary ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels were studied using planar lipid bilayer technique. Vesicles were prepared from bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) skeletal muscle. ATP-sensitive $K^+$ (K (ATP)) channels were identified by their unitary conductance and sensitivity to ATP. In the symmetrical solution containing 200mM KCI, 10mM Hepes, 1mM EGTA and pH 7.2, single K (ATP) channels showed a linear current-voltage relations with slight inward rectification. Slope conductance at reversal potential was $60.1{\pm}0.43$ pS(n=3)). Micromolar ATP reversibly inhibited the channel activity when applied to the cytoplasmic side. In the range of -50~＋50 mV, the channel activity was not voltage-dependent, but the channel gating within a burst was more frequent at negative voltage range. Varying the concentrations of external/internal KCl(mM) to 40/200, 200/200, 200/100 and 200/40 shifted reversal potentials to $-30.8{\pm}2.9$(n=3), $-1.1{\pm}2.7$(n=3), 10.5 and 30.6(mV), respecrivety. These reversal potentials were close to the expected values by the Nernst equation, indicating nearly ideal selectivity for $K^+$ over $Cl^-$. Under bi-ionic conditions of 200mM external test ions and 200mM internal $K^+$, the reversal potentials for each test ion/K pair were measured. The measured reversal potentials were used for the calculation of the releative permeability of alkali cations to $K^+$ ions using the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation. The permeability sequence of 5 cations relative to $K^+$ was $K^+$(1), $Rb^+$(0.49), $Cs^+$(0.27), $Na^+$(0.027) and $Li^+$(0.021). This sequence was recognized as Eisenman's selectivity sequence IV. In addition, modelling the permeation of $K^+$ ion through ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel revealed that a 3-barrier 2-site multiple occupancy model can reasonably predict the observed current-voltage relations.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.529-539
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• 1998

The effects of membrane surface charge originated from lipid head groups on ion channels were tested by analyzing the activity of single large conductance $Ca^{2+}-activated\;K^+$ (maxi K) channel from rat skeletal muscle. The conductances and open-state probability ($P_o$) of single maxi K channels were compared in three types of planar lipid bilayers formed from a neutral phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) or two negatively-charged phospholipids, phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). Under symmetrical KCl concentrations $(3{\sim}1,000\;mM)$, single channel conductances of maxi K channels in charged membranes were $1.1{\sim}1.7$ times larger than those in PE membranes, and the differences were more pronounced at the lower ionic strength. The average slope conductances at 100 mM KCl were $251{\pm}9.9$, $360{\pm}8.7$ and $356{\pm}12.4$ $(mean{\pm}SEM)$ pS in PE, PS and PI membranes respectively. The potentials at which $P_o$ was 1/2, appeared to have shifted left by 40 mV along voltage axis in the membranes formed with PS or PI. Such shift was consistently seen at pCa 5, 4.5, 4 and 3.5. Estimation of the effect of surface charge from these data indicated that maxi K channels sensed the surface potentials at a distance of $8{\sim}9\;{\AA}$ from the membrane surface. In addition, similar insulation distance ($7{\sim}9\;{\AA}$) of channel mouth from the bilayer surface charge was predicted by a 3-barrier-2-site model of energy profile for the permeation of $K^+$ ions. In conclusion, despite the differences in structure and fluidity of phospholipids in bilayers, the activities of maxi K channels in two charged membranes composed of PS or PI were strikingly similar and larger than those in bilayers of PE. These results suggest that the enhancement of conductance and $P_o$ of maxi channels is mostly due to negative charges in the phospholipid head groups.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.163-169
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• 2008

Liposomes are spherical vesicles composed of lipid bilayer membranes. However, the conventional liposomes have been found to be plagued by rapid opsonization and taken up by the reticuloendothelial system (RES), resulting in shortened circulation time and limited intracellular uptake to target cell. In this study, polyethyleneglycol-cationic liposomes (PCL) containing cationic lipid and DSPE-mPEG were prepared by thin film cast-hydration method. The PEG liposomes had approximately $97.0{\pm}1.3\;nm$ of mean particle diameter and $-21.7{\pm}1.2\;mV$ of zeta potential value. PCL had $96.4{\pm}1.8\;nm$ of mean particle diameter and $-8.7{\pm}1.1\;mV$ of zeta potential value with a decrease of about 10 mV compared to the PEG liposomes. Loading of model drug, doxorubicin (DOX), in liposomes were carried out by using remote loading method and the loading efficiency of DOX in liposomes was about $95.0{\pm}1.9%$. Intracellular uptake and cytotoxicity of PCL were higher than that of PEG liposomes to murine B16F10 melanoma cells. In addition, anti-tumor activity of PCL was similar to that of PEG liposomes on growth of A549 human lung carcinoma in BALB/c mice. Consequently, PCL modified with cationic lipid may be applicable as anticancer drug carriers that can increase intracellular uptake and therapeutic efficacy.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.459-468
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• 1984

The currently accepted model of membrane structure proposes a dynamic, asymmetric lipid matrix of phospholipids and cholesterol with globular proteins embedded across the membrane to various degrees. Most phospholipids are in the bilayer arrangement and also closely associated with integral membrane proteins or loosely associated with peripheral proteins. Biological functions of membrane, such as membrane-bound enzyme functions and transport systems, are influenced by the membrane physical properties, which are determined by fatty acid composition of phospholipids, polar head group composition and membrane cholesterol content. Polar and non-polar region of the phospholipid molecule can interact, with changes in the conformation of a membrane-associated protein altering either its catalytic activity or the protein's interaction with other membrane proteins. Mammalian dietary studies attempted to change the lipid composition of a few cell membranes have shown comparisons, using essential fatty acid-deficient diets. In recent years, Clandinin and a few other workers have pioneered the study proving the influence of dietary fat fed in a nutritionally complete diet on composition of phospholipid classes of cell membrane. Modulation caused by diet fat was rapid and reversible in phospholipid fatty acyl composition of membranes of cardiac mitochondria, liver cell, brain synaptosome and lymphocytes. These changes were at the same time, accompanied by variety of membrane associated functions controlled by membrane-bound enzymes, tranporter and receptor proteins. The findings suggest the basic concept of the necessity of dietary fatty acid balance if consistency of optimal membrane structural lipid composition is to be maintained, as well as the overall inadequacy of describing the nutritional-biochemical quality of a dietary fat solely by its content of linoleic acid. Furthermore, they give light on the possible application to clinical and preventive medicine.

• BMB Reports
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.221-227
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• 2000

The distribution of barbiturates in the model membranes of total lipids (SPMVTL) and total phospholipids (SPMVPL) extracted from synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles was determined by employing a fluorescent probe technique. The two fluorescent probes 2-(9-anthroyl)stearic acid and 12-(9-anthroyl)stearic acid were utilized as probes for the surface and the hydrocarbon interior of the outer monolayer of the SPMVTL and SPMVPL, respectively. The Stern-Volmer equation of fluorescent quenching was modified to calculate the relative distribution. The analysis of preferential quenching of these probes by barbiturates indicates that pentobarbital, hexobarbital, amobarbital and phenobarbital are predominantly distributed on the surface area, while thiopental sodium has an accessibility to the hydrocarbon interior of the outer monolayer of the SPMVTL and SPMVPL. From these results, it is strongly suggested that the more effective penetration into the hydrocarbon interior of the outer monolayer of the membrane lipid bilayer could result in a higher general anesthetic activity.

• 대한화학회지
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.216-223
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• 2006

혈류 내에서 리포솜의 안정성을 향상시키기 위해 지질-고분자 유도체를 지질 이중층에 도입하거나 친수성 고분자를 리포솜에 결합시켜 리포솜의 표면을 개질하는 방법이 개발되어왔다. 본 연구에서는 비닐 단량체로서 히드록시에틸메타크릴레이트(HEMA)와 히드록시폴리옥시에틸렌메타크릴레이트(HPOEM)를 자유 라디칼 중합하여 측쇄에 다수의 폴리에틸렌옥사이드를 갖는 빗(Comb) 모양 공중합체인 poly(HEMA-co-HPOEM)를 제조하였다. Poly(HEMA-co-HPOEM)를 리포솜의 표면에 결합시키고 혈장 용액 내에서 개질된 리포솜의 특성을 살펴보았다. Poly(HEMA-co-HPOEM)으로 개질된 리포솜의 입자크기는 대조군 리포솜에 비해 약 30 nm 증가하였고 리포솜 표면의 음전하를 차폐하여 제타 포텐셜의 절대값은 감소하였다. 리포솜 내부에 모델약물인 독소루비신(Doxorubicin)의 로딩효율은 ~ 90%로서 리포솜 표면에 결합된 poly(HEMA-co-HPOEM)는 약물의 로딩효율에 영향을 주지 않았다. 혈장 내에서 리포솜의 안정성을 평가한 결과, 빗 모양 고분자로 수식한 리포솜의 입자크기는 증가하지 않았고 단백질 흡착은 대조군 리포솜 또는 폴리에틸렌옥사이드-지질 유도체가 도입된 리포솜(PEG-리포솜)에 비해 감소되어 빗 모양 고분자인 poly(HEMA-co-HPOEM)이 혈류 내 리포솜의 안정성 향상에 효과적임을 확인하였다.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.191-199
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• 1992

한국산 2년생 소의 대뇌피질로부터 synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles(SPMV)를 분리한 후 이 SPMV로부터 추출한 총지질로서 인공세포막(SPMVTL)을 제제하였다. SPMVTL의 outer monolayer에 trinitrophenyl group을 공유결합시킴으로써 SPMVTL이중층에 분포된 형광 probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene(DPH)중 outer monolayer에 분포된 DPH형광만을 소광케 하였다. 형광분석기를 통하여 SPMVTL의 inner monolayer에 비하여 outer monolayer의 유동성이 크다는 것을 확인하였다. n-Alkanols는 SPMVTL지질 이중층(inner+outer monolayers)의 회전확산운동을 증가시키되 탄소수 두개가 증가될 때마다 그 효력이 약10배 가량 증가된다는 것을 알았다. 그러나 1-decanol의 경우에는 1-nonanol에 비하여 그 효력이 낮아지는 소위 cut-off현상이 나타났다. 뿐만 아니라 n-alkanols는 SPMVTL의 inner monolayer에 비하여 outer monolayer의 회전확산운동을 주로 증가시켰다. 하지만 n-alkanols의 탄소수가 증가됨에 따라 outer monolayer에 대한 선택적인 작용이 감소된다는 것도 확인되었다.