Myelin sheath and cyanobacterial thylakoids as concentric multilamellar structures with similar bioenergetic properties

Myelin sheaths can act as compact temporary oxygen storage units as modeled by an electrical RC circuit model

Oxygen is crucial for mitochondrial energy production in neurons and is efficiently stored and transported within the hydrophobic core of phospholipid bilayers. Using a diffusive model derived from molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that oxygen storage in a bilayer follows first-order kinetics, which can be effectively represented by an RC (resistor-capacitor) circuit. For myelin, with multiple bilayers, oxygen transport is modeled through a ladder network of RC circuits, where oxygen permeation resistance and oxygen storage capacity scale linearly with bilayer count. Meanwhile, the characteristic time constant scales quadratically with myelin thickness, e.g. enhancing the characteristic time constant from 30 ns for one 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) bilayer to 506 μs for 200 POPC bilayers. This model shows that myelin sheaths serve as compact oxygen reservoirs, dampening sudden oxygen changes due to their slower release kinetics. During increased neuronal activity, the model suggests that myelination extends the ability to sustain elevated oxygen demand, implying a buffering role for myelin against oxygen fluctuations, while the need for vascular response remains critical in maintaining long-term oxygen homeostasis.

Structure, biogenesis, and evolution of thylakoid membranes

Cyanobacteria and chloroplasts of algae and plants harbor specialized thylakoid membranes (TMs) that convert sunlight into chemical energy. These membranes house PSII and I, the vital protein-pigment complexes that drive oxygenic photosynthesis. In the course of their evolution, TMs have diversified in structure. However, the core machinery for photosynthetic electron transport remained largely unchanged, with adaptations occurring primarily in the light-harvesting antenna systems. Whereas TMs in cyanobacteria are relatively simple, they become more complex in algae and plants. The chloroplasts of vascular plants contain intricate networks of stacked grana and unstacked stroma thylakoids. This review provides an in-depth view of TM architectures in phototrophs and the determinants that shape their forms, as well as presenting recent insights into the spatial organization of their biogenesis and maintenance. Its overall goal is to define the underlying principles that have guided the evolution of these bioenergetic membranes.

The Significance of Lipids for the Absorption and Release of Oxygen in Biological Organisms

A critically important step for the uptake and transport of oxygen (O2) in living organisms is the crossing of the phase boundary between gas (or water) and lipid/proteins in the cell. Classically, this transport across the phase boundary is explained as a transport by proteins or protein-based structures. In our contribution here, we want to show the significance of passive transport of O2 also (and in some cases probably predominantly) through lipids in many if not all aerobic organisms. In plants, the significance of lipids for gas exchange (absorption of CO2 and release of O2) is well recognized. The leaves of plants have a cuticle layer as the last film on both sides formed by polyesters and lipids. In animals, the skin has sebum as its last layer consisting of a mixture of neutral fatty esters, cholesterol and waxes which are also at the border between the cells of the body and the air. The last cellular layers of skin are not vascularized therefore their metabolism totally depends on this extravasal O2 absorption, which cannot be replenished by the bloodstream. The human body absorbs about 0.5% of O2 through the skin. In the brain, myelin, surrounding nerve cell axons and being formed by oligodendrocytes, is most probably also responsible for enabling O2 transport from the extracellular space to the cells (neurons). Myelin, being not vascularized and consisting of water, lipids and proteins, seems to absorb O2 in order to transport it to the nerve cell axon as well as to perform extramitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation inside the myelin structure around the axons (i.e., myelin synthesizes ATP) - similarly to the metabolic process occurring in concentric multilamellar structures of cyanobacteria. Another example is the gas transport in the lung where lipids play a crucial role in the surfactant ensuring incorporation of O2 in the alveoli where there are lamellar body and tubular myelin which form multilayered surface films at the air-membrane border of the alveolus. According to our view, the role played by lipids in the physical absorption of gases appears to be crucial to the existence of many, if not all, of the living aerobic species.

Murburn model of vision: Precepts and proof of concept

The classical paradigm of visual physiology comprises of the following features: (i) rod/cone cells located at the rear end of the retina serve as the primary transducers of incoming photo-information, (ii) cis-trans retinal (C₂₀ H₂₈ O) transformations on rhodopsin act as the transduction switch to generate a transmittable signal, (iii) signal amplification occurs via GDP-GTP exchange at transducin, and (iv) the amplified signal is relayed (as an action potential) as a flux-based ripple of Na-K ions along the axons of neurons. Fundamental physical principles, chemical kinetics, and awareness of architecture of eye/retina prompt a questioning of these classical assumptions. In lieu, based on experimental and in silico findings, a simple space-time resolved murburn model for the physiology of phototransduction in the retina is presented wherein molecular oxygen plays key roles. It is advocated that: (a) photo-induced oxygen to superoxide conversion serves as the key step in signal transduction in the visual cycle, (b) all photoactive cells of the retina serve as photoreceptors and rods/cones serve as the ultimate electron source in the retina (deriving oxygen and nutrients from retinal pigmented epithelium), (c) signal amplification is through superoxide mediated phosphorylation of GDP bound to inactive transducin, thereby activating a GDP-based cascade (a new mechanism for trimeric G-proteins), and (d) signal relay is primarily an electron movement along the neuron, from dendritic source to synaptic sink. In particular, we specify the roles for the various modules of transducin and GDP-based activation of phosphodiesterase-6 in the physiology of visual transduction.