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Morales C, Fernandez M, Ferrer R, Raimunda D, Carrer DC, Bollo M. Ursodeoxycholic Acid Binds PERK and Ameliorates Neurite Atrophy in a Cellular Model of GM2 Gangliosidosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087209. [PMID: 37108372 PMCID: PMC10138647 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The Unfolded protein response (UPR), triggered by stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is a key driver of neurodegenerative diseases. GM2 gangliosidosis, which includes Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff disease, is caused by an accumulation of GM2, mainly in the brain, that leads to progressive neurodegeneration. Previously, we demonstrated in a cellular model of GM2 gangliosidosis that PERK, a UPR sensor, contributes to neuronal death. There is currently no approved treatment for these disorders. Chemical chaperones, such as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), have been found to alleviate ER stress in cell and animal models. UDCA's ability to move across the blood-brain barrier makes it interesting as a therapeutic tool. Here, we found that UDCA significantly diminished the neurite atrophy induced by GM2 accumulation in primary neuron cultures. It also decreased the up-regulation of pro-apoptotic CHOP, a downstream PERK-signaling component. To explore its potential mechanisms of action, in vitro kinase assays and crosslinking experiments were performed with different variants of recombinant protein PERK, either in solution or in reconstituted liposomes. The results suggest a direct interaction between UDCA and the cytosolic domain of PERK, which promotes kinase phosphorylation and dimerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Morales
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M y M Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba 5016, Argentina
| | - Macarena Fernandez
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M y M Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba 5016, Argentina
| | - Rodrigo Ferrer
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M y M Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba 5016, Argentina
| | - Daniel Raimunda
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M y M Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba 5016, Argentina
| | - Dolores C Carrer
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M y M Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba 5016, Argentina
| | - Mariana Bollo
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M y M Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba 5016, Argentina
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Peralta MF, Usseglio NA, Bracamonte ME, Guzmán ML, Olivera ME, Marco JD, Barroso PA, Carrer DC. Efficacy of topical Miltefosine formulations in an experimental model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2022; 12:180-196. [PMID: 33502733 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-021-00896-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease endemic in ~ 90 countries, with an increasing incidence. Presently available pharmacotherapy implies the systemic administration of moderately/very toxic drugs. Miltefosine (Milt) is the only FDA-approved drug to treat CL via the oral route (Impavido®). It produces side effects; in particular, teratogenic effects are of concern. A topical treatment would have the great advantage of minimising the systemic circulation of the drug, preventing side effects. We prepared dispersions containing Milt and liposomes of different compositions to enhance/modulate trans-epidermal penetration and evaluated in vitro and in vivo efficacy and toxicity, in vitro release rate of the drug and particles size stability with time. Treatments were topically administered to BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. The dispersions containing 0.5% Milt eliminated 99% of the parasites and cured the lesions with a complete re-epithelisation, no visible scar and re-growth of hair. Fluid liposomes decreased the time to heal the lesion and the time needed to eliminate viable amastigotes from the lesion site. Relapse of the infection was not found 1 month after treatment in any case. Ultraflexible liposomes on the other hand had no significant in vitro effect but decreased in vivo efficacy. A topical Milt formulation including fluid liposomes seems a promising treatment against CL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma Florencia Peralta
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC- CONICET- UNC, 5016, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Nadina A Usseglio
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC- CONICET- UNC, 5016, Córdoba, Argentina
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, UNITEFA - CONICET - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5016, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ma Estefanía Bracamonte
- Instituto de Patología Experimental - CONICET - , Universidad Nacional de Salta, 4400, Salta, Argentina
| | - Ma Laura Guzmán
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, UNITEFA - CONICET - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5016, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ma Eugenia Olivera
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, UNITEFA - CONICET - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5016, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - J Diego Marco
- Instituto de Patología Experimental - CONICET - , Universidad Nacional de Salta, 4400, Salta, Argentina
| | - Paola A Barroso
- Instituto de Patología Experimental - CONICET - , Universidad Nacional de Salta, 4400, Salta, Argentina
| | - Dolores C Carrer
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC- CONICET- UNC, 5016, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Peralta MF, Guzman ML, Bracamonte ME, Marco JD, Olivera ME, Carrer DC, Barroso PA. Efficacy of topical risedronate and risedronate - Eudragit E complex in a model of cutaneous leishmaniasis induced by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07136. [PMID: 34124403 PMCID: PMC8173260 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
An efficacious topical treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is highly desirable but still an ongoing challenge. Systemic risedronate (Ris) has been reported to have anti-leishmanial properties and Eudragit EPO (EuE) has shown in vitro activity against L. (L.) amazonensis. The aim of this work was to investigate the in vivo efficacy of topical Ris and EuE-Ris complexes on CL. Surface charge and Ris release kinetics from the different dispersions were analyzed. BALB/c mice were infected intradermally with promastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis. Ulcers were treated with Ris or EuE-Ris hydrogels. All the lesions that received topical Ris or EuE-Ris showed an improvement with respect to control: reduction of ulcer average size, cicatrization, flattened edges and no signs of necrosis. In addition, a marked parasitic inhibition of 69.5 and 73.7% was observed in the groups treated with Ris and EuE-Ris, respectively, with the IgG2a levels indicating a tendency towards cure. The results are promising and the system should now be enhanced to achieve total parasite elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma Florencia Peralta
- Instituto Ferreyra - INIMEC-CONICET - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ma Laura Guzman
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica - CONICET and Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ma Estefanía Bracamonte
- Instituto de Patología Experimental - CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | - J Diego Marco
- Instituto de Patología Experimental - CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | - Ma Eugenia Olivera
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica - CONICET and Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Dolores C Carrer
- Instituto Ferreyra - INIMEC-CONICET - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Paola A Barroso
- Instituto de Patología Experimental - CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Argentina
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Peralta MF, Guzmán ML, Pérez AP, Apezteguia GA, Fórmica ML, Romero EL, Olivera ME, Carrer DC. Liposomes can both enhance or reduce drugs penetration through the skin. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13253. [PMID: 30185887 PMCID: PMC6125578 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31693-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The adequate formulation of topical vehicles to treat skin diseases is particularly complex. A desirable formulation should enhance the accumulation of the active drugs in the target tissue (the skin), while avoiding the penetration enhancement to be so large that the drugs reach the systemic circulation in toxic amounts. We have evaluated the transcutaneous penetration of three drugs chosen for their widely variable physicochemical properties: Amphotericin B, Imiquimod and Indole. We incorporated the drugs in fluid or ultra-flexible liposomes. Ultra-flexible liposomes produced enhancement of drug penetration into/through human skin in all cases in comparison with fluid liposomes without detergent, regardless of drug molecular weight. At the same time, our results indicate that liposomes can impede the transcutaneous penetration of molecules, in particular small ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma F Peralta
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M y M Ferreyra - CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ma L Guzmán
- UNITEFA - CONICET, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, School of Chemistry, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - A P Pérez
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Nanomedicinas (CIDeN)- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - G A Apezteguia
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Nanomedicinas (CIDeN)- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Ma L Fórmica
- UNITEFA - CONICET, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, School of Chemistry, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - E L Romero
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Nanomedicinas (CIDeN)- Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Ma E Olivera
- UNITEFA - CONICET, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, School of Chemistry, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - D C Carrer
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M y M Ferreyra - CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Peralta MF, Smith H, Moody D, Tristram-Nagle S, Carrer DC. Effect of Anti-Leishmania Drugs on the Structural and Elastic Properties of Ultradeformable Lipid Membranes. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:7332-7339. [PMID: 29972641 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b04001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Drugs for treating Leishmaniasis, a parasitic tropical orphan disease, currently have several limitations on their use, which topical treatments could alleviate. Topical treatment requires penetration of drugs deep into the skin, which is aided by encapsulation within ultradeformable liposomes. Penetrability depends on the flexibility of the lipid membrane, which may be affected by the drugs. We have studied the biophysical effects of four anti-Leishmania drugs (miltefosine (Milt), amphotericin B (AmpB), indole (Ind), and imiquimod (Imiq)) on a soy phosphatidylcholine/sodium cholate membrane. Using diffuse X-ray scattering techniques, we determined bending modulus ( KC) and chain order parameter ( SX-ray) of the membrane at several drug concentrations. Form factor scattering data allowed construction of electron density profiles, which yielded bilayer thickness and area per lipid. Results show that AmpB had the largest effect on KC and SX-ray, causing the bilayer to lose integrity at high concentrations. Imiq and Ind induced slight membrane stiffening, whereas Milt had little effect. Imiq also notably decreased chain order at high concentrations. These results will aid in the design of new topical treatments, where Milt, Ind, and Imiq could be used at any concentration without affecting liposome integrity or physical properties, whereas AmpB should not be used at high concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma Florencia Peralta
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra-INIMEC , CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba , Córdoba 5000 , Argentina
| | - Hannah Smith
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
| | - Diamond Moody
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
| | - Stephanie Tristram-Nagle
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
| | - Dolores C Carrer
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra-INIMEC , CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba , Córdoba 5000 , Argentina
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Sánchez MF, Murad F, Gülcüler Balta GS, Martin-Villalba A, García-Sáez AJ, Carrer DC. Early activation of CD95 is limited and localized to the cytotoxic synapse. FEBS J 2018; 285:2813-2827. [PMID: 29797791 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The cytotoxic synapse formed between cytotoxic T lymphocytes or natural killer cells expressing CD95L and target cells with CD95 on their surface is a key pathway for apoptosis induction by the immune system. Despite similarities with the immune synapse in antigen presenting cells, little is known about the role of the spatiotemporal organization of agonistic proteins/receptor interactions for CD95 signaling. Here, we have developed an artificial cytotoxic synapse to examine how mobility and geometry of an anti-CD95 agonistic antibody affect receptor aggregation and mobility, ie the first step of receptor activation. By measuring the distribution, diffusion coefficient, and fraction of immobile CD95 receptor in living cells, we show that at short times, the initial activation of CD95 occurs locally and is limited to the contact region of the cytotoxic synapse. This anisotropic activation of apoptotic signaling supports a role for confined interactions on the efficiency of signal transduction that may have implications for biomedical applications of extrinsic apoptosis induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Florencia Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra (INIMEC), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Fabronia Murad
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gülce S Gülcüler Balta
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DFKZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Ana Martin-Villalba
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DFKZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ana J García-Sáez
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dolores C Carrer
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra (INIMEC), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
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7
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Abstract
A relevant question in cell biology with broad implications in biomedicine is how the organization and dynamics of interacting membranes modulate signaling cascades that involve cell-cell contact. The functionalization of surfaces with supported lipid bilayers containing tethered proteins is a particularly useful method to present ligands with membrane-like mobility to cells. Here, we present a method to generate micrometer-sized patches of lipid bilayers decorated with proteins. The method uses an economic microcontact printing technique based on one-photon lithography that can be easily implemented in a commercial laser scanning microscope. We verified that both proteins and lipids freely diffuse within the patterned bilayer, as assessed by z-scan fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. These results suggest that the supported lipid bilayer patterns constitute an optimal system to explore processes involving direct interactions between cells. We also illustrate possible applications of this method by exploring the interaction of cells expressing the Fas receptor and patterns of lipid bilayers containing an agonist antibody against Fas.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Florencia Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra (INIMEC), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba , Friuli 2434, CC389, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Martín M Dodes Traian
- Departamento de Química Biológica-IQUIBICEN Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria , 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria Levi
- Departamento de Química Biológica-IQUIBICEN Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria , 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Dolores C Carrer
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra (INIMEC), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba , Friuli 2434, CC389, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
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Sánchez MF, Levi V, Weidemann T, Carrer DC. Agonist mobility on supported lipid bilayers affects Fas mediated death response. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:3527-33. [PMID: 26484594 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Extrinsic apoptosis is initiated by recognition and clustering of the single-pass transmembrane proteins Fas ligand and Fas expressed at the surface of closely apposed lymphocytes and target cells, respectively. Since Fas-mediated death response was mainly studied with soluble antibodies, the mobility constraints for receptor activation by a membrane embedded agonist is not well understood. We explored this influence by stimulating apoptosis on functionalized supported lipid bilayers, where we quantified agonist mobility by z-scan fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Using different lipid compositions, we show that the apoptotic response correlates with increased lateral mobility of the agonist in the lipid bilayer.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Florencia Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra (INIMEC), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Friuli 2434, CC389, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Valeria Levi
- Departamento de Química Biológica-IQUIBICEN, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Thomas Weidemann
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Dolores C Carrer
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra (INIMEC), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Friuli 2434, CC389, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
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Carrer DC, Higa LH, Tesoriero MVD, Morilla MJ, Roncaglia DI, Romero EL. Structural features of ultradeformable archaeosomes for topical delivery of ovalbumin. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2014; 121:281-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2014.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Revised: 05/03/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Sanchez MF, Levi V, Carrer DC. Characterization of Membrane Lipids and Protein Lateral Diffusion in Patterned Surfaces. Biophys J 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.11.3955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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García-Sáez AJ, Carrer DC, Schwille P. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy for the study of membrane dynamics and organization in giant unilamellar vesicles. Methods Mol Biol 2010; 606:493-508. [PMID: 20013417 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60761-447-0_33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is a powerful technique to study the lateral organization of membranes. It measures fluorescence intensity fluctuations in the single molecule regime and allows the determination of diffusion coefficients. When applied to lipid membranes, their fluidity and lipid phase can be estimated from the diffusion rates of fluorescent particles partitioned to the membrane. Here, we describe the theoretical basis of FCS and discuss the z-scan approach for measurements on lipid membranes. We also list the materials necessary for a FCS experiment on giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Finally, we present simple protocols for the preparation of GUVs and the acquisition and analysis of FCS data on the vesicles, so that diffusion coefficients of fluorescent probes within lipid membranes can be estimated.
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Carrer DC, Weidemann T, Ries J, Schwille P. Ceramide And The FasR In Plasma Membrane Spheres. Biophys J 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2008.12.1843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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14
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Abstract
A wide range of cellular functions are thought to be regulated not only by the activity of membrane proteins, but also by the local membrane organization, including domains of specific lipid composition. Thus, molecules and drugs targeting and disrupting this lipid pattern, particularly of the plasma membrane, will not only help to investigate the role of membrane domains in cell biology, but might also be interesting candidates for therapy. We have identified three 4-substituted cholesterol derivatives that are able to induce a domain-disrupting effect in model membranes. When applied to giant unilamellar vesicles displaying liquid-ordered-liquid-disordered phase coexistence, extensive reorganization of the membrane can be observed, such as the budding of membrane tubules or changes in the geometry of the domains, to the point of complete abolition of phase separation. In this case, the resulting membranes display a fluidity intermediate between those of liquid-disordered and liquid-ordered phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores C Carrer
- Biophysics Group, BIOTEC, TU Dresden, Tatzberg 47-51, Dresden, Germany
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15
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Carrer DC, Schreier S, Patrito M, Maggio B. Effects of a short-chain ceramide on bilayer domain formation, thickness, and chain mobililty: DMPC and asymmetric ceramide mixtures. Biophys J 2006; 90:2394-403. [PMID: 16428286 PMCID: PMC1403173 DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.105.074252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
An important part of natural ceramides contain asymmetric hydrocarbon chains. We have used calorimetry, atomic force microscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance to study the effect of ceramide chain asymmetry in mixtures of C8Cer with DMPC as a model system of hydrocarbon chain disparity. A phase diagram is provided along with information on the thickness of the membrane and the mobility of the chains at different temperatures both below and above the phase transition temperature of the mixtures. The results indicate a partial interdigitation of C8Cer chains in the gel phase, producing a correlation between the organization of both hemilayers. Our data suggest that the effects of ceramides on biomembranes may be bimodal and similar to those of cholesterol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores C Carrer
- Departamento de Química Biológica-CIQUIBIC, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
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16
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Abstract
The role of lipids in membranes has changed rapidly from static to dynamic and emphasized their involvement in information transduction, linking temporal and topological structuring through compositionally driven effects. Ceramide has been described as an important modulator of different membrane functions. In mixtures with ganglioside GM1, the condensation induced by ceramide increases intermolecular interactions, leading to an increase of the phase transition temperature and size of the self-assembled structure. In mixtures with phosphatidylcholines, ceramide segregates laterally in the gel state, forming domains whose thickness depend on global concentration and chain asymmetry of the sphingolipid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores C Carrer
- Departamento de Química Biológica-CIQUIBIC, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
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Carrer DC, Maggio B. Transduction to self-assembly of molecular geometry and local interactions in mixtures of ceramides and ganglioside GM1. Biochim Biophys Acta 2001; 1514:87-99. [PMID: 11513807 DOI: 10.1016/s0005-2736(01)00366-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In mixed monolayers with ganglioside GM1, ceramide induces a non-ideal increase of the monolayer collapse pressure, a reduction of the mean molecular area and a decrease of the surface potential per molecule at all surface pressures. The critical packing parameter and van der Waals interaction energy calculated from monolayer data predict the transduction of changes from the molecular to the supramolecular level, such as formation of bilayers and possible subsequent facilitation of non-bilayer structures as the ceramide concentration increases, along with a greater thermal stability of the lipid structures. In agreement with the expectations from monolayer data, calorimetry, dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy data reveal the actual presence of phases with high phase-transition temperatures; at about 5 mol% ceramide in the mixture, the aggregates change their topology from micelles to multilamellar vesicles of increasing size and finally to long, thin tubules as the amount of ceramide in the system increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Carrer
- Departamento de Química Biológica--CIQUIBIC, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas--CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
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18
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Carrer DC, Maggio B. Phase behavior and molecular interactions in mixtures of ceramide with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine. J Lipid Res 1999; 40:1978-89. [PMID: 10553001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In mixtures with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, ceramide induces broadening of the calorimetric main phase transition that could be deconvoluted into at least three components: the first represents isothermal melting of a phosphatidylcholine-enriched phase; the second and third represent phases with increasing proportions of ceramide melting at progressively higher temperatures. The partial phase diagram (up to 40 mole % ceramide) indicates complete or partial gel-phase immiscibility, and complete gel- and liquid-phase miscibility depending on the ceramide content. Cluster distribution function analysis of each individual transition reveals decreased cooperativity and domain size with increased amounts of ceramide. Compared to individual lipids, mixed monolayers with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine show unchanged mean molecular areas or slight expansions at 24 degrees C with dipole potentials exhibiting hyperpolarization; by contrast, already at 27 degrees C the mean molecular areas become condensed and dipole potentials show little changes or are slightly depolarized. This suggests that favorable ceramide;-phosphatidylcholine dipolar matching in the liquid state can be one of the local determinants for close molecular interactions while unfavorable matching may explain lateral domain segregation of ceramide-enriched gel phases. The changes are detected at relatively low proportions of Cer (1;-12 mole %) which are comparable to variations of Cer levels in membranes of cultured cells undergoing functional responses mediated by the sphingomyelin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Carrer
- Departamento de Química Biológica-CIQUIBIC, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
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