Sequestration of membrane cholesterol by cholesterol-binding proteins inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry into Vero E6 cells

Membrane lipids and proteins form dynamic domains crucial for physiological and pathophysiological processes, including viral infection. Many plasma membrane proteins, residing within membrane domains enriched with cholesterol (CHOL) and sphingomyelin (SM), serve as receptors for attachment and entry of viruses into the host cell. Among these, human coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), use proteins associated with membrane domains for initial binding and internalization. We hypothesized that the interaction of lipid-binding proteins with CHOL in plasma membrane could sequestrate lipids and thus affect the efficiency of virus entry into host cells, preventing the initial steps of viral infection. We have prepared CHOL-binding proteins with high affinities for lipids in the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. Binding of the perfringolysin O domain four (D4) and its variant D4E458L to membrane CHOL impaired the internalization of the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the pseudovirus complemented with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells was also decreased. Overall, our results demonstrate that the integrity of CHOL-rich membrane domains and the accessibility of CHOL in the membrane play an essential role in SARS-CoV-2 cell entry.

The Fluid-Mosaic model of cell membranes: A brief introduction, historical features, some general principles, and its adaptation to current information

The Fluid-Mosaic Membrane (FMM) model was originally proposed as a general, nanometer-scale representation of cell membranes (Singer and Nicolson, 1972). The FMM model was based on some general principles, such as thermodynamic considerations, intercalation of globular proteins into a lipid bilayer, independent protein and lipid dynamics, cooperativity and other characteristics. Other models had trimolecular structures or membrane globular lipoprotein units. These latter models were flawed, because they did not allow autonomous lipids, membrane domains or discrete lateral dynamics. The FMM model was also consistent with membrane asymmetry, cis- and trans-membrane linkages and associations of membrane components into multi-molecular complexes and domains. It has remained useful for explaining the basic organizational principles and properties of various biological membranes. New information has been added, such as membrane-associated cytoskeletal assemblies, extracellular matrix interactions, transmembrane controls, specialized lipid-protein domains that differ in compositions, rotational and lateral mobilities, lifetimes, functions, and other characteristics. The presence of dense, structured membrane domains has reduced significantly the extent of fluid-lipid membrane areas, and the FMM model is now considered to be more mosaic and dense than the original proposal.

Purified myelin lipids display a critical mixing point at low surface pressure

Lipids extracted from Purified Myelin Membranes (LPMM) were spread as monomolecular films at the air/aqueous interface. The films were visualized by Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM) at different lateral pressures (π) and ionic environments. Coexistence of Liquid-Expanded (LE) and cholesterol-enriched (CE) rounded domains persisted up to π ≈ 5 mN/m but the monolayers became homogeneous at higher surface pressures. Before mixing, the domains distorted to non-rounded domains. We experimentally measured the line tension (λ) for the lipid monolayers at the domain borders by a shape relaxation technique using non-homogeneous electric fields. Regardless of the subphase conditions, the obtained line tensions are of the order of pN and tended to decrease as lateral pressure increased toward the mixing point. From the mean square displacement of nested trapped domains, we also calculated the dipole density difference between phases (μ). A non-linear drop was detected in this parameter as the mixing point is approached. Here we quantitively evaluated the π-dependance of both parameters with proper power laws in the vicinity of the critical mixing surface pressure, and the exponents showed to be consistent with a critical phenomenon in the two-dimensional Ising universality class. This idea of bidimensionality was found to be compatible only for simplified lipidic systems, while for whole myelin monolayers, that means including proteins, no critical mixing point was detected. Finally, the line tension values were related with the thickness differences between phases (Δt) near the critical point.

Giant plasma membrane vesicles to study plasma membrane structure and dynamics

The plasma membrane (PM) is a highly heterogenous structure intertwined with the cortical actin cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix. This complex architecture makes it difficult to study the processes taking place at the PM. Model membrane systems that are simple mimics of the PM overcome this bottleneck and allow us to study the biophysical principles underlying the processes at the PM. Among them, cell-derived giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) are considered the most physiologically relevant system, retaining the compositional complexity of the PM to a large extent. GPMVs have become a key tool in membrane research in the last few years. In this review, I will provide a brief overview of this system, summarize recent applications and discuss the limitations.

The Ca2+- and phospholipid-binding protein Annexin A2 is able to increase and decrease plasma membrane order

Annexin A2 (AnxA2) is a calcium- and phospholipid-binding protein that plays roles in cellular processes involving membrane and cytoskeleton dynamics and is able to associate to several partner proteins. However, the principal molecular partners of AnxA2 are negatively charged phospholipids such as phosphatidylserine and phosphatidyl-inositol-(4,5)-phosphate. Herein we have studied different aspects of membrane lipid rearrangements induced by AnxA2 membrane binding. X-ray diffraction data revealed that AnxA2 has the property to stabilize lamellar structures and to block the formation of highly curved lipid phases (inverted hexagonal phase, H_II). By using pyrene-labelled cholesterol and the environmental probe di-4-ANEPPDHQ, we observed that in model membranes, AnxA2 is able to modify both, cholesterol distribution and lipid compaction. In epithelial cells, we observed that AnxA2 localizes to membranes of different lipid order. The protein binding to membranes resulted in both, increases and/or decreases in membrane order depending on the cellular membrane regions. Overall, AnxA2 showed the capacity to modulate plasma membrane properties by inducing lipid redistribution that may lead to an increase in order or disorder of the membranes.

Fluorescence sensors for imaging membrane lipid domains and cholesterol

Lipid membrane domains are supramolecular lateral heterogeneities of biological membranes. Of nanoscopic dimensions, they constitute specialized hubs used by the cell as transient signaling platforms for a great variety of biologically important mechanisms. Their property to form and dissolve in the bulk lipid bilayer endow them with the ability to engage in highly dynamic processes, and temporarily recruit subpopulations of membrane proteins in reduced nanometric compartments that can coalesce to form larger mesoscale assemblies. Cholesterol is an essential component of these lipid domains; its unique molecular structure is suitable for interacting intricately with crevices and cavities of transmembrane protein surfaces through its rough β face while "talking" to fatty acid acyl chains of glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids via its smooth α face. Progress in the field of membrane domains has been closely associated with innovative improvements in fluorescence microscopy and new fluorescence sensors. These advances enabled the exploration of the biophysical properties of lipids and their supramolecular platforms. Here I review the rationale behind the use of biosensors over the last few decades and their contributions towards elucidation of the in-plane and transbilayer topography of cholesterol-enriched lipid domains and their molecular constituents. The challenges introduced by super-resolution optical microscopy are discussed, as well as possible scenarios for future developments in the field, including virtual ("no staining") staining.

Ionic environment, thickness and line tension as determinants of phase separation in whole Purified Myelin Membranes monolayers

Purified myelin membranes (PMM) were spread as monomolecular films at the air/aqueous solution interface, and visualized by Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM) at different lateral pressures (π) on three specific aqueous solutions: absence of salts, physiological conditions and presence of calcium. Coexistence of Liquid-Expanded (LE) and Liquid Ordered (LO) phases persisted up to collapse in the presence of salts, whereas monolayers became homogeneous at π ≥ 35-40 mN/m when salts are absent. This PMM phase-mixing behavior in monolayers is similar to the previously reported behavior of PMM multilamellar vesicles. Reflectivities (R_p) of p-polarized light from both phases were assessed throughout the whole π -range, and film thicknesses (t) were calculated from the R_p values and measured film refractive indices (n). The LO phase was found to be more reflective and thicker than the LE phase at π ≤ 15 mN/m, but less reflective and thinner at higher π. We also determined the line tension (λ) of PMM monolayers at the domain boundaries from the rate of domain shape relaxation, which turned out to be of the order of picoNewtons (pN) and decreased as π increased. A correlation between λ and thickness differences (Δt) was found, suggesting that Δt is a molecular determinant for λ in PMM monolayers. Both λ and Δt were found to increase markedly when calcium was present in the subphase. This result corroborates the concept of divalent cations as a stabilizing factor for phase separation, in line with earlier studies on this mixture forming multilamellar membrane arrangements.

Structural hallmarks of lung surfactant: Lipid-protein interactions, membrane structure and future challenges

Lung surfactant (LS) is an outstanding example of how a highly regulated and dynamic membrane-based system has evolved to sustain a wealth of structural reorganizations in order to accomplish its biophysical function, as it coats and stabilizes the respiratory air-liquid interface in the mammalian lung. The present review dissects the complexity of the structure-function relationships in LS through an updated description of the lipid-protein interactions and the membrane structures that sustain its synthesis, secretion, interfacial performance and recycling. We also revise the current models and the biophysical techniques employed to study the membranous architecture of LS. It is important to consider that the structure and functional properties of LS are often studied in bulk or under static conditions, in spite that surfactant function is strongly connected with a highly dynamic behaviour, sustained by very polymorphic structures and lipid-lipid, lipid-protein and protein-protein interactions that reorganize in precise spatio-temporal coordinates. We have tried to underline the evidences available of the existence of such structural dynamism in LS. A last important aspect is that the synthesis and assembly of LS is a strongly regulated intracellular process to ensure the establishment of the proper interactions driving LS surface activity, while protecting the integrity of other cell membranes. The use of simplified lipid models or partial natural materials purified from animal tissues could be too simplistic to understand the true molecular mechanisms defining surfactant function in vivo. In this line, we will bring into the attention of the reader the methodological challenges and the questions still open to understand the structure-function relationships of LS at its full biological relevance.

Lipid domain formation and non-lamellar structures associated with varied lysylphosphatidylglycerol analogue content in a model Staphylococcal plasma membrane

Dipalmitoyl-3-aza-dehydroxy-lysylphosphatidylglycerol (DP3adLPG), is a chemically stable synthetic analogue of the bacterial lipid lysylphosphatidylglycerol (LPG), designed as a substitute for the notoriously labile native lipid in biophysical investigations. In Staphylococcus aureus, LPG is known to play a role in resistance to antibiotics by altering membrane charge properties in response to environmental stress, but little is known about how LPG influences other bilayer physicochemical properties or lateral organisation, through the formation of complexes with lipids such as phosphatidylglycerol (PG). In this study we have investigated the different phases formed by biomimetic mixtures of 3adLPG and PG in different thermotropic states, using neutron diffraction and electron microscopy. In a DPPG/DP3adLPG 70:30 mol% mixture, two distinct lamellar phases were observed below the lipid melting transition: L_β' 1 and L_β' 2 with respective periodicities of 82 and 62 Å. Increasing the proportion of DP3adLPG to mimic the effects of environmental stress led to the disappearance of the L_β' 1 phase and the formation of an inverse hexagonal phase. The compositions of these different phases were identified by investigating the thermotropic properties of the two mixtures, and probing their interaction with the antimicrobial peptide magainin 2 F5W. We propose that the observed polymorphism results from the preferential formation of either triplet PG-3adLPG-PG, or paired PG-3adLPG complexes, dependent upon the mixing proportions of the two lipids. The relevance of these findings to the role native LPG in S. aureus, are discussed with respect to their influence on antibiotic resistance and lateral membrane organisation.

Bringing rafts to life: Lessons learned from lipid organization across diverse biological membranes

The ability of lipids to drive lateral organization is a remarkable feature of membranes and has been hypothesized to underlie the architecture of cells. Models for lipid rafts and related domains were originally based on the mammalian plasma membrane, but the nature of heterogeneity in this system is still not fully resolved. However, the concept of lipid-driven organization has been highly influential across biology, and has led to discoveries in organisms that feature a diversity of lipid chemistries and physiological needs. Here we review several emerging and instructive cases of membrane organization in non-mammalian systems. In bacteria, several types of membrane domains that act in metabolism and signaling have been elucidated. These widen our view of what constitutes a raft, but also introduce new questions about the relationship between organization and function. In yeast, observable membrane organization is found in both the plasma membrane and the vacuole. The latter serves as the best example of classic membrane phase partitioning in a living system to date, suggesting that internal organelles are important membranes to investigate across eukaryotes. Finally, we highlight plants as powerful model systems for complex membrane interactions in multicellular organisms. Plant membranes are organized by unique glycosphingolipids, supporting the importance of carbohydrate interactions in organizing lateral domains. These examples demonstrate that membrane organization is a potentially universal phenonenon in biology and argue for the continued broadening of lipid physical chemistry research into a wide range of systems.

Sphingolipids and plasma membrane hydrolases in human primary bronchial cells during differentiation and their altered patterns in cystic fibrosis

Human primary bronchial epithelial cells differentiated in vitro represent a valuable tool to study lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), an inherited disorder caused by mutations in the gene coding for the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator. In CF, sphingolipids, a ubiquitous class of bioactive lipids mainly associated with the outer layer of the plasma membrane, seem to play a crucial role in the establishment of the severe lung complications. Nevertheless, no information on the involvement of sphingolipids and their metabolism in the differentiation of primary bronchial epithelial cells are available so far. Here we show that ceramide and globotriaosylceramide increased during cell differentiation, whereas glucosylceramide and gangliosides content decreased. In addition, we found that apical plasma membrane of differentiated bronchial cells is characterized by a higher content of sphingolipids in comparison to the other cell membranes and that activity of sphingolipids catabolic enzymes associated with this membrane results altered with respect to the total cell activities. In particular, the apical membrane of CF cells was characterized by high levels of ceramide and glucosylceramide, known to have proinflammatory activity. On this basis, our data further support the role of sphingolipids in the onset of CF lung pathology.

The role of lipid species in membranes and cancer-related changes

Several studies have demonstrated interactions between the two leaflets in membrane bilayers and the importance of specific lipid species for such interaction and membrane function. We here discuss these investigations with a focus on the sphingolipid and cholesterol-rich lipid membrane domains called lipid rafts, including the small flask-shaped invaginations called caveolae, and the importance of such membrane structures in cell biology and cancer. We discuss the possible interactions between the very long-chain sphingolipids in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane and the phosphatidylserine species PS 18:0/18:1 in the inner leaflet and the importance of cholesterol for such interactions. We challenge the view that lipid rafts contain a large fraction of lipids with two saturated fatty acyl groups and argue that it is important in future studies of membrane models to use asymmetric membrane bilayers with lipid species commonly found in cellular membranes. We also discuss the need for more quantitative lipidomic studies in order to understand membrane function and structure in general, and the importance of lipid rafts in biological systems. Finally, we discuss cancer-related changes in lipid rafts and lipid composition, with a special focus on changes in glycosphingolipids and the possibility of using lipid therapy for cancer treatment.

Long acyl chain ceramides govern cholesterol and cytoskeleton dependence of membrane outer leaflet dynamics

The spatiotemporal dynamics of the plasma membrane is a consequence of fine-tuned interactions between membrane components. However, the precise identity of molecular factors that maintain this delicate balance, which is lost even in cell membrane derived mimics, remains elusive. Here, we use two cell lines, CHO-K1 and RBL-2H3, which show differences in outer membrane organization, dynamics, and cytoskeleton coupling, to investigate the underlying factors. To our surprise, knock-down of the cytoskeleton-interacting Immunoglobulin E receptor, which is abundant in RBL-2H3 but not in CHO-K1 cells, is not responsible for lipid confinement or cytoskeleton coupling. A subsequent lipidomic analysis of the two cell membranes revealed differences in total membrane ceramide content (C16 to C24). Analysis of the dynamics and organization of ceramide treated live cell membranes by imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy demonstrates that C24 and C16 saturated ceramides uniquely alter membrane dynamics by promoting the formation of cholesterol-independent domains and by elevating the inter-leaflet coupling.

Shaping membranes with disordered proteins

Membrane proteins control and shape membrane trafficking processes. The role of protein structure in shaping cellular membranes is well established. However, a significant fraction of membrane proteins is disordered or contains long disordered regions. It becomes more and more clear that these disordered regions contribute to the function of membrane proteins. While the fold of a structured protein is essential for its function, being disordered seems to be a crucial feature of membrane bound intrinsically disordered proteins and protein regions. Here we outline the motifs that encode function in disordered proteins and discuss how these functional motifs enable disordered proteins to modulate membrane properties. These changes in membrane properties facilitate and regulate membrane trafficking processes which are highly abundant in eukaryotes.

On the existence of endocytosis driven by membrane phase separations

Large endocytic responses can occur rapidly in diverse cell types without dynamins, clathrin, or actin remodeling. Our experiments suggest that membrane phase separations are crucial with more ordered plasma membrane domains being internalized. Not only do these endocytic processes rely on coalescence of membrane domains, they are promoted by participation of membrane proteins in such domains, one important regulatory influence being palmitoylation. Membrane actin cytoskeleton in general resists membrane phase transitions, and its remodeling may play many roles. Besides membrane 'caging' and 'pinching' roles, typically ascribed to clathrin and dynamins, cytoskeleton remodeling may modify local membrane tension and buckling, as well as the presence and location of actin- and tension-free membrane patches. Endocytosis that depends on membrane phase separations becomes activated in metabolic stress and in response to Ca and PI3 kinase signaling. Internalized membrane traffics normally, and the secretory pathway eventually resupplies membrane to the plasmalemma or directs internalized membrane to other locations, including the extracellular space as exosomes. We describe here that endocytosis driven by membrane phase transitions is regulated by the same signaling mechanisms that regulate macropinocytosis, and it may play diverse roles in cells from nutrient assimilation to membrane recycling, cell migration, and the initiation of quiescent or hibernating cell states. Membrane ordering and phase separations have been shown to promote endocytosis in diverse cell types, including fibroblasts, myocytes, glial cells, and immune cells. We propose that clathrin/dynamin-independent endocytosis represents a continuum of related mechanisms with variable but universal dependence on membrane ordering and actin remodeling. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Molecular biophysics of membranes and membrane proteins.

Contrasting roles of oxidized lipids in modulating membrane microdomains

Lipid rafts display a lateral heterogeneity forming membrane microdomains that hold a fundamental role on biological membranes and are indispensable to physiological functions of cells. Oxidative stress in cellular environments may cause lipid oxidation, changing membrane composition and organization, thus implying in effects in cell signaling and even loss of homeostasis. The individual contribution of oxidized lipid species to the formation or disruption of lipid rafts in membranes still remains unknown. Here, we investigate the role of different structures of oxidized phospholipids on rafts microdomains by carefully controlling the membrane composition. Our experimental approach based on fluorescence microscopy of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV) enables the direct visualization of the impact of hydroperoxidized POPC lipid (referred to as POPCOOH) and shortened chain lipid PazePC (1-palmitoyl-2-azelaoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) on phase separation. We found that the molecular structure of oxidized lipid is of paramount importance on lipid mixing and/or demixing. The hydrophobic mismatch promoted by POPCOOH coupled to its cylindrical molecular shape favor microdomains formation. In contrast, the conical shape of PazePC causes disarrangement of lipid 2D organized platforms. Our findings contribute to better unraveling how oxidized phospholipids can trigger formation or disruption of lipid rafts. As a consequence, phospholipid oxidation may indirectly affect association or dissociation of key biomolecules in the rafts thus altering cell signaling and homeostasis.

Assessing Membrane Fluidity and Visualizing Fluid Membrane Domains in Bacteria Using Fluorescent Membrane Dyes

Membrane fluidity is a key parameter of bacterial membranes that undergoes quick adaptation in response to environmental challenges and has recently emerged as an important factor in the antibacterial mechanism of membrane-targeting antibiotics. The specific level of membrane fluidity is not uniform across the bacterial cell membrane. Rather, specialized microdomains associated with different cellular functions can exhibit fluidity values that significantly deviate from the average. Assessing changes in the overall membrane fluidity and formation of membrane microdomains is therefore pivotal to understand both the functional organization of the bacterial cell membrane as well as antibiotic mechanisms. Here we describe how two fluorescent membrane dyes, laurdan and DiIC12, can be employed to assess membrane fluidity in living bacteria. We focus on Bacillus subtilis, since this organism has been relatively well-studied with respect to membrane domains. However, we also describe how these assays can be adapted for other bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Dynamic pattern generation in cell membranes: Current insights into membrane organization

It has been two decades since the lipid raft hypothesis was first presented. Even today, whether these nanoscale cholesterol-rich domains are present in cell membranes is not completely resolved. However, especially in the last few years, a rich body of literature has demonstrated both the presence and the importance of non-random distribution of biomolecules on the membrane, which is the focus of this review. These new developments have pushed the experimental limits of detection and have brought us closer to observing lipid domains in the plasma membrane of live cells. Characterization of biomolecules associated with lipid rafts has revealed a deep connection between biological regulation and function and membrane compositional heterogeneities. Finally, tantalizing new developments in the field have demonstrated that lipid domains might not just be associated with the plasma membrane of eukaryotes but could potentially be a ubiquitous membrane-organizing principle in several other biological systems. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Emergence of Complex Behavior in Biomembranes edited by Marjorie Longo.

Direct visualization of the lateral structure of giant vesicles composed of pseudo-binary mixtures of sulfatide, asialo-GM1 and GM1 with POPC

We compared the lateral structure of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) composed of three pseudo binary mixtures of different glycosphingolipid (GSL), i.e. sulfatide, asialo-GM1 or GM1, with POPC. These sphingolipids possess similar hydrophobic residues but differ in the size and charge of their polar head group. Fluorescence microscopy experiments using LAURDAN and DiIC₁₈ show coexistence of micron sized domains in a molar fraction range that depends on the nature of the GSLs. In all cases, experiments with LAURDAN show that the membrane lateral structure resembles the coexistence of solid ordered and liquid disordered phases. Notably, the overall extent of hydration measured by LAURDAN between the solid ordered and liquid disordered membrane regions show marked similarities and are independent of the size of the GSL polar head group. In addition, the maximum amount of GSL incorporated in the POPC bilayer exhibits a strong dependence on the size of the GSL polar head group following the order sulfatide>asialo-GM1>GM1. This observation is in full harmony with previous experiments and theoretical predictions for mixtures of these GSL with glycerophospholipids. Finally, compared with previous results reported in GUVs composed of mixtures of POPC with the sphingolipids cerebroside and ceramide, we observed distinctive curvature effects at particular molar fraction regimes in the different mixtures. This suggests a pronounced effect of these GSL on the spontaneous curvature of the bilayer. This observation may be relevant in a biological context, particularly in connection with the highly curved structures found in neural cells.

Cholesterol Bilayer Domains in the Eye Lens Health: A Review

The most unique biochemical characteristic of the eye lens fiber cell plasma membrane is its extremely high cholesterol content, the need for which is still unclear. It is evident, however, that the disturbance of Chol homeostasis may result in damages associated with cataracts. Electron paramagnetic resonance methods allow discrimination of two types of lipid domains in model membranes overloaded with Chol, namely, phospholipid-cholesterol domains and pure Chol bilayer domains. These domains are also detected in human lens lipid membranes prepared from the total lipids extracted from lens cortices and nuclei of donors from different age groups. Independent of the age-related changes in phospholipid composition, the physical properties of phospholipid-Chol domains remain the same for all age groups and are practically identical for cortical and nuclear membranes. The presence of Chol bilayer domains in these membranes provides a buffering capacity for cholesterol concentration in the surrounding phospholipid-Chol domains, keeping it at a constant saturating level and thus keeping the physical properties of the membrane consistent with and independent of changes in phospholipid composition. It seems that the presence of Chol bilayer domains plays an integral role in the regulation of cholesterol-dependent processes in fiber cell plasm membranes and in the maintenance of fiber cell membrane homeostasis.

High Cholesterol/Low Cholesterol: Effects in Biological Membranes: A Review

Lipid composition determines membrane properties, and cholesterol plays a major role in this determination as it regulates membrane fluidity and permeability, as well as induces the formation of coexisting phases and domains in the membrane. Biological membranes display a very diverse lipid composition, the lateral organization of which plays a crucial role in regulating a variety of membrane functions. We hypothesize that, during biological evolution, membranes with a particular cholesterol content were selected to perform certain functions in the cells of eukaryotic organisms. In this review, we discuss the major membrane properties induced by cholesterol, and their relationship to certain membrane functions.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel rhodamine labeled cholesterol reporter

We introduce the novel fluorescent cholesterol probe RChol in which a sulforhodamine group is linked to the sixth carbon atom of the steroid backbone of cholesterol. The same position has recently been selected to generate the fluorescent reporter 6-dansyl-cholestanol (DChol) and the photoreactive 6-azi-cholestanol. In comparison with DChol, RChol is brighter, much more photostable, and requires less energy for excitation, i.e. favorable conditions for microscopical imaging. RChol easily incorporates into methyl-β-cyclodextrin forming a water-soluble inclusion complex that acts as an efficient sterol donor for cells and membranes. Like cholesterol, RChol possesses a free 3'OH group, a prerequisite to undergo intracellular esterification. RChol was also able to support the growth of cholesterol auxotrophic cells and can therefore substitute for cholesterol as a major component of the plasma membrane. According to subcellular fractionation, slight amounts of RChol (~12%) were determined in low-density Triton-insoluble fractions whereas the majority of RChol was localized in non-rafts fractions. In phase-separated giant unilamellar vesicles, RChol preferentially partitions in liquid-disordered membrane domains. Intracellular RChol was transferred to extracellular sterol acceptors such as high density lipoproteins in a dose-dependent manner. Unlike DChol, RChol was not delivered to the cholesterol storage pathway. Instead, it translocated to endosomes/lysosomes with some transient contacts to peroxisomes. Thus, RChol is considered as a useful probe to study the endosomal/lysosomal pathway of cholesterol.

Organization of lipids in fiber-cell plasma membranes of the eye lens

The plasma membrane together with the cytoskeleton forms the only supramolecular structure of the matured fiber cell which accounts for mostly all fiber cell lipids. The purpose of this review is to inform researchers about the importance of the lipid bilayer portion of the lens fiber cell plasma membranes in the maintaining lens homeostasis, and thus protecting against cataract development.

Structural determinants of protein partitioning into ordered membrane domains and lipid rafts

Increasing evidence supports the existence of lateral nanoscopic lipid domains in plasma membranes, known as lipid rafts. These domains preferentially recruit membrane proteins and lipids to facilitate their interactions and thereby regulate transmembrane signaling and cellular homeostasis. The functionality of raft domains is intrinsically dependent on their selectivity for specific membrane components; however, while the physicochemical determinants of raft association for lipids are known, very few systematic studies have focused on the structural aspects that guide raft partitioning of proteins. In this review, we describe biophysical and thermodynamic aspects of raft-mimetic liquid ordered phases, focusing on those most relevant for protein partitioning. Further, we detail the variety of experimental models used to study protein-raft interactions. Finally, we review the existing literature on mechanisms for raft targeting, including lipid post-translational modifications, lipid binding, and transmembrane domain features. We conclude that while protein palmitoylation is a clear raft-targeting signal, few other general structural determinants for raft partitioning have been revealed, suggesting that many discoveries lie ahead in this burgeoning field.

Lipid domains in intact fiber-cell plasma membranes isolated from cortical and nuclear regions of human eye lenses of donors from different age groups

The results reported here clearly document changes in the properties and the organization of fiber-cell membrane lipids that occur with age, based on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis of lens membranes of clear lenses from donors of age groups from 0 to 20, 21 to 40, and 61 to 80 years. The physical properties, including profiles of the alkyl chain order, fluidity, hydrophobicity, and oxygen transport parameter, were investigated using EPR spin-labeling methods, which also provide an opportunity to discriminate coexisting lipid domains and to evaluate the relative amounts of lipids in these domains. Fiber-cell membranes were found to contain three distinct lipid environments: bulk lipid domain, which appears minimally affected by membrane proteins, and two domains that appear due to the presence of membrane proteins, namely boundary and trapped lipid domains. In nuclear membranes the amount of boundary and trapped phospholipids as well as the amount of cholesterol in trapped lipid domains increased with the donors' age and was greater than that in cortical membranes. The difference between the amounts of lipids in domains uniquely formed due to the presence of membrane proteins in nuclear and cortical membranes increased with the donors' age. It was also shown that cholesterol was to a large degree excluded from trapped lipid domains in cortical membranes. It is evident that the rigidity of nuclear membranes was greater than that of cortical membranes for all age groups. The amount of lipids in domains of low oxygen permeability, mainly in trapped lipid domains, were greater in nuclear than cortical membranes and increased with the age of donors. These results indicate that the nuclear fiber cell plasma membranes were less permeable to oxygen than cortical membranes and become less permeable to oxygen with age. In clear lenses, age-related changes in the lens lipid and protein composition and organization appear to occur in ways that increase fiber cell plasma membrane resistance to oxygen permeation.

Structure-function relationships in pulmonary surfactant membranes: from biophysics to therapy

Pulmonary surfactant is an essential lipid-protein complex to maintain an operative respiratory surface at the mammalian lungs. It reduces surface tension at the alveolar air-liquid interface to stabilise the lungs against physical forces operating along the compression-expansion breathing cycles. At the same time, surfactant integrates elements establishing a primary barrier against the entry of pathogens. Lack or deficiencies of the surfactant system are associated with respiratory pathologies, which treatment often includes supplementation with exogenous materials. The present review summarises current models on the molecular mechanisms of surfactant function, with particular emphasis in its biophysical properties to stabilise the lungs and the molecular alterations connecting impaired surfactant with diseased organs. It also provides a perspective on the current surfactant-based strategies to treat respiratory pathologies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Structure and Function: Relevance in the Cell's Physiology, Pathology and Therapy.

Biogenesis and transport of membrane domains-potential implications in brain pathologies

Lipids in biological membranes show astonishing chemical diversity, but they also show some key conserved structures in different organisms. In addition, some of their biophysical properties have been related to specific functions. In this review, we aim to discuss the role of sphingolipids- and cholesterol-rich micro- and nano-membrane domains (MD) and highlight their pivotal role in lipid-protein clustering processes, vesicle biogenesis and membrane fusion. We further review potential connections between human pathologies and defects in MD biosynthesis, recycling and homeostasis. Brain, which is second only to the adipose tissues in term of lipid abundance, is particularly affected by MD defects which are linked to neurodegenerative disorders. Finally we propose a potential connection between MD and several nutrient-related processes and envision how diet and autophagy could bring insights towards understanding the impact of global lipid homeostasis on human health and disease.

Compositional and structural characterization of monolayers and bilayers composed of native pulmonary surfactant from wild type mice

This work comprises a structural and dynamical study of monolayers and bilayers composed of native pulmonary surfactant from mice. Spatially resolved information was obtained using fluorescence (confocal, wide field and two photon excitation) and atomic force microscopy methods. Lipid mass spectrometry experiments were also performed in order to obtain relevant information on the lipid composition of this material. Bilayers composed of mice pulmonary surfactant showed coexistence of distinct domains at room temperature, with morphologies and lateral packing resembling the coexistence of liquid ordered (lo)/liquid disordered (ld)-like phases reported previously in porcine lung surfactant. Interestingly, the molar ratio of saturated (mostly DPPC)/non-saturated phospholipid species and cholesterol measured in the innate material corresponds with that of a DOPC/DPPC/cholesterol mixture showing lo/ld phase coexistence at a similar temperature. This suggests that at quasi-equilibrium conditions, key lipid classes in this complex biological material are still able to produce the same scaffold observed in relevant but simpler model lipid mixtures. Also, robust structural and dynamical similarities between mono- and bi-layers composed of mice pulmonary surfactant were observed when the monolayers reach a surface pressure of 30mN/m. This value is in line with theoretically predicted and recently measured surface pressures, where the monolayer-bilayer equivalence occurs in samples composed of single phospholipids. Finally, squeezed out material attached to pulmonary surfactant monolayers was observed at surface pressures near the beginning of the monolayer reversible exclusion plateau (~40mN/m). Under these conditions this material adopts elongated tubular shapes and displays ordered lateral packing as indicated by spatially resolved LAURDAN GP measurements.