Toshinori Shimanouchi

Relationship between the mobility of phosphocholine headgroups of liposomes and the hydrophobicity at the membrane interface: A characterization with spectrophotometric measurements

In this study, we investigated the dynamics of a membrane interface of liposomes prepared by eight zwitterionic phosphatidylcholines in terms of their headgroup mobility, with spectroscopic methods such as dielectric dispersion analysis (DDA), fluorescence spectroscopy. The DDA measurement is based on the response of the permanent dipole moment to a driving electric field and could give the information on the axial rotational Brownian motion of a headgroup with the permanent dipole moment. This motion depended on kinds of phospholipids, the diameter of the liposomes, and the temperature. The activation energy required to overcome the intermolecular force between headgroups of phospholipids depended on the strength of the interaction between headgroups such as hydrogen bonds and/or dipole-dipole interaction. Hydration at the phosphorous group of phospholipid and the molecular order of lipid membrane impaired the interaction between headgroups. Furthermore, the hydrophobicity of membrane surface increased parallel to the increase in headgroup mobility. It is, therefore, concluded that hydration of headgroup promoted its mobility to make the membrane surface hydrophobic. The lipid membrane in liquid crystalline phase or the lipid membrane with the larger curvature was more hydrophobic.

Enhanced cytotoxicity for colon 26 cells using doxorubicin-loaded sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) vesicles.

Span 80 (sorbitan monooleate) vesicles behaved differently from conventional phospholipid vesicles (liposomes) because the former had a more fluid interface. After doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was encapsulated into the Span 80 vesicle (loading efficiency: 63 %), DOX-loaded Span 80 vesicles (DVs) were thereafter added to Colon 26 cells. It was suggested, from the flow cytometric analysis and confocal laser microscopic observation, that DVs directly deliver DOX into the cytoplasm of Colon 26 cells. DVs showed the different delivery manner from the DOX-loaded liposomes (DLs). It is considered that the difference of delivery manner between DVs and DLs resulted in the difference of cytotoxicity (IC50); i.e. IC50 values for DVs and DLs were 5 and > 30 μM, respectively. The results obtained herein would give the fundamental findings which can contribute to the improvement of formulation of conventional liposome-based carrier and its cytotoxicity.

ToF-SIMS observation for evaluating the interaction between amyloid β and lipid membranes

The adsorption behaviour of amyloid beta (Aβ), thought to be a key peptide for understanding Alzheimer’s disease, was investigated by means of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Aβ aggregates depending on the lipid membrane condition though it has not been fully understood yet. In this study, Aβ samples on different lipid membranes, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), were observed with ToF-SIMS and the complex ToF-SIMS data of the Aβ samples was interpreted using data analysis techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA), gentle-SIMS (G-SIMS) and g-ogram. DOPC and DMPC are liquid crystal at room temperature, while DPPC is gel at room temperature. As primary ion beams, Bi3+ and Ar cluster ion beams were used and the effect of an Ar cluster ion for evaluating biomolecules was also studied. The secondary ion images of the peptide fragment ions indicated by G-SIMS and g-ogram were consistent with the PCA results. It is suggested that Aβ is adsorbed homogeneously on the liquid-crystalline-phase lipid membranes, while it aggregates along the lipid on the gel-phase lipid membrane. Moreover, in the results using the Ar cluster, the influence of contamination was reduced.

Copper-mediated growth of amyloid β fibrils in the presence of oxidized and negatively charged liposomes

Amyloid β protein (Aβ) from Alzheimers disease formed fibrillar aggregates and their morphology depended on oxidized and negatively charged liposomes. The morphology of fibrillar aggregates was affected by Cu(2+), together with their growth kinetics. This is because Cu(2+) inhibited the nucleation step in the formation of amyloid Aβ fibrillar aggregates by forming Aβ/Cu complex inactive to the growth of fibrillar aggregates. In addition, this is probably because Cu(2+) affected the fibrillar aggregate formed on the surface of liposomes. These findings would give a better understanding of the formation mechanism of amyloid fibrils on biomembranes.

Amyloidogenic Mutation Promotes Fibril Formation of the N-terminal Apolipoprotein A-I on Lipid Membranes

Background: The N-terminal fragment of amyloidogenic apoA-I mutants deposits as fibrils by unknown mechanisms. Results: The G26R mutation partially prevents helix formation of the N-terminal fragment upon lipid binding, thereby facilitating β-transition and fibril formation. Conclusion: Membrane binding modulates fibril formation of apoA-I through partially destabilized helical conformation. Significance: The results reveal a new pathway for amyloid fibril formation by apoA-I. The N-terminal amino acid 1–83 fragment of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) has a strong propensity to form amyloid fibrils at physiological neutral pH. Because apoA-I has an ability to bind to lipid membranes, we examined the effects of the lipid environment on fibril-forming properties of the N-terminal fragment of apoA-I variants. Thioflavin T fluorescence assay as well as fluorescence and transmission microscopies revealed that upon lipid binding, fibril formation by apoA-I 1–83 is strongly inhibited, whereas the G26R mutant still retains the ability to form fibrils. Such distinct effects of lipid binding on fibril formation were also observed for the amyloidogenic prone region-containing peptides, apoA-I 8–33 and 8–33/G26R. This amyloidogenic region shifts from random coil to α-helical structure upon lipid binding. The G26R mutation appears to prevent this helix transition because lower helical propensity and more solvent-exposed conformation of the G26R variant upon lipid binding were observed in the apoA-I 1–83 fragment and 8–33 peptide. With a partially α-helical conformation induced by the presence of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, fibril formation by apoA-I 1–83 was strongly inhibited, whereas the G26R variant can form amyloid fibrils. These findings suggest a new possible pathway for amyloid fibril formation by the N-terminal fragment of apoA-I variants: the amyloidogenic mutations partially destabilize the α-helical structure formed upon association with lipid membranes, resulting in physiologically relevant conformations that allow fibril formation.

Membrane fusion mediated by phospholipase C under endosomal pH conditions.

Phospholipase C (PLC) is considered to be one of key enzymes for the design of drug delivery system using the endocytosis route, because PLC can catalyze the membrane fusion between cell membranes and phospholipid vehicles (liposomes). Membrane fusion by PLC was then studied under various pHs to model the endosomal environment. The used liposomes were composed of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), and cholesterol (Ch). The membrane fusion was dominated by the enzymatic reaction at pH 6-7.5. In contrast, the membrane perturbation effect due to the conformational change of PLC could induce the membrane fusion at around pH 4. The maximal value of membrane fusion was observed at around pH 5 for three liposomes in the order of DOPC<DOPC/DPPC (1:1)<DOPC/DPPC/Ch (1:1:1). From the experiments with the hydrophobic fluorescence probe and the circular dichroic method, it was revealed that PLC took a molten-globule state, with a large fluctuation and an enzymatic activity, at around pH 4-5. The DAG-rich domain enzymatically produced by PLC played role for the field for the membrane perturbation enough to lead to the membrane fusion. The present finding would be helpful to understand the behavior of membrane fusion under the late endosomal pH condition in cell system.

ToF-SIMS analysis of amyloid beta aggregation on different lipid membranes

Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides are considered to be strongly related to Alzheimers disease. Aβ peptides form a β-sheet structure on hard lipid membranes and it would aggregate to form amyloid fibrils, which are toxic to cells. However, the aggregation mechanism of Aβ is not fully understood. To evaluate the influence of the lipid membrane condition for Aβ aggregation, the adsorption forms of Aβ (1-40) on mixture membranes of lipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and cholesterol β-d-glucoside (β-CG) were investigated by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. As a result, Aβ adsorbed along the localized DMPC lipid on the mixture lipid membranes, whereas it was adsorbed homogeneously on the pure DMPC and β-CG membranes. Moreover, amino acid fragments that mainly existed in the n-terminal of Aβ (1-40) peptide were strongly detected on the localized DMPC region. These results suggested that the Aβ was adsorbed along the localized DMPC lipid with a characteristic orientation. These findings suggest that the hardness of the membrane is very sensitive to coexisting materials and that surface hardness is important for aggregation of Aβ.

Heparin promotes fibril formation by the N-terminal fragment of amyloidogenic apolipoprotein A-I

Glycosaminoglycans are known to be associated with extracellular amyloid deposits of various amyloidogenic proteins. In this study, we found that the glycosaminoglycan heparin greatly accelerates the elongation step in fibril formation by the N‐terminal 1–83 fragment of human apolipoprotein A‐I (apoA‐I), especially in the amyloidogenic W50R variant. Using fragment peptides, we demonstrate that heparin significantly promotes β‐transition and fibril formation of the highly amyloidogenic region spanning residues 44–65 and colocalizes with fibrils formed by the W50R variant. These results suggest the possible role of glycosaminoglycans in fibril formation by amyloidogenic apoA‐I variants.

Formation of lens-like vesicles induced via microphase separations on a sorbitan monoester membrane with different headgroups.

The microphase separation of lipid molecules on a vesicle membrane can be induced, depending on the difference in the geometric structures of their headgroups. Through cryo-transmission-electron-microscopy analysis, a lens-like vesicle was prepared by mixing 50 wt% Span 40 (sorbitan monopalmitate) and 50 wt% Tween 40 [polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate]. Considering the molecular structures of Span 40 and Tween 40, the high-curvature region was mainly formed by Tween 40. As determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, dielectric-dispersion analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry, a hydration layer was likely formed because polyoxyethylene conjugates with the headgroups of Tween 40. These investigations of the obtained self-assembled aggregates of nonionic surfactants with heterogeneous surfaces could contribute to the development of new types of biomaterials.

Characterization of hydrochar prepared from hydrothermal carbonization of peels of Carya cathayensis sarg

AbstractHydrothermal carbonization of peels of Carya cathayensis sarg (PCCS) by subcritical water or acetone- and ethanol-modified subcritical water was carried out at the temperature from 280 to 360°C and coal-like hydrochar was obtained. The hydrochar yield decreased with increasing of treatment temperature, but the higher heating value (HHV) and carbon content of hydrochar were promoted at higher treatment temperature. The HHV of hydrochar was in range of 30–46 MJ/kg with an increase from 52.4 to 127.6%, compared to the original PCCS. The HHVs of hydrochars obtained at 360°C could be comparable with those of heavy fuel oil (42.9 MJ/kg) and diesel oil (45.7 MJ/kg). The O/C and H/C values of hydrochar were similar to those of lignite and subbituminous, except the ash content. Especially, the O/C and H/C values of hydrochars prepared at 360°C could be compatible with those of bituminous. When treated with acetone- or ethanol-modified subcritical water, a synergistic effect of acetone–water or ethanol–wate...