skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Title: Stabilization of supramolecular membrane protein–lipid bilayer assemblies through immobilization in a crystalline exoskeleton
Abstract Artificial native-like lipid bilayer systems constructed from phospholipids assembling into unilamellar liposomes allow the reconstitution of detergent-solubilized transmembrane proteins into supramolecular lipid-protein assemblies called proteoliposomes, which mimic cellular membranes. Stabilization of these complexes remains challenging because of their chemical composition, the hydrophobicity and structural instability of membrane proteins, and the lability of interactions between protein, detergent, and lipids within micelles and lipid bilayers. In this work we demonstrate that metastable lipid, protein-detergent, and protein-lipid supramolecular complexes can be successfully generated and immobilized within zeolitic-imidazole framework (ZIF) to enhance their stability against chemical and physical stressors. Upon immobilization in ZIF bio-composites, blank liposomes, and model transmembrane metal transporters in detergent micelles or embedded in proteoliposomes resist elevated temperatures, exposure to chemical denaturants, aging, and mechanical stresses. Extensive morphological and functional characterization of the assemblies upon exfoliation reveal that all these complexes encapsulated within the framework maintain their native morphology, structure, and activity, which is otherwise lost rapidly without immobilization.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2003534 1654405
PAR ID:
10281731
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Nature Communications
Volume:
12
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2041-1723
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Sweedler, J. V. (Ed.)
    Viroporins are small viral ion channels that play important roles in the viral infection cycle and are proven antiviral drug targets. Matrix protein 2 from influenza A (AM2) is the best-characterized viroporin, and the current paradigm is that AM2 forms monodisperse tetramers. Here, we used native mass spectrometry and other techniques to characterize the oligomeric state of both the full-length and transmembrane (TM) domain of AM2 in a variety of different pH and detergent conditions. Unexpectedly, we discovered that AM2 formed a range of different oligomeric complexes that were strongly influenced by the local chemical environment. Native mass spectrometry of AM2 in nanodiscs with different lipids showed that lipids also affected the oligomeric states of AM2. Finally, nanodiscs uniquely enabled the measurement of amantadine binding stoichiometries to AM2 in the intact lipid bilayer. These unexpected results reveal that AM2 can form a wider range of oligomeric states than previously thought possible, which may provide new potential mechanisms of influenza pathology and pharmacology. 
    more » « less
  2. Abstract Metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2), a subclass C member of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, is essential for regulating neurotransmitter signaling and facilitating synaptic adaptability in the central nervous system. This receptor, like other GPCRs, is highly sensitive to its surrounding lipid environment, where specific lipid compositions can influence its stability, conformational dynamics, and function. In particular, cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHS) plays a critical role in stabilizing mGluR2 and modulating its structural states within cellular membranes and micellar environments. However, the molecular basis for this lipid-mediated modulation remains largely unexplored. To investigate the effects of CHS and lipid composition on mGluR2, we employed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of mGluR2 embedded in both detergent micelles (BLMNG and CHS) and a POPC lipid bilayer containing 0%, 10%, and 25% CHS. These simulations were conducted for both active and inactive states of the receptor. Our findings reveal that CHS concentration modulates mGluR2’s structural stability and conformational behavior, with a marked impact observed within transmembrane helices TM1, TM2, and TM3, which constitute the core of the receptor’s transmembrane domain. In micelle environments, mGluR2 displayed unique conformational dynamics influenced by CHS, underscoring the receptor’s sensitivity to its lipid surroundings. Notably, a CHS concentration of 10% elicited more pronounced conformational changes than either cholesterol-depleted (0%) or cholesterol-enriched (25%) systems, indicating an optimal CHS range for maintaining structural stability. Our study provides atomistic insights into how lipid composition and CHS concentration impact mGluR2’s conformational landscape in distinct micelle and bilayer environments. These findings advance our understanding of lipid-mediated modulation in GPCR function, highlighting potential avenues for receptor-targeted drug design, particularly in cases where lipid interactions play a significant role in therapeutic efficacy. 
    more » « less
  3. The effects of detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on protein structure and dynamics are fundamental to the most common laboratory technique used to separate proteins and determine their molecular weights: polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, the mechanism by which SDS induces protein unfolding and the microstructure of protein–SDS complexes remain largely unknown. Here, we report a detailed account of SDS-induced unfolding of two proteins—I27 domain of titin and β-amylase—obtained through all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. Both proteins were found to spontaneously unfold in the presence of SDS at boiling water temperature on the time scale of several microseconds. The protein unfolding was found to occur via two distinct mechanisms in which specific interactions of individual SDS molecules disrupt the protein's secondary structure. In the final state of the unfolding process, the proteins are found to wrap around SDS micelles in a fluid necklace-and-beads configuration, where the number and location of bound micelles changes dynamically. The global conformation of the protein was found to correlate with the number of SDS micelles bound to it, whereas the number of SDS molecules directly bound to the protein was found to define the relaxation time scale of the unfolded protein. Our microscopic characterization of SDS–protein interactions sets the stage for future refinement of SDS–enabled protein characterization methods, including protein fingerprinting and sequencing using a solid-state nanopore. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract Membrane proteins are of biological and pharmaceutical significance. However, their structural study is extremely challenging mainly due to the fact that only a small number of chemical tools are suitable for stabilizing membrane proteins in solution. Detergents are widely used in membrane protein study, but conventional detergents are generally poor at stabilizing challenging membrane proteins such as G protein‐coupled receptors and protein complexes. In the current study, we prepared tandem triazine‐based maltosides (TZMs) with two amphiphilic triazine units connected by different diamine linkers, hydrazine (TZM−Hs) and 1,2‐ethylenediamine (TZM−Es). These TZMs were consistently superior to a gold standard detergent (DDM) in terms of stabilizing a few membrane proteins. In addition, the TZM−Es containing a long linker showed more general protein stabilization efficacy with multiple membrane proteins than the TZM−Hs containing a short linker. This result indicates that introduction of the flexible1,2‐ethylenediamine linker between two rigid triazine rings enables the TZM−Es to fold into favourable conformations in order to promote membrane protein stability. The novel concept of detergent foldability introduced in the current study has potential in rational detergent design and membrane protein applications. 
    more » « less
  5. Abstract Biology utilizes multiple strategies, including sequestration in lipid vesicles, to raise the rate and specificity of chemical reactions through increases in effective molarity of reactants. We show that micelle-assisted reaction can facilitate native chemical ligations (NCLs) between a peptide-thioester – in which the thioester leaving group contains a lipid-like alkyl chain – and a Cys-peptide modified by a lipid-like moiety. Hydrophobic lipid modification of each peptide segment promotes the formation of mixed micelles, bringing the reacting peptides into close proximity and increasing the reaction rate. The approach enables the rapid synthesis of polypeptides using low concentrations of reactants without the need for thiol catalysts. After NCL, the lipid moiety is removed to yield an unmodified ligation product. This micelle-based methodology facilitates the generation of natural peptides, like Magainin 2, and the derivatization of the protein Ubiquitin. Formation of mixed micelles from lipid-modified reactants shows promise for accelerating chemical reactions in a traceless manner. 
    more » « less