Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
October 2012
Polarizable colloids are expected to form crystalline equilibrium phases when exposed to a steady, uniform field. However, when colloids become localized this field-induced phase transition arrests and the suspension persists indefinitely as a kinetically trapped, percolated structure. We anneal such gels formed from magneto-rheological fluids by toggling the field strength at varied frequencies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSphingomyelinase (SMase) has been shown to be involved in a variety of cell regulation processes by reorganizing the cell membrane morphology. Here we report that SMase can induce a reaction-induced and a solvent-mediated phase transformation, causing switches of three stationary membrane morphologies and multiple-time-domain ceramide generation in model raft membranes. The reaction-induced phase transformation, triggered by the addition of SMase, transforms a pre-existing morphology to a long-lasting intermediate morphology with coexisting ceramide-enriched (Cer-enriched) and sphingomyelin-enriched (SM-enriched) domains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeterogeneities in cell membranes due to the ordering of lipids and proteins are thought to play an important role in enabling protein and lipid trafficking throughout the secretory pathway and in maintaining cell polarization. Protein-coated vesicles provide a major mechanism for intracellular transport of select cargo, which may be sorted into lipid microdomains; however, the mechanisms and physical constraints for lipid sorting by protein coats are relatively unexplored. We studied the influence of membrane-tethered protein coats on the sorting, morphology, and phase behavior of liquid-ordered lipid domains in a model system of giant unilamellar vesicles composed of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and cholesterol.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cell membrane comprises numerous protein and lipid molecules capable of asymmetric organization between leaflets and liquid-liquid phase separation. We use single supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) to model cell membranes, and study how cholesterol and asymmetrically oriented ganglioside receptor G(M1) affect membrane structure using synchrotron x-ray reflectivity. Using mixtures of cholesterol, sphingomyelin, and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, we characterize the structure of liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered SLBs in terms of acyl-chain density, headgroup size, and leaflet thickness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe study proteins at the surface of bilayer membranes using streptavidin and avidin bound to biotinylated lipids in a supported lipid bilayer (SLB) at the solid-liquid interface. Using X-ray reflectivity and simultaneous fluorescence microscopy, we characterize the structure and fluidity of protein layers with varied relative surface coverages of crystalline and noncrystalline protein. With continuous bleaching, we measure a 10-15% decrease in the fluidity of the SLB after the full protein layer is formed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCellular membranes can take on a variety of shapes to assist biological processes including endocytosis. Membrane-associated protein domains provide a possible mechanism for determining membrane curvature. We study the effect of tethered streptavidin protein crystals on the curvature of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) using confocal, fluorescence, and differential interference contrast microscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe measured the shape and the internal dynamics of starlike dendrimers under good solvent conditions with small-angle neutron scattering and neutron spin-echo (NSE) spectroscopy, respectively. Architectural parameters such as the spacer length and generation were varied in a systematic manner. Structural changes occurring in the dendrimers as a function of these parameters are discussed, i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Colloid Interface Sci
December 2006
The membrane binding and model lipid raft interaction of synthetic peptides derived from the caveolin scaffolding domain (CSD) of the protein caveolin-1 have been investigated. CSD peptides bind preferentially to liquid-disordered domains in model lipid bilayers composed of cholesterol and an equimolar ratio of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and brain sphingomyelin. Three caveolin-1 peptides were studied: the scaffolding domain (residues 83-101), a water-insoluble construct containing residues 89-101, and a water-soluble construct containing residues 89-101.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA monolayer of the pH-responsive poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-block-methyl methacrylate] diblock copolymer [PDMAEMA-PMMA] was transferred from the air/water interface to a silicon substrate for evaluation as a tunable interlayer between biological material and solid substrates. Specular neutron reflectivity experiments revealed that the weak polyelectrolyte PDMAEMA chains at the solid/liquid interface can be reversibly activated by pH modulation. The thickness, scattering length density, and surface roughness of the polymer film can be systematically controlled by pH titration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study focuses on the design of chemically regulated surfaces that allow for reversible control of the interactions between biological matter (cells and proteins) and planar substrates. As a tunable interlayer, we use a monolayer of a near-monodisperse poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-block-methyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA-PMMA) diblock copolymer. Owing to the relatively large fraction (50%) of the hydrophobic PMMA block, this copolymer forms a stable Langmuir monolayer at the air/water interface.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe present a study of the simultaneous observation of protease reaction and surface diffusion as the enzyme interacts with a model substrate surface. We use micro-fluidic patterning to decorate a bovine serum albumin substrate surface with stripes of adsorbed enzyme in the absence of physical barriers. Spreading of the enzyme from the initial striped region indicates surface diffusion, while removal of the substrate provides a measure of reactivity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe synthesize a series of block copolymers comprising a polystyrene (PS) block and an imidazolium-functionalized PS (IL) block and characterize their assembly properties. We use small-angle neutron scattering and dynamic light scattering to determine the micelle size and shape in dilute solutions and to assess the micelle interactions in concentrated solutions. By studying a series of copolymers with fixed PS block length, we find that the length of the IL block governs the micelle dimensions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParamagnetic colloidal particles aggregate into linear chains under an applied external magnetic field. These particles can be chemically linked to create chains that can be magnetically actuated to manipulate microscopic fluid flow. The flexibility of the chain can be adjusted by varying the length of the linker molecule.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe present a scattering study of a selectively deuterated micelle-forming diblock copolymer. The copolymer comprises a partially deuterated polystyrene (d,h-PS) block and an imidazolium-functionalized PS (IL) block. In toluene solutions, the copolymers assemble into elongated micelles where the IL block forms the micelle core.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys
April 2004
Paramagnetic particles have the unique ability to reversibly form magnetic chains. We have taken advantage of this property by permanently linking the chains with three linking chemistries to create flexible chains whose behavior changes with the application of a magnetic field. We study the behavior of these chains in a rotating magnetic field and model them as elastic rods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys
August 2003
Magnetorheological particles, permanently linked into chains, provide a magnetically actuated means to manipulate microscopic fluid flow. Paramagnetic colloidal particles form reversible chains by acquiring dipole moments in the presence of an external magnetic field. By chemically connecting paramagnetic colloidal particles, flexible magnetoresponsive chains can be created.
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