Droplet microcompartments linked by lipid bilayers show great promise in the construction of synthetic minimal tissues. Central to controlling the flow of information in these systems are membrane proteins, which can gate in response to specific stimuli in order to control the molecular flux between membrane separated compartments. This has been demonstrated with droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) using several different membrane proteins combined with electrical, mechanical, and/or chemical activators. Here we report the activation of the bacterial mechanosensitive channel of large conductance (MscL) in a dioleoylphosphatidylcholine:dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol DIB by controlling membrane asymmetry. We show using electrical measurements that the incorporation of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) into one of the bilayer leaflets triggers MscL gating in a concentration-dependent manner, with partial and full activation observed at 10 and 15 mol% LPC respectively. Our findings could inspire the design of new minimal tissues where flux pathways are dynamically defined by lipid composition.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8179348 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d0sc03889j | DOI Listing |
Foods
January 2025
Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Emulsifiers with antioxidant properties, such as protein/polyphenol complexes, adsorb at the oil-water interface and improve the physical and oxidative stability of emulsions. Here, 2% (/) sodium caseinate and varying concentrations of phloretin (0-10 mM) were used to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. Control emulsions with protein alone showed poor stability with increased droplet sizes from 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFoods
January 2025
Guangdong Engineering Laboratory of Biomass High-Value Utilization, Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510316, China.
Fungi polysaccharides are nutraceutical-rich compounds with bioactive properties, offering promising applications in food formulation. This study examined the non-covalent complexation of commercial polysaccharides derived from the fruiting bodies of (AA) and (GL) and soy protein isolate to enhance emulsifying properties. Complexes were examined across protein-to-polysaccharide ratios (0:1 to 1:0), pH levels (3 to 7), and heat treatment conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Colloid Interface Sci
January 2025
School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address:
Hypothesis: Nanobubbles (NBs) have been extensively investigated as a sustainable promoter for gas hydrate nucleation, which also contribute to the hydrate memory effect. However, less attention afforded to their effects on the hydrate-growth process, thus lacking a complete perspective of the overall effects from NBs on hydrate formation. We hypothesize that their effect on CO hydrate growth may vary depending on the properties of NBs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanotechnology
January 2025
Centre for Analysis and Synthesis, NanoLund, Lund University, Box 124, Lund, 221 00, SWEDEN.
Developing a reliable procedure for the growth of III-V nanowires (NW) on silicon (Si) substrates remains a significant challenge, as current methods rely on trial-and-error approaches with varying interpretations of critical process steps such as sample preparation, Au-Si alloy formation in the growth reactor, and nanowire alignment. Addressing these challenges is essential for enabling high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices that combine the superior properties of III-V NW semiconductors with the well-established Si-based technology. Combining conventional scalable growth methods, such as Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) with in situ characterization using Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy (ETEM-MOCVD) enables a deeper understanding of the growth dynamics, if that knowledge is transferable to the scalable processes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeliyon
January 2025
Department of Chemical Engineering, Quchan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Quchan, Iran.
An interface can be delicately designed using interactions between nanoparticles and surfactants by controlling surface properties such as activity and charge equilibrium. This study seeks to provide insights into how surfactant concentration impacts the stability and dynamics of nanoparticle-surfactant interfaces, with potential applications in material science and interface engineering. This study investigates the interactions between Graphene Function (Gr, Graphene function in this text refers to functionalizing the graphene sheets with -COOH groups via acidic reactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!