Cellular Output and Physicochemical Properties of the Membrane-Derived Vesicles Depend on Chemical Stimulants.

Synthetic liposomes are widely used as drug delivery vehicles in biomedical treatments, such as for mRNA-based antiviral vaccines like those recently developed against SARS-CoV-2. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are naturally produced by cells, have emerged as a next-generation delivery system. However, key questions regarding their origin within cells remain unresolved.

Diffusion and interaction dynamics of the cytosolic peroxisomal import receptor PEX5.

Cellular functions rely on proper actions of organelles such as peroxisomes. These organelles rely on the import of proteins from the cytosol. The peroxisomal import receptor PEX5 takes up target proteins in the cytosol and transports them to the peroxisomal matrix.

Dispersion analysis of sucrose CHO single crystal.

We present the first complete dispersion analysis of a sucrose single crystal in the infrared spectral region between 4000 and 400 cm by means of an adapted generalized dispersion analysis employing the naturally grown crystal faces. The gained dielectric tensor function and the oscillator parameters were confirmed by forward calculation of reflection spectra of different orientations. Reliable growth of large-sized sucrose crystals makes it candidates for doping with photonically active materials.

Maturation of Monocyte-Derived DCs Leads to Increased Cellular Stiffness, Higher Membrane Fluidity, and Changed Lipid Composition.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells of the immune system. Upon sensing pathogenic material in their environment, DCs start to mature, which includes cellular processes, such as antigen uptake, processing and presentation, as well as upregulation of costimulatory molecules and cytokine secretion. During maturation, DCs detach from peripheral tissues, migrate to the nearest lymph node, and find their way into the correct position in the net of the lymph node microenvironment to meet and interact with the respective T cells.

Addressing Differentiation in Live Human Keratinocytes by Assessment of Membrane Packing Order.

Differentiation of keratinocytes is critical for epidermal stratification and formation of a protective . It involves a series of complex processes leading through gradual changes in characteristics and functions of keratinocytes up to their programmed cell death via cornification. The is a relatively impermeable barrier, comprised of dead cell remnants (corneocytes) embedded in lipid matrix.

Sterile activation of invariant natural killer T cells by ER-stressed antigen-presenting cells.

Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells have the unique ability to shape immunity during antitumor immune responses and other forms of sterile and nonsterile inflammation. Recent studies have highlighted a variety of classes of endogenous and pathogen-derived lipid antigens that can trigger iNKT cell activation under sterile and nonsterile conditions. However, the context and mechanisms that drive the presentation of self-lipid antigens in sterile inflammation remain unclear.