Membrane Condensation Research Articles

Exploring the relationship between anastasis and mitochondrial ROS-mediated ferroptosis in metastatic chemoresistant cancers: a call for investigation.

Ferroptosis induces significant changes in mitochondrial morphology, including membrane condensation, volume reduction, cristae alteration, and outer membrane rupture, affecting mitochondrial function and cellular fate. Recent reports have described the intrinsic cellular iron metabolism and its intricate connection to ferroptosis, a significant kind of cell death characterized by iron dependence and oxidative stress regulation. Furthermore, updated molecular insights have elucidated the significance of mitochondria in ferroptosis and its implications in various cancers. In the context of cancer therapy, understanding the dual role of anastasis and ferroptosis in chemoresistance is crucial. Targeting the molecular pathways involved in anastasis may enhance the efficacy of ferroptosis inducers, providing a synergistic approach to overcome chemoresistance. Research into how DNA damage response (DDR) proteins, metabolic changes, and redox states interact during anastasis and ferroptosis can offer new insights into designing combinatorial therapeutic regimens against several cancers associated with stemness. These treatments could potentially inhibit anastasis while simultaneously inducing ferroptosis, thereby reducing the likelihood of cancer cells evading death and developing resistance to chemotherapy. The objective of this study is to explore the intricate interplaybetween anastasis, ferroptosis, EMT and chemoresistance, and immunotherapeutics to better understand their collective impact on cancer therapy outcomes. We searched public research databases including google scholar, PubMed, relemed, and the national library of medicine related to this topic. In this review, we discussed the interplay between the tricarboxylic acid cycle and glycolysis implicated in modulating ferroptosis, adding complexity to its regulatory mechanisms. Additionally, the regulatory role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the electron transport chain (ETC) in ferroptosis has garnered significant attention. Lipid metabolism, particularly involving GPX4 and System Xc- plays a significant role in both the progression of ferroptosis and cancer. There is a need to investigate the intricate interplay between anastasis, ferroptosis, and chemoresistance to better understand cancer therapy clinical outcomes. Integrating anastasis, and ferroptosis into strategies targeting chemoresistance and exploring its potential synergy with immunotherapy represent promising avenues for advancing chemoresistant cancer treatment. Understanding the intricate interplay among mitochondria, anastasis, ROS, and ferroptosis is vital in oncology, potentially revolutionizing personalized cancer treatment and drug development.

Ganglioside GM1 Drives Hemin and Protoporphyrin Adsorption in Phospholipid Membranes: A Structural Study.

Monosialoganglioside (GM1), a ubiquitous component of lipid rafts, and hemin, an integral part of heme proteins such as hemoglobin, are essential to the cell membranes of brain neurons and erythrocyte red blood cells for regulating cellular communication and oxygen transport. Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) and its derivative hemin, on the contrary, show significant cytotoxic effects when in excess causing hematological diseases, such as thalassemia, anemia, malaria, and neurodegeneration. However, the in-depth molecular etiology of their interactions with the cell membrane has so far been poorly understood. Herein, the structure of the polymer cushion-supported lipid bilayer (SLB) of the binary mixture of phospholipid and GM1 in the presence of PPIX and its derivative hemin has been investigated to predict the molecular interactions in model phospholipid membranes. A high-resolution synchrotron-based X-ray scattering technique has been employed to explore the out-of-plane structure of the assembly at different compositions and concentrations. The structural changes have been complemented with the isobaric changes in the mean molecular area obtained from the Langmuir monolayer isotherm to predict the additive-induced membrane condensation and fluidization. PPIX-induced fluidization of phospholipid SLB without GM1 was witnessed, which was reversed to condensation with 2-fold higher structural changes in the presence of GM1. A hemin concentration-dependent linear condensing effect was observed in the pristine SLB. The effect was significantly reduced, and the linearity was observed to be lost in the mixed SLB containing GM1. Our study shows that GM1 alters the interaction of hemin and PPIX with the membrane, which could be explained with the aid of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Our study indicates favorable and unfavorable interactions of GM1 with PPIX and hemin, respectively, in the membrane. The observed structural changes in both SLB and the underlying polymer cushion layer lead to the proposal of a molecule-specific interaction model that can benefit the pharmaceutical industries specialized for drug designing. Our study potentially enriches our fundamental biophysical understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and drug-membrane interactions.

Membrane Condensation and Curvature Induced by SARS-CoV-2 Envelope Protein.

The envelope (E) protein of SARS-CoV-2 participates in virion encapsulation and budding at the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). The positively curved membrane topology required to fit an 80 nm viral particle is energetically unfavorable; therefore, viral proteins must facilitate ERGIC membrane curvature alteration. To study the possible role of the E protein in this mechanism, we examined the structural modification of the host lipid membrane by the SARS-CoV-2 E protein using synchrotron-based X-ray methods. Our reflectometry results on solid-supported planar bilayers show that E protein markedly condenses the surrounding lipid bilayer. For vesicles, this condensation effect differs between the two leaflets such that the membrane becomes asymmetric and increases its curvature. The formation of such a curved and condensed membrane is consistent with the requirements to stably encapsulate a viral core and supports a role for E protein in budding during SARS-CoV-2 virion assembly.

Unveiling the therapeutic potential: Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activity of Magnolia champaca Linn’s stem bark isolate through molecular docking insights

Magnolia champaca Linn. has traditionally been used for medicinal activity in Asia for treating various chronic diseases as well as a source of food, medicines, and other commodities. Due to the long-used history of this plant, the present study was designed to explore the in vitro, in vivo and in silico anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic properties of the methanolic extract and fractions and the pure compound isolated from the most active chloroform fraction (CHF) of the stem bark of the plant. The isolated compound from the most active CHF was characterized and identified as a glycoside, trans-syringin, through chromatographic and spectroscopic (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR) analyses. In the in vitro anti-inflammatory assay, CHF was most effective in inhibiting inflammation and hemolysis of RBCs by 73.91 ± 1.70% and 75.92 ± 0.14%, respectively, induced by heat and hypotonicity compared to standard acetylsalicylic acid. In the egg albumin denaturation assay, CME and CHF showed the highest inhibition by 56.25 ± 0.82% and 65.82 ± 3.52%, respectively, contrasted with acetylsalicylic acid by 80.14 ± 2.44%. In an in vivo anti-inflammatory assay, statistically significant (p < 0.05) decreases in the parameters of inflammation, such as paw edema, leukocyte migration and vascular permeability, were recorded in a dose-dependent manner in the treated groups. In the antineoplastic assay, 45.26 ± 2.24% and 68.31 ± 3.26% inhibition of tumor cell growth for pure compound were observed compared to 73.26 ± 3.41% for standard vincristine. Apoptotic morphologic alterations, such as membrane and nuclear condensation and fragmentation, were also found in EAC cells after treatment with the isolated bioactive pure compound. Such treatment also reversed the increased WBC count and decreased RBC count to normal values compared to the untreated EAC cell-bearing mice and the standard vincristine-treated mice. Subsequently, in silico molecular docking studies substantiated the current findings, and the isolated pure compound and standard vincristine exhibited −6.4 kcal/mol and −7.3 kcal/mol binding affinities with topoisomerase-II. Additionally, isolated pure compound and standard diclofenac showed −8.2 kcal/mol and −7.6 kcal/mol binding affinities with the COX-2 enzyme, respectively. The analysis of this research suggests that the isolated bioactive pure compound possesses moderate to potent anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activity and justifies the traditional uses of the stem bark of M. champaca. However, further investigations are necessary to analyze its bioactivity, proper mechanism of action and clinical trials for the revelation of new drug formulations.

Tailoring high-performance polyester loose nanofiltration membrane for selective separation of salt/dyes: The equilibrium of condensation and hydrolysis

Polyester (PE) loose nanofiltration (LNF) membranes featuring outstanding water permeance and prepared from hydroxyl-containing monomers under alkali-activated conditions are ideal for dye/salt separations. However, condensation and hydrolysis of the PE membranes during alkali activation have rarely been investigated. Herein, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was chosen to create alkaline conditions, and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and trimesoyl chloride were chosen to prepare PE LNF membranes. The condensations and hydrolyses of the PE films were tailored by adjusting the NaOH concentration. Stopped-flow mass spectrometry showed that the alkaline conditions affected the rate of interfacial polymerization. In addition, with lower alkaline concentrations, OH– preferably activated the PVA rather than increase its diffusion rate, thereby promoting membrane condensation. With higher alkaline concentrations, the OH– promoted hydrolysis of the membrane, causing damage to the PE network. Finally, the effects of different alkaline conditions on the morphological characteristics, surface characteristics, and dye desalination capacities of the membranes were comprehensively studied. The mechanisms for the role of alkaline conditions on the membrane condensation and hydrolysis equilibria were probed via molecular dynamics and density functional theory simulations. This work illustrates the significant potential of PVA-based membranes for resource recovery and provides a novel approach to the preparation of high-performance PE membranes via membrane condensation and membrane hydrolysis.

Cytotoxic Activity of Phytoconstituents Isolated from Monotheca buxifolia against Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HepG2: In Vitro and Molecular Docking Studies.

Natural products and conventional chemotherapeutic drugs are believed to enhance anticancer treatment efficacy while lowering toxicity. The current study investigates the cytotoxic and apoptogenic effects of Monotheca buxifolia bioactive compounds on HepG2 cell lines. MTT assay was used to assess the effect on the viability of HepG2 cells. Morphological changes were investigated. Annexin-V-FITC/PI was used to demonstrate apoptotic activity. A molecular dynamics simulation study was carried out to investigate the compound binding pattern in the active site of the PPRAδ protein. MTT and annexin V-FITC/PI assays revealed that the isolated compounds lauric acid, oleanolic acid, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate inhibited the growth of hepatocellular cancer cells. The IC50 value for lauric acid was 56.46 ± 1.20 μg/mL, 31.94 ± 1.03 μg/mL for oleanolic acid, and 83.80 ± 2.18 μg/mL for bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Apoptosis was observed in 29.5, 52.1 and 22.4% of HepG2 cells treated with lauric acid, oleanolic acid, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, respectively, after 24 h of treatment. Morphological assays and Hoechst staining microscopy revealed that the treatment caused morphological changes in the cell membrane and nuclear condensation. The high fluctuation indicates that various interactions were highly potent and widely adopted, and vice versa. Oleanolic acid displayed high residue fluctuation, remaining stable in the active site of the PPRAδ protein and involved in various interactions while remaining locally fluctuating in the binding sites of the other two compounds. These findings concluded that lauric acid, oleanolic acid, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate have a significant apoptogenic effect against HepG2 cells in inducing apoptosis. Our findings suggest that these bioactive compounds could be used as adjuvant therapies.

Phase separation of FSP1 promotes ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is evolving as a highly promising approach to combat difficult-to-treat tumour entities including therapy-refractory and dedifferentiating cancers1–3. Recently, ferroptosis suppressor protein-1 (FSP1), along with extramitochondrial ubiquinone or exogenous vitamin K and NAD(P)H/H+ as an electron donor, has been identified as the second ferroptosis-suppressing system, which efficiently prevents lipid peroxidation independently of the cyst(e)ine–glutathione (GSH)–glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) axis4–6. To develop FSP1 inhibitors as next-generation therapeutic ferroptosis inducers, here we performed a small molecule library screen and identified the compound class of 3-phenylquinazolinones (represented by icFSP1) as potent FSP1 inhibitors. We show that icFSP1, unlike iFSP1, the first described on-target FSP1 inhibitor5, does not competitively inhibit FSP1 enzyme activity, but instead triggers subcellular relocalization of FSP1 from the membrane and FSP1 condensation before ferroptosis induction, in synergism with GPX4 inhibition. icFSP1-induced FSP1 condensates show droplet-like properties consistent with phase separation, an emerging and widespread mechanism to modulate biological activity7. N-terminal myristoylation, distinct amino acid residues and intrinsically disordered, low-complexity regions in FSP1 were identified to be essential for FSP1-dependent phase separation in cells and in vitro. We further demonstrate that icFSP1 impairs tumour growth and induces FSP1 condensates in tumours in vivo. Hence, our results suggest that icFSP1 exhibits a unique mechanism of action and synergizes with ferroptosis-inducing agents to potentiate the ferroptotic cell death response, thus providing a rationale for targeting FSP1-dependent phase separation as an efficient anti-cancer therapy.

Synergistic effect of xSi-TiO2 ceramic membrane on photocatalytic oxidation and water vapor recovery of high humidity NO

Photocatalytic membranes were prepared by hydrothermal method using in situ growth of silica-doped titanium dioxide nanorods with different molar ratios on the surface of hollow ceramic membranes. The removal of nitrogen oxides from high humidity flue gas at ppm level and the recovery of flue gas water vapor were investigated for the first time. The optimized 0.2Si-TiO2 photocatalytic membrane achieved complete conversion of 50 ppm NO carrying saturated water vapor in only 11 min under UV light source irradiation, and the generation of toxic intermediate product NO2 was significantly reduced to 4.2 ppm. Further studies have shown that the presence of water vapor can facilitate the conversion of the toxic intermediate NO2 to nitrate. Moreover, the water vapor recovery flux was 4.18 kg·m−2·h−1, and the water vapor recovery efficiency reached 7.04%. The main water vapor recovery method was membrane condensation. Mechanistic analysis showed that hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals are the main components of photocatalytic oxidation, and this work provides a reference for enhancing the photocatalytic conversion of NO and suppressing the emission of toxic intermediates NO2 in the process.

Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anti‐Proliferative Effect of Senna hirsuta against PC‐3 Human Prostate Cancer Cells

AbstractThe phytochemical profile, antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxicity of Senna hirsuta (M−Sh) leaf extracts were investigated in human prostate cancer PC‐3 cell lines. Antioxidant bioactive components like phenolics, tannins, and flavonoids were measured at 15.36±0.19, 2.97±0.11, and 19.77±0.51, respectively. An intense dose‐dependent radical scavenging activity was observed for M−Sh with 83 % in 500 μg/mL for DPPH. M−Sh boosted ABTS radical inhibition from 35 % at 100 μg/ml to 70 % at 500 μg/ml, whereas hydroxyl radical scavenging was 96 % at 500 μg/ml, significantly greater than butylated hydroxytoluene (91.91 %). The maximum NO scavenging activity of M−Sh was 83 %, and the lipid peroxidation inhibition was 87 % at 500 μg/ml. The M−Sh exhibited antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli (25 mm), Bacillus subtilis (24 mm), and Staphylococcus aureus (21 mm). The MTT assay was used to study anti‐proliferative activity, which inhibited PC‐3 cell growth with an IC50 of 257.13 μg/mL over 24 hours. These results demonstrate that M−Sh inhibits PC‐3 cell proliferation by shedding from the surface and assuming a spherical shape. Additionally, the morphology of PC‐3 cells showed shrinkage, blebbing membrane condensation, and nuclear chromatin margination, indicating that M−Sh was cytotoxic to PC‐3 Cells.

Wire-wrapped and helically-finned tubular ceramic membranes for enhancing water and waste heat recovery from wet flue gas

Recycling water and waste heat from wet flue gas is crucial for sustainable energy-water-environment nexus in industrial processes. Herein, we report the use of wire-wrapped and helically-finned tubular ceramic membranes to construct membrane condensers for simultaneous water and heat recovery. Compared with conventional plain tubular ceramic membrane (PTCM), wire-wrapped tubular ceramic membrane (WTCM) and helically-finned tubular ceramic membrane (FTCM) both exhibit superior water and heat recovery performance, indicating a non-negligible effect of chaotic fluid mixing on heat and mass transfer enhancement. FTCM shows better condensate capture performance than WTCM. Moreover, improved condensing heat transfer performances are observed on FTCMs provided with large fin height and pitch. FTCM provides higher heat transfer coefficients than PTCM at around 7.4% to 59.3% depending on different fin structures. Effects of operation parameters on membrane condensation process using FTCM are also investigated. Gas-side parameters have significant effects on water/heat recovery performance than water-side parameters. This study can serve as a basis for process intensification of membrane-based condensation used for flue gas dehumidification.

Determination of five water-soluble anions in solid and liquid aerosols by ion chromatography with a filter membrane and condensation collection

水溶性离子是固、液气溶胶的重要组成部分,对于气溶胶的理化性质和空气质量具有重大影响,研究水溶性离子的含量对于大气环境的污染与防治具有深远意义。该研究建立了一种滤膜冷凝收集-离子色谱技术采集固体气溶胶和液体气溶胶并测定其中的5种水溶性阴离子(Cl-、F-、NO3-、NO2-、SO42-)含量的方法。首先,采用固体颗粒过滤器和冷凝收集法分别收集固体气溶胶和液体气溶胶,固体气溶胶以固体颗粒物的形式被收集在固体颗粒过滤器内,液体气溶胶以冷凝液的形式在冷阱中被收集。其次,以离子色谱法对固、液体气溶胶中的水溶性阴离子含量进行检测。在以Dionex IonPac AS11-HC-4 μm作为分析柱,流速为1 mL/min,柱温为30 ℃,淋洗液氢氧化钾(KOH)浓度在0~40 min内由1 mol/L线性增至25 mol/L,进样量100 μL的条件下,各离子在40 min内有效分离,5种阴离子在0.1~10 mg/L范围内线性关系良好(相关系数为0.9992~0.9997),检出限低(0.02~0.04 mg/L)。对样品采集条件(采样时间、采样温度和采样流量)进行了优化,结果表明,在采样时间2 h、采样温度-13 ℃、采样流量1.0 L/min的条件下,可获得较为满意的结果。在优化的条件下分别对实际样品的两类溶胶中的5种阴离子含量进行了检测,测得实际样品的液体气溶胶中5种阴离子含量分别为5.7402 μg/m3 (F-)、1.1599 μg/m3 (Cl-)、3.3233 μg/m3 (NO2-)、2.4861 μg/m3 (NO3-)和0.9745 μg/m3 (SO42-),固体气溶胶中5种阴离子含量分别为14.1037 μg/m3 (F-)、5.0398 μg/m3 (Cl-)、9.3052 μg/m3 (NO2-)、8.4528 μg/m3 (NO3-)和5.6314 μg/m3 (SO42-)。该方法可应用于实际的大气检测中,也为其他离子的采集和分析条件的摸索提供了方法。

Morphological and mechanical changes induced by quercetin in human T24 bladder cancer cells

Quercetin is a flavonoid found in a great variety of foods such as vegetables and fruits. This compound has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of various types of cancer cells, as well as the growth of tumors in animal models. In the present study, we analyze morphological and mechanical changes produced by quercetin in T24 bladder cancer cells. Decreased cell viability and cell number were observed following quercetin treatment at 40 μM and 60 μM, respectively, as observed by the MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion test, supporting the hypothesis of quercetin anticancer effect. These assays also allowed us to determine the 40, 60, and 80 μM quercetin concentrations for the following analyses, Lactate Dehydrogenase assay (LDH); Nuclear Morphometric Analysis (NMA); and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The LDH assay showed no cytotoxic effect of quercetin on T24 cancer cells. The AFM showed morphological changes following quercetin treatment, namely decreased cell body, cytoplasmic retraction, and membrane condensation. Following quercetin treatment, the NMA evidenced an increased percentage of nuclei characteristic to the apoptotic and senescence processes. Cells also presented biophysical alterations consistent with cell death by apoptosis, as increased roughness and aggregation of membrane proteins, in a dose-dependent manner. Cellular elasticity, obtained through force curves, showed increased stiffness after quercetin treatment. Data presented herein demonstrate, for the first time, in a quantitative and qualitative form, the morphological and mechanical alterations induced by quercetin on bladder cancer cells.

Interactions of fungal phospholipase Lecitase ultra with phospholipid Langmuir monolayers – Search for substrate specificity and structural factors affecting the activity of the enzyme

Inoculation of selected microbial species into the soils is one of the most effective means of bioremediation of soils polluted by persistent organic pollutants as well as of biocontrol of plant pests. However, this procedure turns out frequently to be ineffective due to the membrane-destructive enzymes secreted to the soil by the autochthonous microorganisms. Especial role play here phospholipases and among them phospholipase A1 (PLA1), Therefore, to explain the interactions of microbial membranes and PLA1 at molecular level and to find the correlation between the composition of the membrane and its resistance to PLA1 action we applied phospholipid Langmuir monolayers as model microbial membranes. As a representative soil extracellular PLA1 we applied Lecitase ultra which is a commercially available hybrid enzyme of PLA1 activity. With the application of specific sn1-ether-sn2-ester phospholipids we proved that Lecitase ultra has solely PLA1 activity; thus, can be applied as an effective model of soil PLA1s. Our studies proved that this enzyme has vast substrate specificity and can hydrolyze structural phospholipids regardless the structure of their polar headgroup. It turned out that the hydrolysis rate was controlled by the condensation of the model membranes. These built of the phospholipids with long saturated fatty acid chains were especially resistant to the action of this enzyme, whereas these formed by the 1-saturated-2-unsaturated-sn-glycero-3-phospholipids were readily degraded. Regarding the polar headgroup we proposed the following row of substrate preference of Lecitase ultra: phosphatidylglycerols > phosphatidylcholines > phosphatidylethanolamines > cardiolipins.

Constructing Scalable Superhydrophobic Membranes for Ultrafast Water-Oil Separation.

Superhydrophobic membranes are desirable for separation of water-in-oil emulsions, membrane distillation, and membrane condensation. However, the lack of large-scale manufacture methods of superhydrophobic membranes hampers their widespread applications. Here, a facile method of coaxial electrospinning is provided to manufacture superhydrophobic membranes for the ultrafast separation of water-in-oil emulsions. Under the high-voltage electric field, the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-coated polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers and PDMS microspheres with PVDF nanobulges were integrated together during the electrospinning process. Moreover, asymmetric composite membranes with selective layers are designed to reduce the resistance of the mass transfer. Consequently, the as-prepared asymmetric composite membrane exhibits an ultrafast permeance and excellent separation efficiency of about 99.6%, outperforming most of the state-of-the-art membranes reported previously. Most importantly, the membrane could be as large as 770 cm2, could be manufactured continuously, and could be easily enlarged further via tailoring the roller receptor, showing strong promise in the separation of water-in-oil emulsions.

Marking the status and development of marine VOCs recovery technology

During the storage and transportation of crude oil, volatile organic vapors (VOCs) are generated. International organizations and relevant countries have formulated relevant regulations for VOCs emissions. This article introduces four kinds of oil and gas recovery technologies and their combined processes: absorption method, adsorption method, membrane separation method and condensation method. The advantages and disadvantages of different oil and gas recovery technologies are analyzed and the process performance is compared. It lists examples of the application of oil and gas recovery technology in ships, points out its shortcomings, and puts forward relevant suggestions for the research of marine VOCs recovery technology.

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 stratum corneum. 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 stratum corneum is a relatively impermeable barrier, comprised of dead cell remnants (corneocytes) embedded in lipid matrix. Corneocyte membranes are comprised of specialized lipids linked to late differentiation proteins, contributing to the formation of a stiff and mechanically strengthened layer. To date, the assessment of the progression of keratinocyte differentiation is only possible through determination of specific differentiation markers, e.g., by using proteomics-based approaches. Unfortunately, this requires fixation or cell lysis, and currently there is no robust methodology available to study keratinocyte differentiation in living cells in real-time. Here, we explore new live-cell based approaches for screening differentiation advancement in keratinocytes, in a “calcium switch” model. We employ a polarity-sensitive dye, Laurdan, and Laurdan general polarization function (GP) as a reporter of the degree of membrane lateral packing order or condensation, as an adequate marker of differentiation. We show that the assay is straightforward and can be conducted either on a single cell level using confocal spectral imaging or on the ensemble level using a fluorescence plate reader. Such systematic quantification may become useful for understanding mechanisms of keratinocyte differentiation, such as the role of membrane in homogeneities in stiffness, and for future therapeutic development.

Bisphenol-A exposure induced neurotoxicity and associated with synapse and cytoskeleton in Neuro-2a cells

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental chemical that induces neurotoxic effects for human. Synaptophysin (SYP) and drebrin (Dbn) proteins are involved in regulating synaptic morphology. The stability of the cytoskeleton in nerve cells in the brain is regulated by Tau and MAP2. This study aimed to determine the toxicity of BPA to Neuro-2a cells by investigating the synaptic and cytoskeletal damage induced in these cells by 24 h of exposure to 0 (MEM), 50, 100, 150, or 200 μM BPA or DMSO. MTT and LDH assays showed that the death rates of Neuro-2a cells increased, as the BPA concentration increased. Ultrastructural assays revealed that cells underwent nucleolar swelling as well as nuclear membrane and partial mitochondrial dissolution or condensation, following BPA exposure. Morphological analysis further revealed that compared with the cells in the control group, the cells in the BPA-treated groups shrank, became rounded, and exhibited a reduced number of synapses. BPA also significantly decreased the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of Dbn, MAP2 and Tau (P < .01), but increased the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of SYP (P < .01). These results indicated that BPA suppressed the development and proliferation of Neuro-2a cells by disrupting cellular and synaptic integrity and inflicting cytoskeleton injury.

Membrane Curvature Catalyzes Lipid Droplet Assembly

Lipid droplet (LD) biogenesis begins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) bilayer, but how the ER topology impacts this process is unclear. An early step in LD formation is nucleation, wherein free neutral lipids, mainly triacylglycerols (TGs) and sterol esters (SEs), condense into a nascent LD. How this transition occurs is poorly known. Here, we found that LDs preferably assemble at ER tubules, with higher curvature than ER sheets, independently of the LD assembly protein seipin. Indeed, the critical TG concentration required for initiating LD assembly is lower at curved versus flat membrane regions. In agreement with this finding, flat ER regions bear higher amounts of free TGs than tubular ones and present less LDs. By using an invitro approach, we discovered that the presence of free TGs in tubules is energetically unfavorable, leading to outflow of TGs to flat membrane regions or condensation into LDs. Accordingly, invitro LD nucleation can be achieved by the sole increase of membrane curvature. In contrast to TGs, the presence of free SEs is favored at tubules and increasing SE levels is inhibitory to the curvature-induced nucleation of TG LDs. Finally, we found that seipin is enriched at ER tubules and controls the condensation process, preventing excessive tubule-induced nucleation. The absence of seipin provokes erratic LD nucleation events determined by the abundance of ER tubules. In summary, our data indicate that membrane curvature catalyzes LD assembly.

Carotenoids promote lateral packing and condensation of lipid membranes.

Carotenoids are pigment molecules that protect biomembranes against degradation and may be involved in the formation of functional bacterial membrane microdomains. Little is known on whether different types of carotenoids have different effects on the membrane or if there is any concentration dependence of these effects. In this work, we present results from molecular dynamics simulations of phospholipid bilayers containing different amounts of either β-carotene or zeaxanthin. Both β-carotene and zeaxanthin show the ability to laterally condense the membrane lipids and reduce their inter-leaflet interactions. With increasing concentrations, both carotenoids increase the bilayer thickness and rigidity. The results reveal that carotenoids have similar effects to cholesterol on regulating the behavior of fluid-phase membranes, suggesting that they could function as sterol substitutes and confirming their potential role in the formation of functional membrane domains.

Anti-Proliferative Effect of Wogonin on Ovary Cancer Cells Involves Activation of Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest.

BackgroundThe present study was designed to investigate the effect of wogonin on Caov-3 and A2780 ovary cancer cell proliferation and the mechanisms involved.Material/MethodsCell viability changes and apoptosis induction by wogonin were assessed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenytetrazolium bromide) assay and fluorescence microscopy. Morphological examination of cells was performed using transmission electron microscopy.ResultsWogonin exhibited inhibitory effect on Caov-3 and A2780 cancer cell proliferation in a concentration-based manner. Caov-3 and A2780 cell proliferation was reduced to 18% and 21%, respectively on treatment with 200 μM concentration of wogonin. Treatment with wogonin significantly enhanced the percentage of A2780 cells showing apoptosis. The nuclear membrane degradation and condensation of chromatin material was evident in A2780 cells on treatment with wogonin. Treatment of A2780 cells with wogonin suppressed the migration potential significantly. The proportion of A2780 cells in G1/G0 phase was markedly raised on exposure to wogonin for 48 hours.ConclusionsIn summary, this study demonstrated that wogonin acts as an ovary cancer cell proliferation inhibiting agent through activation of apoptosis. Wogonin, therefore, can be investigated further for the development of ovary cancer treatment.