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Membranes
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Lipid Membranes and Their Applications
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Lipid Membranes and Their Applications

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Biological Membrane Functions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 August 2022) | Viewed by 12942

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Masanao Kinoshita

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
Interests: artificial membranes; cell membranes; protein functions; lipid nanodomains; spectroscopy; fluorescent observation; LB membrane; diffraction experiments

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lipid membranes are the universal component of cell membranes and involved in a variety of cellular functions. Recent cell membrane studies have indicated the coalescency of cell membranes, in which approximately ten thousand spices of lipids are heterogeneously distributed, leading to the formation of transient lipid domains/clusters with a size of several to several hundred nanometers. Interestingly, these domains/clusters have potential involvement in important biological events, such as protein sorting, activation, and signal transduction.

So far, artificial membranes have been employed widely for understanding the structure, properties, and functions of cell membranes because only a few component bilayers can imitate cell membranes to some extent. On the other hand, there are some differences between artificial and cell membranes. For instance, lipid domains are much larger in artificial membranes than those in cell membranes. The diffusion of lipid molecules in artificial membranes is often faster than that in cell membranes. Furthermore, the translayer asymmetry, compositional difference between outer and inner leaflets of cell membranes, is hardly reproduced by the artificial systems owing to the technical difficulties in sample preparation. The molecular crowding in cytoplasm is hardly imitated by artificial systems. These differences are not trivial but critical problems to deduce the mechanism of biological events by artificial membrane studies.

Thus, to understand the real nature of cell membranes and membrane-based biological factions, 1) the accumulation of precise knowledge around artificial membranes, 2) development of new technology for membrane analysis, and 3) connection of the phenomena observed in artificial and cell membranes are necessary.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect the latest studies on the lipid membranes and analytical technologies, leading to innovations in lipid membrane studies.

We welcome original research papers and review articles related to artificial membranes and their applications. In addition, new technologies for membrane analyses and studies on biomembranes are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: artificial membranes, new analytical techniques, membrane trafficking, membrane–drug interactions, and so on.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Masanao Kinoshita
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • lipid bilayer
  • lipid monolayer
  • LB membranes
  • membrane heterogeneity
  • fluorescent observation
  • membrane structure
  • membrane property
  • membrane function analytical methodology

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2127 KiB  
Article
Identification of Suitable Internal Control miRNAs in Bovine Milk Small Extracellular Vesicles for Normalization in Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
by Md. Matiur Rahman, Ryoka Nakanishi, Fumi Tsukada, Shigeo Takashima, Yoshiko Wakihara, Yuji O. Kamatari, Kaori Shimizu, Ayaka Okada and Yasuo Inoshima
Membranes 2023, 13(2), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13020185 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1644
Abstract
This study aimed to identify a suitable RNA extraction kit and stable internal control microRNA (miRNA) in bovine milk small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) for a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. Two RNA extraction kits, miRNeasy Micro Kit, and Maxwell RSC miRNA Tissue [...] Read more.
This study aimed to identify a suitable RNA extraction kit and stable internal control microRNA (miRNA) in bovine milk small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) for a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. Two RNA extraction kits, miRNeasy Micro Kit, and Maxwell RSC miRNA Tissue Kit, were compared and evaluated using bovine milk sEVs via qPCR analysis. Five miRNAs, bta-miR-29a, bta-miR-200a, bta-miR-26b, hsa-miR-27b-3p, and hsa-miR-30b-5p, were selected by microarray analyses, and their cycle threshold (Ct) values were further evaluated mathematically using geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ∆Ct algorithms. The results revealed that both the miRNeasy Micro Kit and Maxwell RSC miRNA Tissue Kit are useful for the efficient recovery of RNA from bovine milk sEVs. According to the final stability ranking analyzed by RefFinder, hsa-miR-27b-3p and bta-miR-29a can be used as suitable internal control miRNAs in bovine milk sEVs. The study also indicated that using a suitable internal control miRNA may improve the reliability and accuracy of the qPCR analysis for normalization in bovine milk sEVs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to uncover the suitable internal control miRNAs in bovine milk sEVs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipid Membranes and Their Applications)
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22 pages, 4166 KiB  
Article
Exploring Membrane Binding Targets of Disordered Human Tau Aggregates on Lipid Rafts Using Multiscale Molecular Dynamics Simulations
by Kwan H. Cheng, Angela Graf, Amber Lewis, Thuong Pham and Aakriti Acharya
Membranes 2022, 12(11), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12111098 - 4 Nov 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1932
Abstract
The self-aggregation of tau, a microtubule-binding protein, has been linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease. Recent studies indicate that the disordered tau aggregates, or oligomers, are more toxic than the ordered fibrils found in the intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of tau. At present, [...] Read more.
The self-aggregation of tau, a microtubule-binding protein, has been linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease. Recent studies indicate that the disordered tau aggregates, or oligomers, are more toxic than the ordered fibrils found in the intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of tau. At present, details of tau oligomer interactions with lipid rafts, a model of neuronal membranes, are not known. Using molecular dynamics simulations, the lipid-binding events, membrane-damage, and protein folding of tau oligomers on various lipid raft surfaces were investigated. Tau oligomers preferred to bind to the boundary domains (Lod) created by the coexisting liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered (Ld) domains in the lipid rafts. Additionally, stronger binding of tau oligomers to the ganglioside (GM1) and phosphatidylserine (PS) domains, and subsequent protein-induced lipid chain order disruption and beta-sheet formation were detected. Our results suggest that GM1 and PS domains, located exclusively in the outer and inner leaflets, respectively, of the neuronal membranes, are specific membrane domain targets, whereas the Lod domains are non-specific targets, of tau oligomers binding to neurons. The molecular details of these specific and non-specific tau bindings to lipid rafts may provide new insights into understanding membrane-associated tauopathies leading to Alzheimer’s Disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipid Membranes and Their Applications)
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14 pages, 1464 KiB  
Article
The Flavonoid Molecule Procyanidin Reduces Phase Separation in Model Membranes
by Tsuyoshi Yoda
Membranes 2022, 12(10), 943; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12100943 - 27 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1419
Abstract
Procyanidin extracted from fruits, such as apples, has been shown to improve lipid metabolization. Recently, studies have revealed that procyanidin interacts with lipid molecules in membranes to enhance lipid metabolism; however, direct evidence of the interaction between procyanidin and lipid membranes has not [...] Read more.
Procyanidin extracted from fruits, such as apples, has been shown to improve lipid metabolization. Recently, studies have revealed that procyanidin interacts with lipid molecules in membranes to enhance lipid metabolism; however, direct evidence of the interaction between procyanidin and lipid membranes has not been demonstrated. In this study, the phase behaviors and changes in the membrane fluidity of cell-sized liposomes containing apple procyanidin, procyanidin B2 (PB2), were demonstrated for the first time. Phase separation in 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC)/1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC)/cholesterol ternary membranes significantly decreased after the addition of PB2. The prospect of applying procyanidin content measurements, using the results of this study, to commercial apple juice was also assessed. Specifically, the PB2 concentrations were 50%, 33%, and 0% for pure apple juice, 2-fold diluted apple juice, and pure water, respectively. The results of the actual juice were correlated with PB2 concentrations and phase-separated liposomes ratios, as well as with the results of experiments involving pure chemicals. In conclusion, the mechanism through which procyanidin improves lipid metabolism through the regulation of membrane fluidity was established. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipid Membranes and Their Applications)
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13 pages, 3798 KiB  
Article
Inkjet-Printed Phospholipid Bilayers on Titanium Oxide Surfaces: Towards Functional Membrane Biointerfaces
by Sigalit Meker, Oded Halevi, Hokyun Chin, Tun Naw Sut, Joshua A. Jackman, Ee-Lin Tan, Michael G. Potroz and Nam-Joon Cho
Membranes 2022, 12(4), 361; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12040361 - 25 Mar 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2449
Abstract
Functional biointerfaces hold broad significance for designing cell-responsive medical implants and sensor devices. Solid-supported phospholipid bilayers are a promising class of biological materials to build bioinspired thin-film coatings, as they can facilitate interactions with cell membranes. However, it remains challenging to fabricate lipid [...] Read more.
Functional biointerfaces hold broad significance for designing cell-responsive medical implants and sensor devices. Solid-supported phospholipid bilayers are a promising class of biological materials to build bioinspired thin-film coatings, as they can facilitate interactions with cell membranes. However, it remains challenging to fabricate lipid bilayers on medically relevant materials such as titanium oxide surfaces. There are also limitations in existing bilayer printing capabilities since most approaches are restricted to either deposition alone or to fixed microarray patterning. By combining advances in lipid surface chemistry and on-demand inkjet printing, we demonstrate the direct deposition and patterning of covalently tethered lipid bilayer membranes on titanium oxide surfaces, in ambient conditions and without any surface pretreatment process. The deposition conditions were evaluated by quartz crystal microbalance-dissipation (QCM-D) measurements, with corresponding resonance frequency (Δf) and energy dissipation (ΔD) shifts of around −25 Hz and <1 × 10−6, respectively, that indicated successful bilayer printing. The resulting printed phospholipid bilayers are stable in air and do not collapse following dehydration; through rehydration, the bilayers regain their functional properties, such as lateral mobility (>1 µm2/s diffusion coefficient), according to fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) measurements. By taking advantage of the lipid bilayer patterned architectures and the unique features of titanium oxide’s photoactivity, we further show how patterned cell culture arrays can be fabricated. Looking forward, this work presents new capabilities to achieve stable lipid bilayer patterns that can potentially be translated into implantable biomedical devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipid Membranes and Their Applications)
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11 pages, 1198 KiB  
Article
Elucidation of the Interactions of Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidants in Model Membranes Mimicking Cancer Cells and Normal Cells
by Geonho Cho, Deborah Lee, Sun Min Kim and Tae-Joon Jeon
Membranes 2022, 12(3), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12030286 - 1 Mar 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2571
Abstract
Photosensitizers (PSs) used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) have been developed to selectively destroy tumor cells. However, PSs recurrently reside on the extracellular matrix or affect normal cells in the vicinity, causing side effects. Additionally, the membrane stability of tumor cells and normal cells [...] Read more.
Photosensitizers (PSs) used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) have been developed to selectively destroy tumor cells. However, PSs recurrently reside on the extracellular matrix or affect normal cells in the vicinity, causing side effects. Additionally, the membrane stability of tumor cells and normal cells in the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has not been studied, and the effects of ROS at the membrane level are unclear. In this work, we elucidate the stabilities of model membranes mimicking tumor cells and normal cells in the presence of ROS. The model membranes are constructed according to the degree of saturation in lipids and the bilayers are prepared either in symmetric or asymmetric form. Interestingly, membranes mimicking normal cells are the most vulnerable to ROS, while membranes mimicking tumor cells remain relatively stable. The instability of normal cell membranes may be one cause of the side effects of PDT. Moreover, we also show that ROS levels are controlled by antioxidants, helping to maintain an appropriate amount of ROS when PDT is applied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipid Membranes and Their Applications)
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Review

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16 pages, 1942 KiB  
Review
Inimitable Impacts of Ceramides on Lipid Rafts Formed in Artificial and Natural Cell Membranes
by Masanao Kinoshita and Nobuaki Matsumori
Membranes 2022, 12(8), 727; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12080727 - 23 Jul 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2290
Abstract
Ceramide is the simplest precursor of sphingolipids and is involved in a variety of biological functions ranging from apoptosis to the immune responses. Although ceramide is a minor constituent of plasma membranes, it drastically increases upon cellular stimulation. However, the mechanistic link between [...] Read more.
Ceramide is the simplest precursor of sphingolipids and is involved in a variety of biological functions ranging from apoptosis to the immune responses. Although ceramide is a minor constituent of plasma membranes, it drastically increases upon cellular stimulation. However, the mechanistic link between ceramide generation and signal transduction remains unknown. To address this issue, the effect of ceramide on phospholipid membranes has been examined in numerous studies. One of the most remarkable findings of these studies is that ceramide induces the coalescence of membrane domains termed lipid rafts. Thus, it has been hypothesised that ceramide exerts its biological activity through the structural alteration of lipid rafts. In the present article, we first discuss the characteristic hydrogen bond functionality of ceramides. Then, we showed the impact of ceramide on the structures of artificial and cell membranes, including the coalescence of the pre-existing lipid raft into a large patch called a signal platform. Moreover, we proposed a possible structure of the signal platform, in which sphingomyelin/cholesterol-rich and sphingomyelin/ceramide-rich domains coexist. This structure is considered to be beneficial because membrane proteins and their inhibitors are separately compartmentalised in those domains. Considering the fact that ceramide/cholesterol content regulates the miscibility of those two domains in model membranes, the association and dissociation of membrane proteins and their inhibitors might be controlled by the contents of ceramide and cholesterol in the signal platform. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipid Membranes and Their Applications)
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