Modulated and spiral surface patterns on deformable lipid vesicles

2020 ◽  
Vol 153 (14) ◽  
pp. 144901
Author(s):  
Yongtian Luo ◽  
Lutz Maibaum
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Vesicles ◽  
Surface Patterns ◽  
Spiral Surface

The structure of membranes and membrane proteins embedded in amorphous ice

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 432-433
Author(s):  
Uwe Lücken ◽  
Joachim Jäger
Keyword(s):  
Phase Transition ◽  
Transition Temperature ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Phase Transition Temperature ◽  
Lipid Vesicles ◽  
Freezing Stress ◽  
Amorphous Ice ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Band Pass ◽  
Lipid Polymorphism

TEM imaging of frozen-hydrated lipid vesicles has been done by several groups Thermotrophic and lyotrophic polymorphism has been reported. By using image processing, computer simulation and tilt experiments, we tried to learn about the influence of freezing-stress and defocus artifacts on the lipid polymorphism and fine structure of the bilayer profile. We show integrated membrane proteins do modulate the bilayer structure and the morphology of the vesicles.Phase transitions of DMPC vesicles were visualized after freezing under equilibrium conditions at different temperatures in a controlled-environment vitrification system. Below the main phase transition temperature of 24°C (Fig. 1), vesicles show a facetted appearance due to the quasicrystalline areas. A gradual increase in temperature leads to melting processes with different morphology in the bilayer profile. Far above the phase transition temperature the bilayer profile is still present. In the band-pass-filtered images (Fig. 2) no significant change in the width of the bilayer profile is visible.

Anticoagulant Activity of β2-Glycoprotein I Is Potentiated by a Distinct Subgroup of Anticardiolipin Antibodies

1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (03) ◽  
pp. 297-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Galli ◽  
Paul Comfurius ◽  
Tiziano Barbui ◽  
Robert F A Zwaal ◽  
Edouard M Bevers
Keyword(s):  
Human Plasma ◽  
Anticoagulant Activity ◽  
Factor Xa ◽  
Type A ◽  
Lipid Vesicles ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Type B ◽  
Distinct Subgroup ◽  
Glycoprotein I ◽  
Thrombin Formation

SummaryPlasmas of 16 patients positive for both IgG anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies and lupus anticoagulant (LA) antibodies were subjected to adsorption with liposomes containing cardiolipin. In 5 of these plasmas both the anticardiolipin and the anticoagulant activities were co-sedimented with the liposomes in a dose-dependent manner, whereas in the remaining cases only the anticardiolipin activity could be removed by the liposomes, leaving the anticoagulant activity (LA) in the supernatant plasma. aCL antibodies purified from the first 5 plasmas were defined as aCL-type A, while the term aCL-type B was used for antibodies in the other 11 plasmas, from which 2 were selected for this study.Prolongation of the dRVVT was produced by affinity-purified aCL-type A antibodies in plasma of human as well as animal (bovine, rat and goat) origin. aCL-type B antibodies were found to be devoid of anticoagulant activity, while the corresponding supernatants containing LA IgG produced prolongation of the dRVVT only in human plasma.These anticoagulant activities of aCL-type A and of LA IgG's were subsequently evaluated in human plasma depleted of β2-glycoprotein I (β2-GPI), a protein which was previously shown to be essential in the binding of aCL antibodies to anionic phospholipids. Prolongation of the dRVVT by aCL-type A antibodies was abolished using β2-GPI deficient plasma, but could be restored upon addition of β2-GPI. In contrast, LA IgG caused prolongation of the dRVVT irrespective of the presence or absence of β2-GPI.Since β2-GPI binds to negatively-charged phospholipids and impedes the conversion of prothrombin by the factor Xa/Va enzyme complex (Nimpf et al., Biochim Biophys Acta 1986; 884: 142–9), comparison was made of the effect of aCL-type A and aCL-type B antibodies on the rate of thrombin formation in the presence and absence of β2-GPI. This was measured in a system containing highly purified coagulation factors Xa, Va and prothrombin and lipid vesicles composed of 20 mole% phosphatidylserine and 80 mole% phosphatidylcholine. No inhibition on the rate of thrombin formation was observed with both types of aCL antibodies when either β2-GPI or the lipid vesicles were omitted. Addition of β2-GPI to the prothrombinase assay in the presence of lipid vesicles causes a time-dependent inhibition which was not affected by the presence of aCL-type B or non-specific IgG. In contrast, the presence of aCL-type A antibodies dramatically increased the anticoagulant effect of β2-GPI. These data indicate that the anticoagulant activity of aCL-type A antibodies in plasma is mediated by β2-GPI.

Clathrin-Inspired Coating and Stabilization of Liposomes by DNA Self-Assembly

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin N. Baumann ◽  
Luca Piantanida ◽  
Javier García-Nafría ◽  
Diana Sobota ◽  
Kislon Voïtchovsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Lipid Vesicles ◽  
The Self ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Liposome Surface ◽  
Dna Coating

The self-assembly of the protein clathrin on biological membranes facilitates essential processes of endocytosis in biological systems and has provided a source of inspiration for materials design by the highly ordered structural appearance. By mimicking the architecture of clathrin self-assemblies to coat liposomes with biomaterials, new classes of hybrid carriers can be derived. Here we present a method for fabricating DNA-coated liposomes by hydrophobically anchoring and subsequently growing a DNA network on the liposome surface which structurally mimics clathrin assemblies. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ-potential and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) measurements independently demonstrate successful DNA coating. Nanomechanical measurements conducted with atomic force microscopy (AFM) show that the DNA coating enhances the mechanical stability of the liposomes relative to uncoated ones. Furthermore, we provide the possibility to reverse the coating process by triggering the disassembly of the DNA coating through a toehold-mediated displacement reaction. Our results describe a straightforward, versatile, and reversible approach for coating and stabilizing lipid vesicles by an interlaced DNA network. This method has potential for further development towards the ordered arrangement of tailored functionalities on the surfaces of liposomes and for applications as hybrid nanocarrier.

Babbitt’s Beguiling Surfaces, Improvised Inside; Part III: Opportunities

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Banks Mailman
Keyword(s):  
Music Composition ◽  
Jazz Improvisation ◽  
The Third ◽  
Partial Orderings ◽  
Compositional Structures ◽  
Surface Patterns ◽  
Inside Part ◽  
Musical Activities

Babbitt’s relatively early composition Semi-Simple Variations (1956) presents intriguing surface patterns that are not determined by its pre-compositional plan, but rather result from subsequent “improvised” decisions that are strategic. This video (the third of a three-part video essay) considers Babbitt’s own conversational pronouncements (in radio interviews) together with some particulars of his life-long musical activities, that together suggest uncanny affiliations to jazz improvisation. As a result of Babbitt’s creative reconceptualizing of planning and spontaneity in music, his pre-compositional structures (partial orderings) fit in an unexpected way into (or reformulate) the ecosystem relating music composition to the physical means of its performance.

Application of Automated FIB for TEM Sample Preparation in Semiconductor Failure Analysis

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Zhu ◽  
Soo Sien Seah ◽  
Irene Tee ◽  
Bing Hai Liu ◽  
Eddie Er ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Protective Layer ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Dual Beam ◽  
Lamella Thickness ◽  
Surface Patterns ◽  
Working Parameters ◽  
Practical Factors ◽  
High Flexibility

Abstract In this paper, we describe automated FIB for TEM sample preparation using iFast software on a Helios 450HP dual-beam system. A robust iFast automation recipe needs to consider as many variables as possible in order to ensure consistent sample quality and high success rate. Variations mainly come from samples of different materials, structures, surface patterns, surface topography and surface charging. The recipe also needs to be user-friendly and provide high flexibility by allowing users to choose preferable working parameters for specific types of samples, such as: grounding, protective layer coating, milling steps, and final TEM lamella thickness/width. In addition to the iFast recipe, other practical factors affecting automation success rate are also discussed and highlighted.

scholarly journals Temporal coherency of mechanical stimuli modulates tactile form perception

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Nakatani ◽  
Yasuaki Kobayashi ◽  
Kota Ohno ◽  
Masaaki Uesaka ◽  
Sayako Mogami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Neuron ◽  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Contact Surface ◽  
Relative Magnitude ◽  
Form Perception ◽  
Tangential Displacement ◽  
Surface Geometry ◽  
Tactile Stimuli ◽  
Surface Patterns ◽  
Temporal Coherency

AbstractThe human hand can detect both form and texture information of a contact surface. The detection of skin displacement (sustained stimulus) and changes in skin displacement (transient stimulus) are thought to be mediated in different tactile channels; however, tactile form perception may use both types of information. Here, we studied whether both the temporal frequency and the temporal coherency information of tactile stimuli encoded in sensory neurons could be used to recognize the form of contact surfaces. We used the fishbone tactile illusion (FTI), a known tactile phenomenon, as a probe for tactile form perception in humans. This illusion typically occurs with a surface geometry that has a smooth bar and coarse textures in its adjacent areas. When stroking the central bar back and forth with a fingertip, a human observer perceives a hollow surface geometry even though the bar is physically flat. We used a passive high-density pin matrix to extract only the vertical information of the contact surface, suppressing tangential displacement from surface rubbing. Participants in the psychological experiment reported indented surface geometry by tracing over the FTI textures with pin matrices of the different spatial densities (1.0 and 2.0 mm pin intervals). Human participants reported that the relative magnitude of perceived surface indentation steeply decreased when pins in the adjacent areas vibrated in synchrony. To address possible mechanisms for tactile form perception in the FTI, we developed a computational model of sensory neurons to estimate temporal patterns of action potentials from tactile receptive fields. Our computational data suggest that (1) the temporal asynchrony of sensory neuron responses is correlated with the relative magnitude of perceived surface indentation and (2) the spatiotemporal change of displacements in tactile stimuli are correlated with the asynchrony of simulated sensory neuron responses for the fishbone surface patterns. Based on these results, we propose that both the frequency and the asynchrony of temporal activity in sensory neurons could produce tactile form perception.

scholarly journals Formation of Giant Lipid Vesicles in the Presence of Nonelectrolytes—Glucose, Sucrose, Sorbitol and Ethanol

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 945
Author(s):  
Qiong Wang ◽  
Ning Hu ◽  
Jincan Lei ◽  
Qiurong Qing ◽  
Jing Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Chloride ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Lipid Membranes ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Hydrodynamic Force ◽  
Lipid Vesicles ◽  
Ethanol Solution ◽  
Sugar Solution ◽  
Ethanol Content ◽  
Membrane Models

Lipid vesicles, especially giant lipid vesicles (GLVs), are usually adopted as cell membrane models and their preparation has been widely studied. However, the effects of some nonelectrolytes on GLV formation have not been specifically studied so far. In this paper, the effects of the nonelectrolytes, including sucrose, glucose, sorbitol and ethanol, and their coexistence with sodium chloride, on the lipid hydration and GLV formation were investigated. With the hydration method, it was found that the sucrose, glucose and sorbitol showed almost the same effect. Their presence in the medium enhanced the hydrodynamic force on the lipid membranes, promoting the GLV formation. GLV formation was also promoted by the presence of ethanol with ethanol volume fraction in the range of 0 to 20 percent, but higher ethanol content resulted in failure of GLV formation. However, the participation of sodium chloride in sugar solution and ethanol solution stabilized the lipid membranes, suppressing the GLV formation. In addition, the ethanol and the sodium chloride showed the completely opposite effects on lipid hydration. These results could provide some suggestions for the efficient preparation of GLVs.

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