Macromolecular crowding and membrane binding proteins: The case of phospholipase A1

Wei, Yi‐Ming; Mayoral-Delgado, Isabel; Stewart, Nicolas A.; Dymond, Marcus K.

doi:10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2018.12.006

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…It has at least three important consequences [45,48,49]. First, it promotes the formation of macromolecular complexes and oligomers, including protein binding to membranes [50]; thus, in situations when cellular responses involve such reactions, they are likely to be enhanced by MC. Second, MC favors more compact protein conformations.…”

Section: Why MC May Have Biological Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macromolecular Crowding: a Hidden Link Between Cell Volume and Everything Else

Model

Hollembeak

Kurokawa

2021

Cell Physiol Biochem

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High density of intracellular macromolecules creates a special condition known as macromolecular crowding (MC). One well-established consequence of MC is that only a slight change in the concentration of macromolecules (e.g., proteins) results in a shift of chemical equilibria towards the formation of macromolecular complexes and oligomers. This suggests a physiological mechanism of converting cell density changes into cellular responses. In this review, we start by providing a general overview of MC; then we examine the available experimental evidence that MC may act as a direct signaling factor in several types of cellular activities: mechano- and osmosensing, cell volume recovery in anisosmotic solutions, and apoptotic shrinkage. The latter phenomenon is analyzed in particular detail, as persistent shrinkage is known both to cause apoptosis and to occur during apoptosis resulting from other stimuli. We point to specific apoptotic reactions that involve formation of macromolecular complexes and, therefore, may provide a link between shrinkage and downstream responses.

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Section: Why MC May Have Biological Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macromolecular Crowding: a Hidden Link Between Cell Volume and Everything Else

Model

Hollembeak

Kurokawa

2021

Cell Physiol Biochem

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“…Their enhanced local concentration promotes protein:lipid and protein:protein interactions, oligomerization and/or aggregation, while soluble proteins and crowders that do not associate with the membrane are largely excluded from the interface [135]. Thus, a twofold higher affinity to lipid vesicles was reported for the phospholipase A1, when as little as 2 % (w/v) of the inert polysaccharide Ficoll 400 was added to the solution [136]. A comparable crowding level imposed by Ficoll PM70 strongly enhanced the virus:receptor recognition on the surface of living cells.…”

Section: Crowding In Solution Modulates Membrane:protein Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The more the merrier: effects of macromolecular crowding on the structure and dynamics of biological membranes

et al. 2020

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Proteins are essential and abundant components of cellular membranes. Being densely packed within the limited surface area, proteins fulfil essential tasks for life, which include transport, signalling and maintenance of cellular homeostasis. The high protein density promotes nonspecific interactions, which affect the dynamics of the membrane-associated processes, but also contribute to higher levels of membrane organization. Here, we provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent findings of diverse effects resulting from high protein densities in both living membranes and reconstituted systems and display why the crowding phenomenon should be considered and assessed when studying cellular pathways. Biochemical, biophysical and computational studies reveal effects of crowding on the translational mobility of proteins and lipids, oligomerization and clustering of integral membrane proteins, and also folding and aggregation of proteins at the lipid membrane interface. The effects of crowding pervade to larger length scales, where interfacial and transmembrane crowding shapes the lipid membrane. Finally, we discuss the design and development of fluorescence-based sensors for macromolecular crowding and the perspectives to use those in application to cellular membranes and suggest some emerging topics in studying crowding at biological interfaces.

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“…Another factor that would be interesting to study is the impact of excluded volume effects generated by macromolecular crowding on these interactions. This phenomenon is known to promote protein-protein interactions 90 , and the binding of proteins to the membrane 91 , thus it is likely to influence the interaction between NPs and the membrane.…”

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confidence: 99%

Mechanomodulation of Lipid Membranes by Weakly Aggregating Silver Nanoparticles

et al. 2019

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Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have wide-ranging applications, including as additives in consumer products and in medical diagnostics and therapy. Therefore, understanding how AgNPs interact with biological systems is important for ascertaining any potential health risks due to the likelihood of high levels of human exposure. Besides any severe, acute effects, it is desirable to understand more subtle interactions that could lead to milder, chronic health impacts. Nanoparticles are small enough to be able to enter biological cells and interfere with their internal biochemistry. The initial contact between the nanoparticle and cell is at the plasma membrane. To gain fundamental mechanistic insight into AgNP–membrane interactions, we investigate these phenomena in minimal model systems using a wide range of biophysical approaches applied to lipid vesicles. We find a strong dependence on the medium composition, where colloidally stable AgNPs in a glucose buffer have a negligible effect on the membrane. However, at physiological salt concentrations, the AgNPs start to weakly aggregate and sporadic but significant membrane perturbation events are observed. Under these latter conditions, transient poration and structural remodeling of some vesicle membranes are observed. We observe that the fluidity of giant vesicle membranes universally decreases by an average of 16% across all vesicles. However, we observe a small population of vesicles that display a significant change in their mechanical properties with lower bending rigidity and higher membrane tension. Therefore, we argue that the isolated occurrences of membrane perturbation by AgNPs are due to low-probability mechanomodulation by AgNP aggregation at the membrane.

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Macromolecular crowding and membrane binding proteins: The case of phospholipase A1

Cited by 12 publications

References 75 publications

Macromolecular Crowding: a Hidden Link Between Cell Volume and Everything Else

Macromolecular Crowding: a Hidden Link Between Cell Volume and Everything Else

The more the merrier: effects of macromolecular crowding on the structure and dynamics of biological membranes

Mechanomodulation of Lipid Membranes by Weakly Aggregating Silver Nanoparticles

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