933 — Chemical modification of the bilayer lipid membrane biosensor dipolar potential

The bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) is an interesting model for a transducer, based on transmembrane ion current modulation by selective complexation of a membrane-embedded receptor with a suitable stimulant. The dipolar potential, which originates from the lipid bilayer headgroup zone, partially controls transmembrane ion current. Dipolar potentials associated with phosphatidyl choline/steroid lipid monolayers on a Langmuir-Blodgett thin-film trough have been measured with a non-contacting electrostatic voltmeter, and have been correlated with lipid chemistry. Lipid molecular interactions established by monolayer compression and BLM Arrhenius energy barriers determined from thermal dependence of ion conductivity of BLM have provided an evaluation of the dipolar potential with respect to its role in controlling ion current, surface ion adsorption and BLM structural integrity. Additionally, this work deals with the characteristics required for an optimum receptor-membrane system, which would best operate by dramatically influencing membrane fluidity/packing parameters as well as dipolar potential.     

Lipid membrane dipole perturbation and chemoreception as models for selective chemical sensing

The proposition that dipolar and electrostatic modification of the surface dipolar potential of the bilayer lipid membrane with concomitant change of ion flux generates an analytical useful signal is discussed in terms of qualitative theoretical and experimental work. Calculations of membrane permeability with respect to transmembrane potential, configurations of lipid headgroup P-N and carbonyl dipolar vectors and approach proximity of a point dipole representation are compared with current-time profile obtained for interaction of the phosphatidyl choline membrane with various species including a selective lectin-saccharide combination. Preliminary results with a reconstituted plant receptor protein-auxin stimulant system demonstrate that an energy-coupled ion-pumped system also yield a highly selective electrochemical signal.     

Hydrogels for in situ encapsulation of biomimetic membrane arrays

Hydrogels are hydrophilic, porous polymer networks that can absorb up to thousands of times their own weight in water. They have many potential applications, one of which is the encapsulation of freestanding black lipid membranes (BLMs) for novel separation technologies or biosensor applications. We investigated gels for in situ encapsulation of multiple BLMs formed across apertures in a hydrophobic ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) support. The encapsulation gels consisted of networks of poly(ethylene glycol)‐dimethacrylate or poly(ethylene glycol)‐diacrylate polymerized using either a chemical initiator or a photoinitiator. The hydrogels were studied with regards to volumetric stability, porosity, and water permeability. All hydrogels had pore sizes around 7 nm with volumetric changes >2% upon crosslinking. Photoinitiated hydrogels had a lower hydraulic water permeability compared to chemically initiated hydrogels; however, for all hydrogels the permeability was several‐fold higher than the water permeability of conventional reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. Lifetimes of freestanding BLM arrays in gel precursor solutions were short compared to arrays formed in buffer. However, polymerizing (crosslinking) the gel stabilized the membranes and resulted in BLM arrays that remained intact for days. This is a substantial improvement over lifetimes for freestanding BLM arrays. Optical images of the membranes and single channel activity of incorporated gramicidin ion channels showed that the lipid membranes retained their integrity and functionality after encapsulation with hydrogel. Our results show that hydrogel encapsulation is a potential means to provide stability for biomimetic devices based on functional proteins reconstituted in biomimetic membrane arrays. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect ofcholinergic ligands on the lipids of acetylcholine receptor-rich membrane preparations from Torpedo californica.

Ion permeation, triggered by ligand-receptor interaction, is associated with the primary events of membrane depolarization at the neuromuscular junction and synaptic connections. To explore the possible sites of ion permeation, the long-lived fluorescent probe pyrene (fluorescence lifetime approximately 400 nsec) has been inserted into the lipid phase of acetylcholine receptor-rich membrane (AcChR-M) preparations from Torpedo californica. The pyrene probe is susceptible to both fluidity and permeability changes in the lipid bilayer. These changes are detected by variations in the rate of decay of the excited singlet state of pyrene after pulsation with a 10-nsec ruby laser flash. Variations of these lifetimes in the membrane preparations alone or in the presence of quenchers show that binding of cholinergic agonists and antagonists, neurotoxins, and local anesthetics to AcChR-M produces varying effects on the properties of the pyrene probe in the lipid phase. It is concluded that binding of cholinergic ligands to the receptor does not significantly alter the fluidity of permeability of the lipids in the bilayer contact with pyrene. On the other hand, local anesthetics do affect these properties.     

Ion permeability through bilayer lipid membranes for biosensor development: control by chemical modification of interfacial regions between phase domains.

Based on the results of studies on cystic fibrosis, which implicated hydroxystearic acid (HSA) as a contributing factor in altered biomembrane function, solvent-free bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) and monolayer films were prepared from a lipid mixture containing (by mass) 34% phosphatidylcholine, 19% dipalmitoylphosphatidyl serine, 47% cholesterol and variable amounts of 10- and 12-HSA (0-50%). Ion currents, resulting from K+ permeation through BLMs that were supported in 0.1 mol dm-3 KCl solutions buffered to pH 7.4, were monitored with use of a d.c. circuit. The structures of monolayer films at the air-water interface of a Langmuir-Blodgett trough were studied by pressure-area correlations and by further correlation with microscopic phase separation as revealed by fluorescence microscopy. In order to elucidate the role of the hydroxyl moieties in ion permeability, the transmembrane ion current was corrected for the effect of the negative surface charge of the carboxylic acid by replacement of the HSA component with stearic acid. The ion current was found to increase with the molar proportion of the HSAs. Two models for ion conduction through BLMs were considered: 'hopping' via hydrophilic sites within the hydrophobic zone of the BLMs, introduced by the hydroxyl moiety of 10- or 12-HSA; and transport through interfacial regions between phase domains that represent areas of low steric density and low structural order within monolayers. Although the two mechanisms are not distinct, the ion permeability results indicate a change in the response of ion current to HSA concentration at 35 mol-%, suggesting a change in the relative proportion of the mechanisms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Receptor–ligand interactions in a reconstituted bilayer lipid membrane

A simple method is described to reconstitute membrane receptors into bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). After reconstitution, the receptor still retains its ligand activity. Furthermore, the relationship between receptor–ligand interactions and electrical properties of reconstituted BLMs such as membrane capacitance (C_m) and membrane resistance (R_m) was studied. When glycophorin in erythrocyte and asialoglycoprotein in hepatocyte were taken as examples, it was found that the resistance of reconstituted BLM decreased when adding blood type monoclonal antibody or the solutions of galactose, respectively, and the decrease is ligand-concentration dependent; however, the membrane capacitance was not influenced. This provides a simple, practical approach to determining the interactions between the receptor and its ligand.     

Planar bilayer lipid memebranes

The planar bilayer lipid membrane, also known as lipid bilayer membrane, black lipid membrane or simply BLM(s), for short, has been investigated since its inception in 1960, the details of which have been described in a monograph published in 1974. This review is a report on the advances in the BLM research since that time.After a brief introduction, the first five sections consider various aspects of experimental methods, optical properties, thermodynamics of lipid bilayers, permeability, and electrical properties of BLMs. Section 7 deals with the use of BLM as energy transducer, particularly the transduction of light into electrical energy. Section 8, the longest portion of the paper, is devoted to modelling of biomembranes, such as the plasma membrane of cells, the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts, the cristae membrane of mitochondria, the visual receptor membrane of the eye, and the nerve membrane. The concluding section points out that studies of BLMs facilitate the initial testing of working hypothses and may lead to a better choice of appropriate $\text{in vivo}$ and reconstituted membrane experiments.     

Micro‐ and Nano‐Technologies for Lipid Bilayer‐Based Ion‐Channel Functional Assays

Ion channel proteins provide gated pores that allow ions to passively flow across cell membranes. Owing to their crucial roles in regulating transmembrane ion flow, ion channel proteins have attracted the attention of pharmaceutical investigators as drug targets for use in the studies of both therapeutics and side effects. In this review, we discuss the current technologies that are used in the formation of ion channel‐integrated bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) in microfabricated devices as a potential platform for next‐generation drug screening systems. Advances in BLM fabrication methodology have allowed the preparation of BLMs in sophisticated formats, such as microfluidic, automated, and/or array systems, which can be combined with channel current recordings. A much more critical step is the integration of the target channels into BLMs. Current technologies for the functional reconstitution of ion channel proteins are presented and discussed. Finally, the remaining issues of the BLM‐based methods for recording ion channel activities and their potential applications as drug screening systems are discussed.     

Study on selectivity of permeating chiral complexes in bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs)

Electrical properties such as membrane potential (E_m) of planar bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) are readily measured. Planar BLMs have been extensively used as models of biomembranes. In this paper we report BLMs formed in the solutions containing chiral complexes: d-K[Co(EDTA)], l-K[Co(EDTA)]; d-[Co(C₂O₄)(en)₂]I, and l-[Co(C₂O₄)(en)₂]I, whose E_m values display great differences, implying strong chiral selectivity. The permeability ratios of different chiral complexes calculated from E_m are the same as those obtained from human erythrocyte experiments. These results showed that chiral selectivity of cell uptake was mainly caused by the chirality of the membrane phospholipid itself. As a rapid and sensitive analytic tool, the BLM may be used to study permeating pathways and drug–membrane interactions. With further research, the BLM system may be developed into a useful method for drug screening.     

Membrane-permeabilizing activities of cyclic lipodepsipeptides, syringopeptin 22A and syringomycin E from Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae in human red blood cells and in bilayer lipid membranes

The pore-forming activities of cyclic lipodepsipeptides (CLPs), syringopeptin 22A (SP22A) and syringomycin E (SRE) were compared on the human red blood cell (RBC) membrane and on bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). SP22A above a concentration of 4 x 10(5) molecules/cell significantly increased the RBC membrane permeability for 86Rb. With electric current measurements on BLM, it was proved that like SRE, the SP22A formed two types of ion channels in the membrane, small and large, the latter having six times larger conductance and longer dwell time. Both CLPs formed clusters consisting of six small channels, and the channel-forming activity of SP22A is about one order of magnitude higher than that of SRE. A Hill coefficient of 2-3 estimated from the concentration dependence of these CLPs-induced lysis gave a proof of the pore oligomerization on RBCs. Transport kinetic data also confirmed that SP22A pores were oligomers of at least three monomers. While SRE pores were inactivated in time, no pore inactivation was observed with SP22A. The 86Rb efflux through SP22A-treated RBCs approached the tracer equilibrium distribution with a constant rate; a constant integral current was measured on the BLM for as long as 2.5 h as well. The partition coefficient (Kp = 2 x 10(4) l/mol) between the RBC membrane and the extracellular space was estimated for SRE to be at least six times higher than that for SP22A. This finding suggested that the higher ion permeability of the SP22A-treated cells compared to that of SRE was the result of the higher pore-forming activity of SP22A.     

Effects of photoinduced membrane rigidification on the lysosomal permeability to potassium ions

Mechanism for the photoinduced increase in the lysosomal K+ permeability is still unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of photodamage-induced membrane rigidification on the lysosomal K+ permeability by measuring the membrane potential with bis(3-propyl-5-oxoisoxazol-4-yl)pentamethine oxonol and by monitoring proton leakage with p-nitrophenol. Membrane fluidity was measured by the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Methylene blue-mediated photodamage to lysosomes decreased their membrane fluidity and increased their K+ permeability. The photoinduced increase in the K+ permeability can be reversed by fluidizing the rigidified lysosomal membranes with benzyl alcohol. The results suggest that the membrane rigidification induced by photodamage may increase lysosomal K+ permeability. This conclusion is supported by the observation that rigidifying lysosomal membranes by the treatment with membrane rigidifier cholesteryl hemisuccinate also enhanced the lysosomal K+ permeability.     

Biosensor for dopamine based on stabilized lipid films with incorporated resorcin[4]arene receptor

This work reports a technique for the stabilization after storage in air of a lipid film with incorporated resorcin[4]arene receptor based biosensor for dopamine. Microporous filters composed of glass fibers (nominal pore sizes, 0.7 and 1.0 microm) were used as supports for the formation and stabilization of these devices and the lipid film is formed on the filter by polymerization prior its use. Methacrylic acid was the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate was the crosslinker and 2,2'-azobis-(2-methylpropionitrile) was the initiator. The stability of the lipid films by incorporation of a receptor for the preparation of stabilized lipid film biosensor is studied throughout this work. The response towards dopamine of the present stabilized for repetitive uses lipid membrane biosensor composed of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and dipalmitoyl phosphatidic acid was compared with planar freely suspended bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). The stabilized lipid membranes provided similar artificial ion gating events as BLMs in the form of transient signals and can function for repetitive uses after storage in air. However, the response of the stabilized lipid films was slower than that of the freely suspended BLMs. This will allow the practical use of the techniques for chemical sensing based on lipid films and commercialization of these devices, because it is now possible to prepare stabilized lipid film based biosensors and store them in the air.     

Arachidonic acid-induced channel- and carrier-type ion transport across planar bilayer lipid membranes.

Transmembrane ion transport by arachidonic acid (AA) through bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) was investigated by means of electrochemical measurements to provide a basis for designing a sensor membrane. We found that AA induces a channel-type current, in addition to a carrier-type current, across planar BLMs. A linear relation between the logarithmic value of the AA concentration and the current responses (given as integrated currents) was observed for a carrier-type current, while a sigmoid relation was found for a channel-type current. Although AA transports Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ and exhibits ion selectivity between Na+ and Mg2+ for the carrier-type current, ion transport for the channel-type current was non-selective. It was found that ion transport via the channel mechanism occurs frequently for AA, while channel-type currents were only occasionally observed for y-linolenic acid and prostaglandin D2. No channel-type currents were induced by other fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, stearic, myristic, eicosapentanoic and docosahexanoic acids) and metabolites of AA (12-HETE and 5-HETE). The carrier-type ion transport occurs selectively to these compounds if the concentration is below 1.0 microM. These results suggest that AA selectively facilitates an ion flux through the BLMs, generating channel-type and/or carrier-type currents, which can be used as a measure of the AA concentration.     

Langmuir-Blodgett film characteristics and phospholipid membrane ion conduction : Part 1. Modification by Cholesterol and Oxidized Derivatives

The energy barrier to inorganic ion conduction through bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) is investigated as a function of molecular packing and dipolar potential characteristics. Arrhenius energy barrier information is derived from temperature-dependent electrochemical experiments with phosphatidyl choline/steroid BLM. The steroids studied at 0.65 mole fraction in phospholipid were 5-cholesten-3β-ol, 5,7-cholestadien-3β-ol, 5-cholesten-3β,7α-diol, 5α-cholestan-3β,5α,6β-triol, 5α-cholestan-5α,6α-epoxy-3β-ol, 5-cholesten-3β-ol-7-one and 5α-cholestan-3-one. Correlation of the barrier magnitude with molecular packing characteristics, obtained by collecting monolayer data from a Langmuir-Blodgett trough, indicates that the BLM ion current is almost completely controlled by molecular density. The sensitivity of the energy barrier as a function of molecular packing is as great as 0.1 eV for a 0.01-nm² adjustment.     

Surface activity of thymol: implications for an eventual pharmacological activity

In the present work, we studied the ability of thymol to affect the organization of model membranes and the activity of an intrinsic membrane protein, the GABA(A) receptor (GABA(A)-R). In this last aspect, we tried to elucidate if the action mechanism of this terpene at the molecular level, involves its binding to the receptor protein, changes in the organization of the receptor molecular environment, or both. The self-aggregation of thymol in water with a critical micellar concentration approximately = 4 microM and its ability to penetrate in monomolecular layers of soybean phosphatidylcholine (sPC) at the air-water interface, even at surface pressures above the equilibrium, lateral pressure of natural bilayers were demonstrated. Thymol affected the self-aggregation of Triton X-100 and the topology of sPC vesicles. It also increased the polarity of the membrane environment sensed by the electrochromic dye merocyanine. A dipolar moment of 1.341 Debye was calculated from its energy-minimized structure. Its effect on the binding of [3H]-flunitrazepam ([3H]-FNZ) to chick brain synaptosomal membranes changed qualitatively from a tendency to the inhibition to a clear activatory regime, up on changing the phase state of the terpene (from a monomeric to a self-aggregated state). Above its CMC, thymol increased the affinity of the binding of [3H]-FNZ (K(d-control)= 2.9, K(d-thymol)= 1.7 nM) without changing the receptor density (B(max-control)= 910, B(max-thymol)= 895 fmol/mg protein). The activatory effect of thymol on the binding of [ [3H]-FNZ was observed even in the presence of the allosteric activator gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at a concentration of maximal activity, and was blocked by the GABA antagonist bicuculline. Changes in the dipolar arrangement and in the molecular packing of GABA(A)-R environment are discussed as possible mediators of the action mechanism of thymol.     

The lipid bilayer concept and its experimental realization: from soap bubbles,kitchen sink,to bilayer lipid membranes

The inspiration for lipid bilayer research, without question, comes from the biological world. Although self-assembled bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) in vitro, were first reported in 1961, experimental scientists have been dealing with BLM-type interfacial adsorption phenomena since Robert Hooke’s time (1672). BLMs (of planar lipid bilayers) have been used in a number of applications ranging from basic membrane biophysics including transport, practical AIDS research, and ‘microchips’ studies, to the conversion of solar energy via water photolysis, to biosensor development using supported bilayer lipid membranes (s-BLMs), and to photobiology comprising apoptosis and photodynamic therapy. This paper presents an overview of the origin of the lipid bilayer concept and its experimental realization, as well as the studies of our laboratory and recent research of others on the use of BLMs as models of certain biomembranes. In addition, we describe briefly our present work on supported BLMs as biosensors and molecular devices; the experiments carried out in close collaboration with colleagues on s-BLMs are delineated.     

Effect of light-harvesting complex II on ion transport across model lipid membranes

The effect of the incorporation of the major light-harvesting complex of photosystem II (LHCII) to planar bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) formed from soybean asolectin and unilamellar small liposomes formed from egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine on ion transport across the lipid bilayer has been studied. The specific conductivity of the BLM rises from 5.2 +/- 0.8 x 10(-9) up to 510 x 10(-9) O(-1) cm(-2) upon the incorporation of LHCII. The conductivity of the membrane with LHCII depends upon the ionic strength of the bathing solution and is higher by a factor of five when the KCl concentration increases from 0.02 to 0.22 M. Such a strong effect has not been observed in the same system without LHCII. The liposome model is also applied to analyse the effect of LHCII on the bilayer permeability to protons. Unilamellar liposomes with a diameter less than 50 nm have been prepared, containing (trapped inside) Neutral Red, a pigment sensitive to proton concentration. A gradient of protons on the membrane is generated by the acidification of the liposome suspension and spectral changes of Neutral Red are recorded in time, reflecting the penetration of protons into the internal space of liposomes. Two components of proton permeation across liposome membranes are observed: a fast one (proceeding within seconds) and a slow one (operating on the time scale of minutes). The rate of both components of proton transport across LHCII-containing membranes is higher than for liposomes alone. The enhancement effect of LHCII on the ion transport across the lipid membrane is discussed in terms of aggregation of the pigment-protein complexes. The possible physiological importance of such an effect in controlling ion permeability across the thylakoid membrane is discussed.     

Advances in Artificial Cell Membrane Systems as a Platform for Reconstituting Ion Channels

An artificial cell membrane that is composed of bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) with transmembrane proteins incorporated within them represents a well‐defined system for the analysis of membrane proteins, especially ion channel proteins that are major targets for drug design. Because the BLM system has a high compatibility with recently developed cell‐free expression systems, it has attracted attention as a next‐generation drug screening system. However, three issues associated with BLM systems, i. e., their instability, the need for non‐volatile organic solvents and a low efficiency of ion channel incorporation, have limited their use as a drug screening platform. In this personal account, we discuss our recent approaches to address these issues based on microfabrication. We also discuss the potential for using the BLM system combined with cell‐free expression systems as a drug screening system for future personalized medicine.     

Polymerized planar suspended lipid bilayers for single ion channel recordings: comparison of several dienoyl lipids

The stabilization of suspended planar lipid membranes, or black lipid membranes (BLMs), through polymerization of mono- and bis-functionalized dienoyl lipids was investigated. Electrical properties, including capacitance, conductance, and dielectric breakdown voltage, were determined for BLMs composed of mono-DenPC, bis-DenPC, mono-SorbPC, and bis-SorbPC both prior to and following photopolymerization, with diphytanoyl phosphocholine (DPhPC) serving as a control. Poly(lipid) BLMs exhibited significantly longer lifetimes and increased the stability of air-water transfers. BLM stability followed the order bis-DenPC > mono-DenPC ≈ mono-SorbPC > bis-SorbPC. The conductance of bis-SorbPC BLMs was significantly higher than that of the other lipids, which is attributed to a high density of hydrophilic pores, resulting in relatively unstable membranes. The use of poly(lipid) BLMs as matrices for supporting the activity of an ion channel protein (IC) was explored using α-hemolysin (α-HL), a model IC. Characteristic i-V plots of α-HL were maintained following photopolymerization of bis-DenPC, mono-DenPC, and mono-SorbPC, demonstrating the utility of these materials for preparing more durable BLMs for single-channel recordings of reconstituted ICs.     

The structure of ions and zwitterionic lipids regulates the charge of dipolar membranes

In pure water, zwitterionic lipids form lamellar phases with an equilibrium water gap on the order of 2 to 3 nm as a result of the dominating van der Waals attraction between dipolar bilayers. Monovalent ions can swell those neutral lamellae by a small amount. Divalent ions can adsorb onto dipolar membranes and charge them. Using solution X-ray scattering, we studied how the structure of ions and zwitterionic lipids regulates the charge of dipolar membranes. We found that unlike monovalent ions that weakly interact with all of the examined dipolar membranes, divalent and trivalent ions adsorb onto membranes containing lipids with saturated tails, with an association constant on the order of ～10 M(-1). One double bond in the lipid tail is sufficient to prevent divalent ion adsorption. We suggest that this behavior is due to the relatively loose packing of lipids with unsaturated tails that increases the area per lipid headgroup, enabling their free rotation. Divalent ion adsorption links two lipids and limits their free rotation. The ion-dipole interaction gained by the adsorption of the ions onto unsaturated membranes is insufficient to compensate for the loss of headgroup free-rotational entropy. The ion-dipole interaction is stronger for cations with a higher valence. Nevertheless, polyamines behave as monovalent ions near dipolar interfaces in the sense that they interact weakly with the membrane surface, whereas in the bulk their behavior is similar to that of multivalent cations. Advanced data analysis and comparison with theory provide insight into the structure and interactions between ion-induced regulated charged interfaces. This study models biologically relevant interactions between cell membranes and various ions and the manner in which the lipid structure governs those interactions. The ability to monitor these interactions creates a tool for probing systems that are more complex and forms the basis for controlling the interactions between dipolar membranes and charged proteins or biopolymers for encapsulation and delivery applications.