A Highly Compatible Phototrophic Community for Carbon-Negative Biosynthesis

CO₂ sequestration engineering is promising for carbon-negative biosynthesis, and artificial communities can solve more complex problems than monocultures. However, obtaining an ideal photosynthetic community is still a great challenge. Herein, we describe the development of a highly compatible photosynthetic community (HCPC) by integrating a sucrose-producing CO₂ sequestration module and a super-coupled module. The cyanobacteria CO₂ sequestration module was obtained using stepwise metabolic engineering and then coupled with the efficient sucrose utilization module Vibrio natriegens. Integrated omics analysis indicated that enhanced photosynthetic electron transport and extracellular vesicles promote intercellular communication. Additionally, the HCPC was used to channel CO₂ into valuable chemicals, enabling the overall release of −22.27 to −606.59 kgCO₂e kg⁻¹ in the end products. This novel light-driven community could facilitate circular economic implementation in the future.     

Oxidation triggered structural transformations of a self-assembled telluropeptide

Here, we report the details of the synthesis and characterization of tubular molecular self-assembly of designed telluropeptide 1 at physiological pH conditions. The telluropeptide nano-/microtubes transformed into solid/hollow spheres or vesicles and ring-like structures upon controlled oxidation of telluro-amino acid residues present in the sequence of telluropeptide 1 by hydrogen peroxide.     

Polymer-associated liposomes as a novel delivery system for cyclodextrin-bound drugs

It is known that cyclodextrins (CDs) extract lipid components from bilayer of liposomes. This could undermine the potential benefits of liposomes as drug carriers. In this study, we demonstrated that PC-Chol liposomes with various CDs or rhapontin (Rh)-hydroxypropyl betaCD (HPbetaCD) complexes could be stabilized by association with the amphiphilic polyelectrolyte, poly(methacrylic acid-co-stearyl methacrylate). Based on the results of differential scanning calorimetry, photocorrelation spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, the polymer-associated liposomes had the same vesicular form as liposome with clear boundaries and retained structural integrity for at least 1 month. In addition, the polymer-associated structure was unaffected by the type of CD, the composition and concentration of lipid components, and the concentration of the Rh-HPbetaCD complex. This contrasted with PC-Chol liposomes, whose structure was dependent on these factors. Using structurally different polymer-associated liposomes and PC-Chol liposomes containing the Rh-HPbetaCD complex, we also showed that the stability of vesicles could influence the skin permeability of CD-drug complexes.     

Bicellar systems as modifiers of skin lipid structure

The characterization of different bicellar aggregates and the effects of these systems on the stratum corneum (SC) microstructure have been studied. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and freeze fracture electron microscopy (FFEM) techniques showed that both of the systems studied, dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine/dihexanoyl-phosphocholine (DMPC/DHPC) and dipalmitoyl-phosphocholine (DPPC)/DHPC, were formed by small discoidal aggregates at room temperature (20°C). Treating skin with DMPC/DHPC bicelles does not affect the SC lipid microstructure, whereas bicellar systems formed by DPPC and DHPC can promote the formation of new structures in the SC lipid domains. This indicates the passage of lipids from bicelles through the SC layers and also a possible interaction of these lipids with the SC lipids. Given the absence of surfactant in the bicellar composition and the small size of these structures, the use of these smart nano-systems offers great advantages over other lipid systems for dermatological purposes. Bicelles could be promising applications as drug carriers through the skin. This contribution, based on the new biological use of bicelles, may be useful to scientists engaged in colloid science and offers a new tool for different applications in skin and cosmetic research.     

多组分磷脂巨囊泡的相结构和胆固醇对微畴成长的影响

巨囊泡作为细胞的简化模型,其相分离与出芽动力学规律已引起许多领域科学家的关注.本实验采用DPPC/DOPC/Chol的三组分形成的巨囊泡作为模型,借助荧光显微镜观察该三组分体系侧向分离的相结构图,并对微畴的成长过程作了系统的观察研究和理论分析.实验发现:从高温的均相区域淬灭到低温的分相区域,膜表面发生侧向分离形成微畴.体系内胆固醇的掺入量的多少会影响磷脂膜的相结构和膜内微畴的成长,固定DOPC/DPPC为1:1的前提下,微畴尺寸随着胆固醇掺入量的增加而变大.     

Hydrogels from phospholipid vesicles

It is shown that phospholipid dispersions with a few percent of diacylphosphocholine PC in water can be swollen to single-phase lyotropic liquid crystalline L_α-phases by the addition of co-solvents like glycerol, 1,3-butyleneglycol BG or 1,2-propyleneglycol PG. The birefringent L_α-phases contain small unilamellar and multilamellar vesicles if the temperature of the samples is above the Krafft-Temperature T_m of the phospholipid. When such transparent birefringent viscous samples are cooled down below T_m the samples are transformed into birefringent gels. Cryo-TEM and FF-TEM measurements show that the bilayers of the vesicles are transformed from the liquid to the crystalline state during the transformation while the vesicle structure remains. The bilayers of the crystalline vesicles form adhesive contacts in the gel. Pulsed-field gradient NMR measurements show that two different kinds of water or co-solvent can be distinguished in the gels. One type of solvent molecules can diffuse like normal solvent in a continuous bulk phase. A second type of water diffuses much more slowly. This type of solvent is obviously trapped in the vesicles. The permeability of the crystalline vesicles for water and solvent molecules is much lower in the crystalline state than in the fluid state.     

Model cell membranes: Discerning lipid and protein contributions in shaping the cell

The high complexity of biological membranes has motivated the development and application of a wide range of model membrane systems to study biochemical and biophysical aspects of membranes in situ under well defined conditions. The aim is to provide fundamental understanding of processes controlled by membrane structure, permeability and curvature as well as membrane proteins by using a wide range of biochemical, biophysical and microscopic techniques. This review gives an overview of some currently used model biomembrane systems. We will also discuss some key membrane protein properties that are relevant for protein–membrane interactions in terms of protein structure and how it is affected by membrane composition, phase behavior and curvature.     

Effect of phenol on the aggregation characteristics of an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide triblock copolymer P65 in aqueous solution

The effects of phenol on the micellization, micellar growth, and phase separation of a poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) amphiphilic copolymer (Pluronic P65: EO19 PO30 EO19) in aqueous solution have been studied by cloud point, viscosity, dynamic light scattering (DLS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence spectroscopy, and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Various concentrations of P65 have been chosen to estimate the effect of phenol on different concentration regions of P65. Phenol interacts quite differently at low concentrations (0-2%) than at high concentrations (2-10%) of P65, as per the observation that phenol is more predominant at smaller concentrations of P65. A marked decrease in the cloud points of the P65 solutions is observed in presence of phenol. The critical micelle temperature (CMT) of P65 shows a synergistic effect of phenol on P65 aggregates. Micellar transitions, phase separation, and aggregation behaviours like micellization and micellar growth in the presence of phenol have been observed by combining viscometry, DLS, DSC, and CP. DLS shows that the effect of phenol is predominant at high temperatures. SANS shows a high increase in axial ratio and aggregation numbers in the presence of phenol at fixed concentrations of P65. Fluorescence data illustrate that addition of phenol makes micelles polar but at the same time its favours aggregation. Water-soluble phenol (present in low concentrations) forms aggregates with P65, which can be separated by cloud point extraction, making this study interesting for separation of phenol from the phenol-water system.     

Hybrid Vesicles Enable Mechano-Responsive Hydrogel Degradation

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are intriguing biomimetic materials. Previous efforts to develop mechano-responsive hydrogels have mostly relied on chemical modifications of the hydrogel structures. Here, we present a simple, generalizable strategy that confers mechano-responsive behavior on hydrogels. Our approach involves embedding hybrid vesicles, composed of phospholipids and amphiphilic block copolymers, within the hydrogel matrix to act as signal transducers. Under mechanical stress, these vesicles undergo deformation and rupture, releasing encapsulated compounds that can control the hydrogel network. To demonstrate this concept, we embedded vesicles containing ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA), a calcium chelator, into a calcium-crosslinked alginate hydrogel. When compressed, the released EGTA sequesters calcium ions and degrades the hydrogel. This study provides a novel method for engineering mechano-responsive hydrogels that may be useful in various biomedical applications.     

Effect of water content on the size and membrane thickness of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) vesicles

The asymmetric amphiphilic block copolymer polystyrene962-block-poly(ethylene oxide)227(PS962-b-PEO227) canforms micelles with N, N-dimethylformamide(DMF) as co-solvent and water as selected solvent, and when the water content of the mixed solvent is higher than 4.5 wt%, the vesicle will be dominated. This work finds that once vesicles are formed in the DMF-water mixed solvent, the vesicle size and membrane thickness can be tuned by further increasing water content. As the water fraction elevated from 4.8 wt% to 13.0 wt%, the vesicle size dercreases from 246 nm to 150 nm, while the membrane thickness increases from 28 nm to 42 nm. In addition, the block copolymer packing and the free energy are analyzed as the vesicle size becomes small and the membrane becomes thick.