Light-activated control of protein channel assembly mediated by membrane mechanics
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Miller, DM
Findlay, HE
Ces, O
Templer, RH
Booth, PJ
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Photochemical processes provide versatile triggers of chemical reactions. Here, we use a photoactivated lipid switch to modulate the folding and assembly of a protein channel within a model biological membrane. In contrast to the information rich field of water-soluble protein folding, there is only a limited understanding of the assembly of proteins that are integral to biological membranes. It is however possible to exploit the foreboding hydrophobic lipid environment and control membrane protein folding via lipid bilayer mechanics. Mechanical properties such as lipid chain lateral pressure influence the insertion and folding of proteins in membranes, with different stages of folding having contrasting sensitivities to the bilayer properties. Studies to date have relied on altering bilayer properties through lipid compositional changes made at equilibrium, and thus can only be made before or after folding. We show that light-activation of photoisomerisable di-(5-[[4-(4-butylphenyl)azo]phenoxy]pentyl)phosphate (4-Azo-5P) lipids influences the folding and assembly of the pentameric bacterial mechanosensitive channel MscL. The use of a photochemical reaction enables the bilayer properties to be altered during folding, which is unprecedented. This mechanical manipulation during folding, allows for optimisation of different stages of the component insertion, folding and assembly steps within the same lipid system. The photochemical approach offers the potential to control channel assembly when generating synthetic devices that exploit the mechanosensitive protein as a nanovalve.
Date Issued
2016-11-10
Date Acceptance
2016-09-15
Citation
Nanotechnology, 2016, 27 (49), pp.1-10
ISSN
1361-6528
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Start Page
1
End Page
10
Journal / Book Title
Nanotechnology
Volume
27
Issue
49
Copyright Statement
© 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Nanotechnology. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The definitive publisher authenticated version is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/27/49/494004
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27831930
Grant Number
EP/G00465X/1
EP/H024425/1
EP/J017566/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Physical Sciences
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Physics, Applied
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Materials Science
Physics
membrane protein folding
light activation
lipid control
lateral pressure
PHOSPHOLIPID-BILAYER VESICLES
LATERAL PRESSURE PROFILE
MECHANOSENSITIVE CHANNEL
LARGE-CONDUCTANCE
NONBILAYER LIPIDS
ESCHERICHIA-COLI
CONFORMATIONAL-CHANGES
SUBCELLULAR MEMBRANES
POTASSIUM CHANNEL
OLIGOMERIC STATE
Cell Membrane
Lipid Bilayers
Membrane Proteins
Protein Folding
Cell Membrane
Lipid Bilayers
Membrane Proteins
Protein Folding
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Article Number
494004
Date Publish Online
2016-11-10