Reflectin Proteins Bind and Reorganize Synthetic Phospholipid Vesicles. 2020

Junyi Song, and Robert Levenson, and Jerome Santos, and Lourdes Velazquez, and Fan Zhang, and Deborah Fygenson, and Wenjian Wu, and Daniel E Morse
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-5100, United States.

The reflectin proteins have been extensively studied for their role in reflectance in cephalopods. In the recently evolved Loliginid squids, these proteins and the structural color they regulate are dynamically tunable, enhancing their effectiveness for camouflage and communication. In these species, the reflectins are found in highest concentrations within the structurally tunable, membrane enclosed, periodically stacked lamellae of subcellular Bragg reflectors and in the intracellular vesicles of specialized skin cells known as iridocytes and leuocophores, respectively. To better understand the interactions between the reflectins and the membrane structures that encompass them, we analyzed the interactions of two purified reflectins with synthetic phospholipid membrane vesicles similar in composition to cellular membranes, using confocal fluorescence microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The purified recombinant reflectins were found to drive multivalent vesicle agglomeration in a ratio-dependent and saturable manner. Extensive proteolytic digestion terminated with PMSF of the reflectin A1-vesicle complexes triggered energetic membrane rearrangement, resulting in vesicle fusion, fission, and tubulation. This behavior contrasted markedly with that of vesicles complexed with reflectin C, from which PMSF-terminated proteolysis only released the original size vesicles. Clues to the basis for this difference, residing in significant differences between the structures of the two reflectins, led to the suggestion that specific reflectin-membrane interactions may play a role in the ontogenetic formation, long-term maintenance, and/or dynamic behavior of their biophotonically active host membrane nanostructures. Similar energetic remodeling has been associated with osmotic stress in other membrane systems, suggesting a path to reconstitution of the biophotonic system in vitro.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010743 Phospholipids Lipids containing one or more phosphate groups, particularly those derived from either glycerol (phosphoglycerides see GLYCEROPHOSPHOLIPIDS) or sphingosine (SPHINGOLIPIDS). They are polar lipids that are of great importance for the structure and function of cell membranes and are the most abundant of membrane lipids, although not stored in large amounts in the system. Phosphatides,Phospholipid
D011506 Proteins Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein. Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012867 Skin The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.
D049832 Decapodiformes A superorder of CEPHALOPODS comprised of squid, cuttlefish, and their relatives. Their distinguishing feature is the modification of their fourth pair of arms into tentacles, resulting in 10 limbs. Cuttlefish,Illex,Sepiidae,Squid,Todarodes,Cuttlefishs,Decapodiforme,Illices,Squids,Todarode

Related Publications

Junyi Song, and Robert Levenson, and Jerome Santos, and Lourdes Velazquez, and Fan Zhang, and Deborah Fygenson, and Wenjian Wu, and Daniel E Morse
January 1982, Biophysical journal,
Junyi Song, and Robert Levenson, and Jerome Santos, and Lourdes Velazquez, and Fan Zhang, and Deborah Fygenson, and Wenjian Wu, and Daniel E Morse
September 2016, Soft matter,
Junyi Song, and Robert Levenson, and Jerome Santos, and Lourdes Velazquez, and Fan Zhang, and Deborah Fygenson, and Wenjian Wu, and Daniel E Morse
January 1991, Biochemistry,
Junyi Song, and Robert Levenson, and Jerome Santos, and Lourdes Velazquez, and Fan Zhang, and Deborah Fygenson, and Wenjian Wu, and Daniel E Morse
June 1979, The Journal of cell biology,
Junyi Song, and Robert Levenson, and Jerome Santos, and Lourdes Velazquez, and Fan Zhang, and Deborah Fygenson, and Wenjian Wu, and Daniel E Morse
January 1982, Biophysical journal,
Junyi Song, and Robert Levenson, and Jerome Santos, and Lourdes Velazquez, and Fan Zhang, and Deborah Fygenson, and Wenjian Wu, and Daniel E Morse
May 1991, Biochemistry,
Junyi Song, and Robert Levenson, and Jerome Santos, and Lourdes Velazquez, and Fan Zhang, and Deborah Fygenson, and Wenjian Wu, and Daniel E Morse
January 1994, Biology of reproduction,
Junyi Song, and Robert Levenson, and Jerome Santos, and Lourdes Velazquez, and Fan Zhang, and Deborah Fygenson, and Wenjian Wu, and Daniel E Morse
January 1991, Methods in enzymology,
Junyi Song, and Robert Levenson, and Jerome Santos, and Lourdes Velazquez, and Fan Zhang, and Deborah Fygenson, and Wenjian Wu, and Daniel E Morse
August 1980, Biochimica et biophysica acta,
Junyi Song, and Robert Levenson, and Jerome Santos, and Lourdes Velazquez, and Fan Zhang, and Deborah Fygenson, and Wenjian Wu, and Daniel E Morse
December 1986, Biochemistry,
Copied contents to your clipboard!