Targeted anion transporter delivery by coiled-coil driven membrane fusion. Issue 3 (14th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mora, Nestor Lopez; Bahreman, Azadeh; Valkenier, Hennie; Li, Hongyu; Sharp, Thomas H.; Sheppard, David N.; Davis, Anthony P.; Kros, Alexander
• Is Part Of: Chemical science. Volume 7:Issue 3(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 1768
• Page End: 1772
• Publication Date: 2016-01-14
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c5sc04282h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-6520

Abstract

Abstract : Membrane fusion was used to deliver lipophilic synthetic anion transporters to membranes of GUVs and cells, bringing the potential use as a therapeutic or biomedical research tool closer. Abstract : Synthetic anion transporters (anionophores) have potential as biomedical research tools and therapeutics. However, the efficient and specific delivery of these highly lipophilic molecules to a target cell membrane is non-trivial. Here, we investigate the delivery of a powerful anionophore to artificial and cell membranes using a coiled-coil-based delivery system inspired by SNARE membrane fusion proteins. Incorporation of complementary lipopeptides into the lipid membranes of liposomes and cell-sized giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) facilitated the delivery of a powerful anionophore into GUVs, where its anion transport activity was monitored in real time by fluorescence microscopy. Similar results were achieved using live cells engineered to express a halide-sensitive fluorophore. We conclude that coiled-coil driven membrane fusion is a highly efficient system to deliver anionophores to target cell membranes.