A Chain-Elongated Oligophenylenevinylene Electrolyte Increases Microbial Membrane Stability.
Cheng ZhouGeraldine W N ChiaJames C S HoAlex S MorelandThomas SeviourBo LiedbergAtul N ParikhStaffan KjellebergJamie HinksGuillermo C BazanPublished in: Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) (2019)
A novel conjugated oligoelectrolyte (COE) material, named S6, is designed to have a lipid-bilayer stabilizing topology afforded by an extended oligophenylenevinylene backbone. S6 intercalates biological membranes acting as a hydrophobic support for glycerophospholipid acyl chains. Indeed, Escherichia coli treated with S6 exhibits a twofold improvement in butanol tolerance, a relevant feature to achieve within the general context of modifying microorganisms used in biofuel production. Filamentous growth, a morphological stress response to butanol toxicity in E. coli, is observed in untreated cells after incubation with 0.9% butanol (v/v), but is mitigated by S6 treatment. Real-time fluorescence imaging using giant unilamellar vesicles reveals the extent to which S6 counters membrane instability. Moreover, S6 also reduces butanol-induced lipopolysaccharide release from the outer membrane to further maintain cell integrity. These findings highlight a deliberate effort in the molecular design of a chain-elongated COE to stabilize microbial membranes against environmental challenges.
Keyphrases
- fluorescence imaging
- escherichia coli
- photodynamic therapy
- microbial community
- induced apoptosis
- ionic liquid
- single cell
- cell cycle arrest
- oxidative stress
- machine learning
- fatty acid
- cell therapy
- diabetic rats
- cell death
- stem cells
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- risk assessment
- klebsiella pneumoniae
- bone marrow
- biofilm formation
- human health
- cell proliferation
- life cycle