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International audience; In Arabidopsis, the receptor-like kinase (RLK) FERONIA (FER) senses peptide ligands in the plasma membrane (PM), modulates plant growth and development, and integrates biotic and abiotic stress signaling for downstream adaptive responses. However, the molecular interplay of these diverse processes is largely unknown.Here, we show that FER, the receptor of Rapid Alkalinization Factor 1 (RALF1), physically interacts with C2 domain ABA-related (CAR) proteins to control the nano-organization of the PM. During this process, the RALF1-FER pathway upregulates CAR protein translation, and then more CAR proteins are recruited to the PM. This acts as a rapid feedforward loop that stabilizes the PM liquid-ordered phase. FER interacts with and phosphorylates CARs, thereby reducing their lipid-binding ability and breaking the feedback regulation at later time points.The formation of the flg22-induced FLS2-BAK1 immune complex, which depends on the integrity of FER-containing nanodomains, is impaired in fer and pentuple car14569 mutant.Together, we propose that the FER-CAR module controls the formation of PM nano-organization during RALF signaling through a self-contained amplifying loop including both positive and negative feedback.

International audience; Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) is an anionic phospholipid, which has been described as a master regulator of the Golgi apparatus in eukaryotic cells. However, recent evidence suggests that PI4P mainly accumulates at the plasma membrane in all plant cells analyzed so far. Besides, many functions that are typically attributed to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] in animal and yeast cells are also supported by PI4P in plants. For example, PI4P is the key anionic lipid that powers the strong electrostatic properties of the plasma membrane. PI4P is also required for the establishment of stable membrane contacts between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the plasma membrane, for exocytosis and to support signaling pathways. Thus, we propose that PI4P has a prominent role in specifying the identity of the plasma membrane and in supporting some of its key functions and should be considered a hallmark lipid of this compartment.

Cardiolipin (CL) is a key lipid for damaged mitochondrial recognition by the LC3/GABARAP human autophagy proteins. The role of ceramide (Cer) in this process is unclear, but CL and Cer have been proposed to coexist in mitochondria under certain conditions. Varela et al. showed that in model membranes composed of egg sphingomyelin (eSM), dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), and CL, the addition of Cer enhanced the binding of LC3/GABARAP proteins to bilayers. Cer gave rise to lateral phase separation of Cer-rich rigid domains but protein binding took place mainly in the fluid continuous phase. In the present study, a biophysical analysis of bilayers composed of eSM, DOPE, CL, and/or Cer was attempted to understand the relevance of this lipid coexistence. Bilayers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, confocal fluorescence microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Upon the addition of CL and Cer, one continuous phase and two segregated ones were formed. In bilayers with egg phosphatidylcholine instead of eSM, in which the binding of LC3/GABARAP proteins hardly increased with Cer in the former study, a single segregated phase was formed. Assuming that phase separation at the nanoscale is ruled by the same principles acting at the micrometer scale, it is proposed that Cer-enriched rigid nanodomains, stabilized by eSM:Cer interactions formed within the DOPE- and CL-enriched fluid phase, result in structural defects at the rigid/fluid nanointerfaces, thus hypothetically facilitatingLC3/GABARAP protein interaction. This work was funded in part by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MCIU), Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (grant No. PID2021-124461NB-I00), the Basque Government (grant No. IT1625-22), Fundación Ramón Areces (CIVP20A6619), Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia, and the Basque Excellence Research Centre (BERC) program of the Basque Government. E.J.G.-R. was supported by Fundación Ramón Areces. M.N.I. and Y.R.V. were recipients of pre-doctoral FPU fellowships from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (FPU16/05873, FPU18/00799). U.B. thanks the University of the Basque Country for a pre-doctoral contract.

Super-resolution imaging can generate thousands of single-particle trajectories. These data can potentially reconstruct subcellular organization and dynamics, as well as measure disease-linked changes. However, computational methods that can derive quantitative information from such massive datasets are currently lacking. We present data analysis and algorithms that are broadly applicable to reveal local binding and trafficking interactions and organization of dynamic subcellular sites. We applied this analysis to the endoplasmic reticulum and neuronal membrane. The method is based on spatiotemporal segmentation that explores data at multiple levels and detects the architecture and boundaries of high-density regions in areas measuring hundreds of nanometers. By connecting dense regions, we reconstructed the network topology of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), as well as molecular flow redistribution and the local space explored by trajectories. The presented methods are available as an ImageJ plugin that can be applied to large datasets of overlapping trajectories offering a standard of single-particle trajectory (SPT) metrics.

The brain is a tremendously complex organ that consists of an intricate network of billions of nerve cells, also called neurons. Neurons are the main communicators of the brain and by sending signals from one neuron to the other they can trigger actions, ultimately underlying processes such as learning and memory. Neurons form synapses, which are special contact sites between two neurons where the communication takes place. Like in a handshake, but instead of greeting each other one neuron transfers a signal which is received by receptors on the other neuron. The signal activates the receptors which initiates a signaling cascade in the receiving neuron. The focus of this thesis is on metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), which are critical modulators of synaptic signaling on longer time scales. Synaptic signaling is tightly regulated and two aspects are essential for proper and efficient signal transmission: (1) the receiving receptors need to be positioned at the correct location, in close proximity to the released signal, to receive and respond, and (2) the activated receptors need to be rapidly deactivated in order to prevent overstimulation in the receiving neurons. This thesis aims at understanding how mGluR organization is regulated and how this tunes synaptic signaling. We used a combination of novel molecular tools, advanced imaging techniques and functional read-outs to directly examine this. We discovered that mGluRs are organized in dynamic clusters surrounding the area where signals are released, which is regulated by a specific part of the receptor. Furthermore, we show that Shank proteins regulate the uptake and recycling of mGluRs to prevent overstimulation after activation. Together, this thesis presents exciting novel insights in the functional organization of mGluRs at synapses, crucial for a better understanding of the brain in both health an disease.

The brain is a tremendously complex organ that consists of an intricate network of billions of nerve cells, also called neurons. Neurons are the main communicators of the brain and by sending signals from one neuron to the other they can trigger actions, ultimately underlying processes such as learning and memory. Neurons form synapses, which are special contact sites between two neurons where the communication takes place. Like in a handshake, but instead of greeting each other one neuron transfers a signal which is received by receptors on the other neuron. The signal activates the receptors which initiates a signaling cascade in the receiving neuron. The focus of this thesis is on metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), which are critical modulators of synaptic signaling on longer time scales. Synaptic signaling is tightly regulated and two aspects are essential for proper and efficient signal transmission: (1) the receiving receptors need to be positioned at the correct location, in close proximity to the released signal, to receive and respond, and (2) the activated receptors need to be rapidly deactivated in order to prevent overstimulation in the receiving neurons. This thesis aims at understanding how mGluR organization is regulated and how this tunes synaptic signaling. We used a combination of novel molecular tools, advanced imaging techniques and functional read-outs to directly examine this. We discovered that mGluRs are organized in dynamic clusters surrounding the area where signals are released, which is regulated by a specific part of the receptor. Furthermore, we show that Shank proteins regulate the uptake and recycling of mGluRs to prevent overstimulation after activation. Together, this thesis presents exciting novel insights in the functional organization of mGluRs at synapses, crucial for a better understanding of the brain in both health an disease.

The brain is a tremendously complex organ that consists of an intricate network of billions of nerve cells, also called neurons. Neurons are the main communicators of the brain and by sending signals from one neuron to the other they can trigger actions, ultimately underlying processes such as learning and memory. Neurons form synapses, which are special contact sites between two neurons where the communication takes place. Like in a handshake, but instead of greeting each other one neuron transfers a signal which is received by receptors on the other neuron. The signal activates the receptors which initiates a signaling cascade in the receiving neuron. The focus of this thesis is on metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), which are critical modulators of synaptic signaling on longer time scales. Synaptic signaling is tightly regulated and two aspects are essential for proper and efficient signal transmission: (1) the receiving receptors need to be positioned at the correct location, in close proximity to the released signal, to receive and respond, and (2) the activated receptors need to be rapidly deactivated in order to prevent overstimulation in the receiving neurons. This thesis aims at understanding how mGluR organization is regulated and how this tunes synaptic signaling. We used a combination of novel molecular tools, advanced imaging techniques and functional read-outs to directly examine this. We discovered that mGluRs are organized in dynamic clusters surrounding the area where signals are released, which is regulated by a specific part of the receptor. Furthermore, we show that Shank proteins regulate the uptake and recycling of mGluRs to prevent overstimulation after activation. Together, this thesis presents exciting novel insights in the functional organization of mGluRs at synapses, crucial for a better understanding of the brain in both health an disease.

Despite its low abundance, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) is a key modulator of membrane-associated signaling events in eukaryotic cells. Temporal and spatial regulation of PI(4,5)P2 concentration can achieve localized increases in the levels of this lipid, which are crucial for the activation or recruitment of peripheral proteins to the plasma membrane. The recent observation of the dramatic impact of physiological divalent cation concentrations on PI(4,5)P2 clustering, suggests that protein anchoring to the plasma membrane through PI(4,5)P2 is likely not defined solely by a simple (monomeric PI(4,5)P2)/(protein bound PI(4,5)P2) equilibrium, but instead depends on complex protein interactions with PI(4,5)P2 clusters. The insertion of PI(4,5)P2-binding proteins within these clusters can putatively modulate protein–protein interactions in the membrane, but the relevance of such effects is largely unknown. In this work, we characterized the impact of Ca2+ on the organization and protein–protein interactions of PI(4,5)P2-binding proteins. We show that, in giant unilamellar vesicles presenting PI(4,5)P2, the membrane diffusion properties of pleckstrin homology (PH) domains tagged with a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) are affected by the presence of Ca2+, suggesting direct interactions between the protein and PI(4,5)P2 clusters. Importantly, PH-YFP is found to dimerize in the membrane in the absence of Ca2+. This oligomerization is inhibited in the presence of physiological concentrations of the divalent cation. These results confirm that cation-dependent PI(4,5)P2 clustering promotes interactions between PI(4,5)P2-binding proteins and has the potential to dramatically influence the organization and downstream interactions of PI(4,5)P2-binding proteins in the plasma membrane.

Air pollution is a major environmental threat and each year about 7 million people reported to die as a result of air pollution. Consequently, exposure to air pollution is linked to increased morbidity and mortality world-wide. Diesel automotive engines are a major source of urban air pollution in the western societies encompassing particulate matter and diesel exhaust particles (DEP). Air pollution is envisioned as primary cause for cardiovascular dysfunction, such as ischemic heart disease, cardiac dysrhythmias, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease and stroke. Air pollution also causes lung dysfunction, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and specifically exacerbations of these diseases. DEP induces inflammation and reactive oxygen species production ultimately leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. DEP impair structural cell function and initiate the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, a process leading to dysfunction in endothelial as well as epithelial barrier, hamper tissue repair and eventually leading to fibrosis. Targeting cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) has been implicated to alleviate cardiopulmonary dysfunction, even more intriguingly cAMP seems to emerge as a potent regulator of mitochondrial metabolism. We propose that targeting of the mitochondrial cAMP nanodomain bear the therapeutic potential to diminish air pollutant — particularly DEP — induced decline in cardiopulmonary function.

Funding: A.B., P.A., and M.J.L. acknowledge funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (German Research Foundation) through SFB1423, project number 421152132, subproject C03 (P.A. and M.J.L.) and subproject C05 (A.B.), and through SFB688, subproject B08 (M.J.L.). This work was supported by the Elite Network of Bavaria, Receptor Dynamics program (to M.J.L.). S.E.A. and J.M. were members of this program. I.M. is an Anne McLaren Research Fellow. This work was supported by the British Heart Foundation PG/15/5/31110 and RG/17/6/32944 (to M.Z.). G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) relay extracellular stimuli into specific cellular functions. Cells express many different GPCRs, but all these GPCRs signal to only a few second messengers such as cAMP. It is largely unknown how cells distinguish between signals triggered by different GPCRs to orchestrate their complex functions. Here, we demonstrate that individual GPCRs signal via receptor-associated independent cAMP nanodomains (RAINs) that constitute self-sufficient, independent cell signaling units. Low concentrations of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and isoproterenol exclusively generate highly localized cAMP pools around GLP-1- and β2-adrenergic receptors, respectively, which are protected from cAMP originating from other receptors and cell compartments. Mapping local cAMP concentrations with engineered GPCR nanorulers reveals gradients over only tens of nanometers that define the size of individual RAINs. The coexistence of many such RAINs allows a single cell to operate thousands of independent cellular signals simultaneously, rather than function as a simple “on/off” switch. Postprint

Stabilized fluorites and pyrochlores with different types of substitution in the (Nd2O3 − ZrO2 system (NdZrO)) have been studied by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and impedance spectroscopy methods. Ionic and proton conductivity maps for 9 compositions in the NdZrO system are presented. Oxygen partial pressure measurements show a typical ionic conductor behavior, with a significantly increase of conductivity for (Nd2−xZrx)Zr2O7+x/2 (x = 1.27) fluorite and (Nd2−xZrx)Zr2O7+x/2 (x = 0.4, 0.2) pyrochlores. For the same compositions the strong luminescence was observed. Strong luminescence and high oxygenion conductivity of these solid solutions can be associated with the presence of phases with the different degree of structural disorder (tetragonal phase, fluorite) in local nanodomains in fluorite or pyrochlore matrix in the ZrO2 − Nd2Zr2O7 region. Really, Raman spectra of (Nd2−xZrx)Zr2O7+x/2 (x = 0.5 − 0.2) solid solutions demonstrated the fluorite + pyrochlore structural type in the short-range order. Fluorite nanodomains in pyrochlore matrix (ZrO2 – Nd2Zr2O7 region) resulting from an order–disorder transition can only be detected at a radiation wavelength comparable to the fluorite nanodomain size. Thus, using Raman spectroscopy the broad isomorphism range in the ZrO2 – Nd2Zr2O7 system has been shown to be nonuniform. 371C-9F16-EBDE | Eduarda Gomes N/A

The 5 known melanocortin receptors (MCs) have established physiological roles. With the exception of MC2, these receptors can behave unpredictably, and since they are more widely expressed than their established roles would suggest, it is likely that they have other poorly characterized functions. The aim of this review is to discuss some of the less well-explored aspects of the 4 enigmatic members of this receptor family (MC1,3-5) and describe how these are multifaceted G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs). These receptors appear to be promiscuous in that they bind several endogenous agonists (products of the proopiomelanocortin [POMC] gene) and antagonists but with inconsistent relative affinities and effects. We propose that this is a result of posttranslational modifications that determine receptor localization within nanodomains. Within each nanodomain there will be a variety of proteins, including ion channels, modifying proteins, and other GPCRs, that can interact with the MCs to alter the availability of receptor at the cell surface as well as the intracellular signaling resulting from receptor activation. Different combinations of interacting proteins and MCs may therefore give rise to the complex and inconsistent functional profiles reported for the MCs. For further progress in understanding this family, improved characterization of tissue-specific functions is required. Current evidence for interactions of these receptors with a range of partners, resulting in modulation of cell signaling, suggests that each should be studied within the full context of their interacting partners. The role of physiological status in determining this context also remains to be characterized.

Fil: Vallés, Ana Sofía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina Fil: Vallés, Ana Sofía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Barrantes, Francisco José. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular; Argentina Abstract: Compartmentalization of the membrane is essential for cells to perform highly specific tasks and spatially constrained biochemical functions in topographically defined areas. These membrane lateral heterogeneities range from nanoscopic dimensions, often involving only a few molecular constituents, to micron-sized mesoscopic domains resulting from the coalescence of nanodomains. Short-lived domains lasting for a few milliseconds coexist with more stable platforms lasting from minutes to days. This panoply of lateral domains subserves the great variety of demands of cell physiology, particularly high for those implicated in signaling. The dendritic spine, a subcellular structure of neurons at the receiving (postsynaptic) end of central nervous system excitatory synapses, exploits this compartmentalization principle. In its most frequent adult morphology, the mushroom-shaped spine harbors neurotransmitter receptors, enzymes, and scaffolding proteins tightly packed in a volume of a few femtoliters. In addition to constituting a mesoscopic lateral heterogeneity of the dendritic arborization, the dendritic spine postsynaptic membrane is further compartmentalized into spatially delimited nanodomains that execute separate functions in the synapse. This review discusses the functional relevance of compartmentalization and nanodomain organization in synaptic transmission and plasticity and exemplifies the importance of this parcelization in various neurotransmitter signaling systems operating at dendritic spines, using two fast ligand-gated ionotropic receptors, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and the glutamatergic receptor, and a second-messenger G-protein coupled receptor, the cannabinoid receptor, as paradigmatic examples.

Fluorescence light microscopy provided convincing evidence for the domain organization of plant plasma membrane (PM) proteins. Both peripheral and integral PM proteins show an inhomogeneous distribution within the PM. However, the size of PM nanodomains and protein clusters is too small to accurately determine their dimensions and nano-organization using routine confocal fluorescence microscopy and super-resolution methods. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a novel correlative light electron microscopy method (CLEM) using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) and advanced environmental scanning electron microscopy (A-ESEM). Using this technique, we determined the number of auxin efflux carriers from the PINFORMED (PIN) family (NtPIN3b-GFP) within PM nanodomains of tobacco cell PM ghosts. Protoplasts were attached to coverslips and immunostained with anti-GFP primary antibody and secondary antibody conjugated to fluorochrome and gold nanoparticles. After imaging the nanodomains within the PM with TIRFM, the samples were imaged with A-ESEM without further processing, and quantification of the average number of molecules within the nanodomain was performed. Without requiring any post-fixation and coating procedures, this method allows to study details of the organization of auxin carriers and other plant PM proteins.

Fluorescence light microscopy provided convincing evidence for the domain organization of plant plasma membrane (PM) proteins. Both peripheral and integral PM proteins show an inhomogeneous distribution within the PM. However, the size of PM nanodomains and protein clusters is too small to accurately determine their dimensions and nano-organization using routine confocal fluorescence microscopy and super-resolution methods. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a novel correlative light electron microscopy method (CLEM) using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) and advanced environmental scanning electron microscopy (A-ESEM). Using this technique, we determined the number of auxin efflux carriers from the PINFORMED (PIN) family (NtPIN3b-GFP) within PM nanodomains of tobacco cell PM ghosts. Protoplasts were attached to coverslips and immunostained with anti-GFP primary antibody and secondary antibody conjugated to fluorochrome and gold nanoparticles. After imaging the nanodomains within the PM with TIRFM, the samples were imaged with A-ESEM without further processing, and quantification of the average number of molecules within the nanodomain was performed. Without requiring any post-fixation and coating procedures, this method allows to study details of the organization of auxin carriers and other plant PM proteins.

International audience; Extensive studies showed the crucial role of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter ABCA1 in organizing the lipid microenvironment at the plasma membrane (PM) of living cells. However, the exact role of this protein in terms of lipid redistribution and lateral reorganization of the PM is still being discussed. Here, we took advantage of the spot variation fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (svFCS) to investigate the molecular dynamics of the ABCA1 expressed at the PM of Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1). We confirmed that this protein is strongly confined into the raft nanodomains. Next, in agreement with our previous observations, we showed that amphotericin B does not affect the diffusion properties of an active ABCA1 in contrary to inactive mutant ABCA1MM. We also evidenced that ApoA1 influences the molecular diffusion properties of ABCA1. Finally, we showed that the molecular confinement of ABCA1 depends on the cholesterol content in the PM, but presumably, this is not the only factor responsible for that. We concluded that the molecular dynamics of ABCA1 strongly depends on its activity and the PM composition. We hypothesize that other factors than lipids (i.e., proteins) are responsible for the strong confinement of ABCA1 in PM nanodomains which possibility has to be elucidated.

The nanoscopic organization and regulation of individual molecular components in presynaptic varicosities of neurons releasing modulatory volume neurotransmitters like dopamine (DA) remain largely elusive. Here we show, by application of several super-resolution microscopy techniques to cultured neurons and mouse striatal slices, that the DA transporter (DAT), a key protein in varicosities of dopaminergic neurons, exists in the membrane in dynamic equilibrium between an inward-facing nanodomain-localized and outward-facing unclustered configuration. The balance between these configurations is inversely regulated by excitatory drive and DA D2 autoreceptor activation in a manner dependent on Ca2+ influx via N-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. The DAT nanodomains contain tens of transporters molecules and overlap with nanodomains of PIP2 (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate) but show little overlap with D2 autoreceptor, syntaxin-1, and clathrin nanodomains. The data reveal a mechanism for rapid alterations of nanoscopic DAT distribution and show a striking link of this to the conformational state of the transporter.

Synapse structures, including neuronal and immunological synapses, can be seen as the plasma membrane contact sites between two individual cells where information is transmitted from one cell to the other. The distance between the two plasma membranes is only a few tens of nanometers, but these areas are densely populated with functionally different proteins, including adhesion proteins, receptors, and transporters. The narrow space between the two plasma membranes has been a barrier for resolving the synaptic architecture due to the diffraction limit in conventional microscopy (~250 nm). Various advanced super-resolution microscopy techniques, such as stimulated emission depletion (STED), structured illumination microscopy (SIM), and single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), bypass the diffraction limit and provide a sub-diffraction-limit resolving power, ranging from 10 to 100 nm. The studies using super-resolution microscopy have revealed unprecedented details of the nanoscopic organization and dynamics of synaptic molecules. In general, most synaptic proteins appear to be heterogeneously distributed and form nanodomains at the membranes. These nanodomains are dynamic functional units, playing important roles in mediating signal transmission through synapses. Herein, we discuss our current knowledge on the super-resolution nanoscopic architecture of synapses and their functional implications, with a particular focus on the neuronal synapses and immune synapses. ispartof: MEMBRANES vol:11 issue:4 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: published

Plasmodesmata are intercellular pores connecting together most plant cells. These structures consist of a central constricted form of the endoplasmic reticulum, encircled by some cytoplasmic space, in turn delimited by the plasma membrane, itself ultimately surrounded by the cell wall. The presence and structure of plasmodesmata create multiple routes for intercellular trafficking of a large spectrum of molecules (encompassing RNAs, proteins, hormones and metabolites) and also enable local signalling events. Movement across plasmodesmata is finely controlled in order to balance processes requiring communication with those necessitating symplastic isolation. Here, we describe the identities and roles of the molecular components (specific sets of lipids, proteins and wall polysaccharides) that shape and define plasmodesmata structural and functional domains. We highlight the extensive and dynamic interactions that exist between the plasma/endoplasmic reticulum membranes, cytoplasm and cell wall domains, binding them together to effectively define plasmodesmata shapes and purposes.

Lipid model membranes are important tools in the study of biophysical processes such as lipid self-assembly and lipid–lipid interactions in cell membranes. The use of model systems to adequate and modulate complexity helps in the understanding of many events that occur in cellular membranes, that exhibit a wide variety of components, including lipids of different subfamilies (e.g., phospholipids, sphingolipids, sterols…), in addition to proteins and sugars. The capacity of lipids to segregate by themselves into different phases at the nanoscale (nanodomains) is an intriguing feature that is yet to be fully characterized in vivo due to the proposed transient nature of these domains in living systems. Model lipid membranes, instead, have the advantage of (usually) greater phase stability, together with the possibility of fully controlling the system lipid composition. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful tool to detect the presence of meso- and nanodomains in a lipid membrane. It also allows the direct quantification of nanomechanical resistance in each phase present. In this review, we explore the main kinds of lipid assemblies used as model membranes and describe AFM experiments on model membranes. In addition, we discuss how these assemblies have extended our knowledge of membrane biophysics over the last two decades, particularly in issues related to the variability of different model membranes and the impact of supports/cytoskeleton on lipid behavior, such as segregated domain size or bilayer leaflet uncoupling.

Recently it has been demonstrated that the electrochemical performances of semiconducting amorphous anodes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) can be greatly enhanced by the discharging/charging induced nanocrystals. However, the structural origin of those nano-domains remains elusive, although it is critically important for designing superior glass anodes for LIBs. In this work, we probe the local structural evolution in a glass anode for LIBs during cycles by means of the state-of-the-art solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR). The structural evolution is manifested as the disassociation of the structural network into isolated units, followed by formation of different types of nano-domains with a high degree of order. These domains are highly favorable for rate capability and long-term cycling stability. From SSNMR and electrochemical characterizations, we have obtained a clear picture about the detailed redox reactions. These findings provide a chemical principle that is helpful for designing the stable glass electrodes for high-performance LiBs.

Eukaryotic cells are composed of several membrane-surrounded compartments. Each compartment has a unique physicochemical environment delimited by a membrane with a specific biochemical and biophysical identity. The membrane identity includes the nature of the lipids, the curvature, the electrostaticity and the density of lipids at the membrane. The identity of each membrane allows the proper localization of membrane-associated proteins. Phosphoinositides are rare anionic lipids present in membranes. Five types of phosphoinositides exist in plants - PI3P, PI4P, PI5P, PI(4,5)P2 and PI(3,5)P2 - depending of the number and the position of phosphates around the inositol ring. They accumulate differently at the plasma membrane and in intracellular compartments and interact with proteins through stereo-specific or electrostatic interactions. Recent work uncovered that PI4P concentrates according to an inverted gradient by comparison to their yeast and animal counterpart. In plants, PI4P massively accumulates at the plasma membrane and is present in fewer amounts at the trans-Golgi Network (TGN). This PI4P accumulation at the cell surface drives the plasma membrane electrostatic field, which in turn recruits a host of signalling proteins to this compartment. Moreover the plant TGN is the place of vesicular secretion but is also involved in endocytic sorting and recycling, which might imply regulatory mechanisms of lipid exchanges or membrane identity maintenance between the plasma membrane and the TGN. Here, we characterized PI4Kα1 mutants and showed that pi4kα1 loss-of-function leads to pollen grain lethality and distortion in the allele transmission via the female gametophyte, while its knockdown displayed strong developmental phenotypes. Using yeast two hybrid screening and mass spectrometry, we identified that PI4Kα1 is part of an heterotetrameric complex composed of NO POLLEN GERMINATION (NPG), EFR3 OF PLANTS (EFOP) and HYCCIN (HYC). The interaction between PI4Kα1 and the structural subunits of the complex is essential to target PI4Kα1 at the plasma membrane. In addition, we showed that PI4Kα1 complex is anchored in immobile and predefined subdomains of the plasma membrane. This work opens new perspectives on the role of the PI4Kα1 complex in plasma membrane suborganization., Les cellules sont composées de compartiments délimités par une membrane. Pour permettre aux protéines d’être associées aux membranes du bon compartiment, chaque membrane a une identité qui lui ait propre. Elle se définit par ses caractéristiques physiques et chimiques. Cependant, les compartiments d’une cellule échangent du matériel en permanence. Comment l’identité des membranes est maintenue malgré le flux constant d’échanges de protéines et de lipides lors des transports vésiculaires et non-vésiculaires ? Les phosphoinositides (PIPs) sont des lipides anioniques présents en faible quantité dans les membranes. Chaque PIP se localise différemment dans la cellule. Parmis les PIPs, le PI4P est présent à la membrane plasmique et au Golgi/trans-Golgi Network (TGN). Chez les plantes, PI4P est majoritairement trouvé à la membrane plasmique, contrairement aux animaux ou à la levure chez qui le PI4P se trouve principalement au niveau du TGN. Ainsi le gradient de PI4P le long de la voie d’endocytose est inversé chez les plantes par rapport aux autres eucaryotes. Chez les plantes, l’accumulation de PI4P à la membrane plasmique confère un champ électrostatique important qui recrute des protéines spécifiquement à cette membrane. Comment le gradient de PI4P est établi chez les plantes ? PI4Kα1 est capable de produire du PI4P à partir de phosphatidylinositol. PI4Kα1 se localise à la MP. Par ailleurs, PI4Kα1 est la sous-unité catalytique d’un complexe comprenant 3 autres protéines : NO POLLEN GERMINATION (NPG), EFR3 OF PLANTS (EFOP) et HYCCIN. Le complexe est ciblé à la membrane plasmique via une ancre lipidique au niveau de EFOP. Les orthologues de PI4Kα1 chez la levure et les animaux sont localisés à la membrane plasmique par des complexes protéiques similaires, démontrant une conservation des mécanismes de production des PIP chez l’ensemble des eucaryotes. L’absence du complexe PI4Kα1 entraine une létalité de la plantes au niveau du grain de pollen ou de l’embryon. Ainsi PI4Kα1 est essentiel à l’identité de la membrane plasmique et par conséquent au développement de la plante.

Ferroelectric materials have been widely applied in transducers, high-pressure generators, actuators, sensors... In this context, the ferroelectric materials are generally regarded as being related to an important class of smart materials. Among the most popular ferroelectric materials, those based on Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) structures show the best performances in operating devices. Despite such achievements, the fundamental understanding of the physical characteristics continues to arouse the interest of a wide scientific community. On the other hand, in view of the environmental-friendly requirement, more attention have been paid by the researchers to lead-free ferroelectric materials. Thus, BiFeO3-BaTiO3 (BF-BT) systems have attracted a great deal of interest as promising candidate for lead-free ferroelectric materials. In this dissertation, PZT-based and BF-BT-based ceramics were investigated systematically. Three contributions have been developed with the first dealing with the analysis of microstructures, crystalline phases and electric properties in doped PZT systems. It was revealed the involvement of softening-hardening features and the relation between defect dipoles and electric properties in acceptor doped materials. In a second part, the interplay of microstructures and electric properties was studied in BF-BT systems, providing the relevant analysis of the optimized performance such as the enhanced piezoelectric properties of lead-free systems. In the third contribution, experimental methods of synthesis and texturing BF-BT systems by BT templates ad the characterization of ferroelectric and electromechanical properties have been correlated with the structural and morphological organization of textured ceramics.; Les matériaux ferroélectriques sont largement utilisés dans d’importantes technologies incluant les transducteurs, actionneurs, capteurs... Parmi les structures ferroélectriques les plus exploitées, celles à base de Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) offrent de bonnes performances dans des dispositifs opérationnels. Malgré cet aboutissement en terme de valorisation, la compréhension fondamentale des caractéristiques physiques des systèmes basés sur les céramiques PZT continue de susciter l’intérêt d’une large communauté scientifique. Cependant, un intérêt croissant porte sur la mise en œuvre de structures ferroélectriques exemptes d’éléments chimiques nocifs pour l’environnement dont la teneur en plomb. Dans ce cadre, les systèmes à base de BiFeO3-BaTiO3 (BF-BT) ont suscité beaucoup d'intérêt en tant que matériaux ferroélectriques sans plomb. Ce travail de thèse porte sur des études systématiques portant sur les céramiques à base de PZT et celles à base de BF-BT. Trois contributions ont été développées doant la première dédiée à l'analyse des microstructures, des phases cristallines et des propriétés ferroélectriques dans les systèmes PZT dopés. Les travaux ont montré le rôle du dopage Soft-Hard sur les propriétés structurales, morphologiques et électriques des matériaux dopés accepteurs. Dans une deuxième partie, l'interaction des microstructures et des propriétés électriques a été étudiée dans les systèmes BF-BT. L’optimisation des conditions de fabrication à travers la composition chimique et le traitement thermique contribue aux propriétés piézoélectriques améliorées dans ces systèmes sans plomb. Pour la troisième partie des travaux, des études expérimentales de fabrication, texturation et les caractérisations des propriétés ferroélectriques et électromécaniques ont été corrélées avec l’organisation structurale et morphologique des céramiques texturées.

The plasma membrane is a complex system, consisting of two layers of lipids and proteins compartmentalized into small structures called nanodomains. Despite the asymmetric composition of both leaflets, coupling between the layers is surprisingly strong. This can be evidenced, for example, by recent experimental studies performed on phospholipid giant unilamellar vesicles showing that nanodomains formed in the outer layer are perfectly registered with those in the inner leaflet. Similarly, microscopic phase separation in one leaflet can induce phase separation in the opposing leaflet that would otherwise be homogeneous. In this review, we summarize the current theoretical and experimental knowledge that led to the current view that domains are – irrespective of their size – commonly registered across the bilayer. Mechanisms inducing registration of nanodomains suggested by theory and calculations are discussed. Furthermore, domain coupling is evidenced by experimental studies based on the sparse number of methods that can resolve registered from independent nanodomains. Finally, implications that those findings using model membrane studies might have for cellular membranes are discussed.

Action potentials arriving at a nerve terminal activate voltage-gated calcium channels and set the electrical driving force for calcium entry which affects the amount and duration of neurotransmitter release. During propagation, the duration, amplitude, and shape of action potentials often changes. This affects calcium entry, and can cause large changes in neurotransmitter release. Here, we have used a series of amplitude and area matched stimuli to examine how the shape and amplitude of a stimulus affect calcium influx at a presynaptic nerve terminal in the mammalian brain. We identify fundamental differences in calcium entry following calcium channel activation by a standard voltage jump vs. an action potential-like stimulation. We also tested a series of action potential-like stimuli with the same amplitude, duration, and stimulus area, but differing in their rise and decay times. We find that a stimulus that matches the rise and decay times of a physiological action potential produces a calcium channel response that is optimized over a range of peak amplitudes. Next, we determined the relative number of calcium channels that are active at different times during an action potential, which is important in the context of how local calcium domains trigger neurotransmitter release. We find the depolarizing phase of an AP-like stimulus only opens ~20% of the maximum number of calcium channels that can be activated. Channels continue to activate during the falling phase of the action potential, with peak calcium channel activation occurring near 0 mV. Although less than 25% of calcium channels are active at the end of the action potential, these calcium channels will generate a larger local calcium concentration that will increase the release probability for nearby vesicles. Determining the change in open probability of presynaptic calcium channels, and taking into account how local calcium concentration also changes throughout the action potential are both necessary to fully understand how the action potential triggers neurotransmitter release.

The plasma membrane is a complex system, consisting of two layers of lipids and proteins compartmentalized into small structures called nanodomains. Despite the asymmetric composition of both leaflets, coupling between the layers is surprisingly strong. This can be evidenced, for example, by recent experimental studies performed on phospholipid giant unilamellar vesicles showing that nanodomains formed in the outer layer are perfectly registered with those in the inner leaflet. Similarly, microscopic phase separation in one leaflet can induce phase separation in the opposing leaflet that would otherwise be homogeneous. In this review, we summarize the current theoretical and experimental knowledge that led to the current view that domains are – irrespective of their size – commonly registered across the bilayer. Mechanisms inducing registration of nanodomains suggested by theory and calculations are discussed. Furthermore, domain coupling is evidenced by experimental studies based on the sparse number of methods that can resolve registered from independent nanodomains. Finally, implications that those findings using model membrane studies might have for cellular membranes are discussed.

Ferroelectric materials have been widely applied in transducers, high-pressure generators, actuators, sensors... In this context, the ferroelectric materials are generally regarded as being related to an important class of smart materials. Among the most popular ferroelectric materials, those based on Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) structures show the best performances in operating devices. Despite such achievements, the fundamental understanding of the physical characteristics continues to arouse the interest of a wide scientific community. On the other hand, in view of the environmental-friendly requirement, more attention have been paid by the researchers to lead-free ferroelectric materials. Thus, BiFeO3-BaTiO3 (BF-BT) systems have attracted a great deal of interest as promising candidate for lead-free ferroelectric materials. In this dissertation, PZT-based and BF-BT-based ceramics were investigated systematically. Three contributions have been developed with the first dealing with the analysis of microstructures, crystalline phases and electric properties in doped PZT systems. It was revealed the involvement of softening-hardening features and the relation between defect dipoles and electric properties in acceptor doped materials. In a second part, the interplay of microstructures and electric properties was studied in BF-BT systems, providing the relevant analysis of the optimized performance such as the enhanced piezoelectric properties of lead-free systems. In the third contribution, experimental methods of synthesis and texturing BF-BT systems by BT templates ad the characterization of ferroelectric and electromechanical properties have been correlated with the structural and morphological organization of textured ceramics., Les matériaux ferroélectriques sont largement utilisés dans d’importantes technologies incluant les transducteurs, actionneurs, capteurs... Parmi les structures ferroélectriques les plus exploitées, celles à base de Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) offrent de bonnes performances dans des dispositifs opérationnels. Malgré cet aboutissement en terme de valorisation, la compréhension fondamentale des caractéristiques physiques des systèmes basés sur les céramiques PZT continue de susciter l’intérêt d’une large communauté scientifique. Cependant, un intérêt croissant porte sur la mise en œuvre de structures ferroélectriques exemptes d’éléments chimiques nocifs pour l’environnement dont la teneur en plomb. Dans ce cadre, les systèmes à base de BiFeO3-BaTiO3 (BF-BT) ont suscité beaucoup d'intérêt en tant que matériaux ferroélectriques sans plomb. Ce travail de thèse porte sur des études systématiques portant sur les céramiques à base de PZT et celles à base de BF-BT. Trois contributions ont été développées doant la première dédiée à l'analyse des microstructures, des phases cristallines et des propriétés ferroélectriques dans les systèmes PZT dopés. Les travaux ont montré le rôle du dopage Soft-Hard sur les propriétés structurales, morphologiques et électriques des matériaux dopés accepteurs. Dans une deuxième partie, l'interaction des microstructures et des propriétés électriques a été étudiée dans les systèmes BF-BT. L’optimisation des conditions de fabrication à travers la composition chimique et le traitement thermique contribue aux propriétés piézoélectriques améliorées dans ces systèmes sans plomb. Pour la troisième partie des travaux, des études expérimentales de fabrication, texturation et les caractérisations des propriétés ferroélectriques et électromécaniques ont été corrélées avec l’organisation structurale et morphologique des céramiques texturées.

Amphiphilic gold nanoparticles with diameters in the 2-4 nm range are promising as theranostic agents thanks to their spontaneous translocation through cell membranes. This study addresses the effects that these nanoparticles may have on a distinct feature of plasma membranes: lipid lateral phase separation. Atomic force microscopy, quartz crystal microbalance, and molecular dynamics are combined to study the interaction between model neuronal membranes, which spontaneously form ordered and disordered lipid domains, and amphiphilic gold nanoparticles having negatively charged surface functionalization. Nanoparticles are found to interact with the bilayer and form bilayer-embedded ordered aggregates. Nanoparticles also suppress lipid phase separation, in a concentration-dependent fashion. A general, yet simple thermodynamic model is developed to show that the change of lipid-lipid enthalpy is the dominant driving force towards the nanoparticle-induced destabilization of phase separation.

Summary Signaling nanodomains rely on spatial organization of proteins to allow controlled intracellular signaling. Examples include calcium release sites of cardiomyocytes where ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are clustered with their molecular partners. Localization microscopy has been crucial to visualizing these nanodomains but has been limited by brightness of markers, restricting the resolution and quantification of individual proteins clustered within. Harnessing the remarkable localization precision of DNA-PAINT (, Graphical Abstract, Highlights • With enhanced resolution, individual RyRs were observed within dense clusters • RyRs appear to assemble randomly and unconstrained • The ratio of RyR co-clustering with JPH2 varies considerably between nanodomains • DNA-based super-resolution enables fully quantitative imaging at ∼10 nm resolution, Jayasinghe et al. resolve the distribution of single ryanodine receptors (RyRs) within intracellular signaling domains in cardiac myocytes with DNA-PAINT, a super-resolution microscopy approach. Individual RyRs are resolved within irregular cluster arrays. Quantitative imaging reveals significant variation in the co-clustering stoichiometry between RyRs and the regulatory protein junctophilin-2.

Lipid model membranes are important tools in the study of biophysical processes such as lipid self-assembly and lipid-lipid interactions in cell membranes. The use of model systems to adequate and modulate complexity helps in the understanding of many events that occur in cellular membranes, that exhibit a wide variety of components, including lipids of different subfamilies (e.g., phospholipids, sphingolipids, sterols…), in addition to proteins and sugars. The capacity of lipids to segregate by themselves into different phases at the nanoscale (nanodomains) is an intriguing feature that is yet to be fully characterized in vivo due to the proposed transient nature of these domains in living systems. Model lipid membranes, instead, have the advantage of (usually) greater phase stability, together with the possibility of fully controlling the system lipid composition. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful tool to detect the presence of meso- and nanodomains in a lipid membrane. It also allows the direct quantification of nanomechanical resistance in each phase present. In this review, we explore the main kinds of lipid assemblies used as model membranes and describe AFM experiments on model membranes. In addition, we discuss how these assemblies have extended our knowledge of membrane biophysics over the last two decades, particularly in issues related to the variability of different model membranes and the impact of supports/cytoskeleton on lipid behavior, such as segregated domain size or bilayer leaflet uncoupling., A.B.G.A. was a post-doctoral scientist supported by the University of the Basque Country and the Basque Government. This work was supported in part by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy (grant FEDER MINECO PGC2018-099857-B-I00) and the Basque Government (grants no. IT1264-19 and IT1270-19), as well as Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia and the Basque Excellence Research Centre (BERC) program of the Basque Government.

In the battle against viruses, plants have evolved various defence mechanisms to protect themselves against pathogens. Membrane-bound plant proteins such as Remorin (REM) may restrict viral infection. REMs belong to a plant-specific multigene family, classified in six phylogenetic groups that are localized in plasma membrane nanodomains and for some of them in plasmodesmata. Our team previously showed that in tomato and Nicotiana benthamiana, overexpression of Solanum tuberosum group 1 isoform 3 (StREM1.3) limits the cell-to-cell spread of the potexvirus Potato virus X (PVX) without affecting viral replication. During my thesis, our data allowed to built a working model in which the Arabidopsis thaliana CALCIUM-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE 3 (AtCPK3) is able to interact with group 1 REM in vivo, phosphorylates the N-terminal domain of StREM1.3 and, finally, with the help of uncharacterized proteins lead to the restriction of PVX cell-to-cell movement in N.benthamiana. N.benthamiana is perfect for viral experimentation, but is allo-tetraploid, making it difficult for genetic studies. Because of CPKs have 34 isoforms with likely functional redundancy between them, we switched to another pathosystem using the genetic toolbox of Arabidopsis thaliana and a potexvirus species able to infect A. thaliana, the Plantago Asiatica Mosaic Virus (PlAMV). The objectives are 1/ to study the contribution of different REM clades in potexvirus intercellular movement; 2/ to understand which CPKs are involved in this process using REM and CPKs single and multiple mutants, as well as AtCPKs over-expressors; 3/ To study the contribution of Group 1 REM and CPK3 on systemic potexvirus movement. We previously showed that, like PVX, PlAMV local movement is restricted by StREM1.3 and AtCPK3 in N.benthamiana. We optimized the experimental conditions to track and compare GFP-tagged PlAMV in different Arabidopsis genetic backgrounds. By using this method, we were able to track both local virus cell-to-cell movement and systemic infection through the whole plant. Group 1 REM and CPK single and multiple knock out mutants, as well as CPK over-expressors wereused. Interestingly, we did not detect any difference in propagation compared with control on various CPKs KO, except in cpk3 mutant. Indeed, both in local and systemic, PlAMV propagation is enhanced on cpk3 mutant while CPK3 overexpressing lines display an opposite effect, demonstrating the great involvement of CPK3 in potexvirus propagation. Similarly, we demonstrate the redundancy of each isoform from group 1 REM on the restriction of the intercellular movement of PlAMV. Interestingly, REM promotes intercellular propagation of another viral genus, the potyvirus genus, suggesting that REM functions are not general for all genera. Globally, our results classify group 1 REM and CPK3 as antiviral defence protein both in local and systemic potexvirus infection, and suggest that REM function is viral genus dependent. This research will pave the way toward new host targets to fight phytovirus infection.; Dans la lutte contre les virus, les plantes ont mis au point divers mécanismes de défenses pour se protéger contre les agents pathogènes. Les protéines végétales localisées à la membrane plasmique telles que les rémorines (REM) peuvent limiter l’infection virale. Les REM appartiennent à une famille de protéines multigéniques spécifiques à la plante, classées en six groupes phylogénétiques localisées dans les nanodomaines de la membrane plasmique et, dans certains cas, au niveau des plasmodesmes. Notre équipe avait précédemment montré que chez la tomate et Nicotiana benthamiana, la surexpression de l’isoforme 3 du groupe 1 de Solanum tuberosum (StREM1.3) limitait la propagation de cellule-à-cellule du Potato Virus X, un Potexvirus sans affecter la réplication virale. Au cours de ma thèse, nos données ont permis de construire un modèle de travail dans lequel une protéine kinase dépendante du calcium (AtCPK3) d’Arabidopsis thaliana est capable d’interagir in vivo avec StREM1.3, de phosphoryler le domaine N-terminal de StREM1.3 et, enfin, avec l'aide de protéines non caractérisées à ce jour, conduire à la restriction du mouvement de cellule à cellule de PVX chez N.benthamiana. N.benthamiana , parfaite pour l'expérimentation virale, est allo-tétraploïde, rendant de ce fait difficiles les études génétiques. Sachant qu’il existe 34 isoformes de CPKs, avec une redondance fonctionnelle probable entre elles, nous avons basculé sur un autre pathosystème : nous avons choisi Arabidopsis thaliana profitant de la « boîte à outils » génétiques que cette plante offre et nous avons choisi une autre espèce de virus, de la famille des potexvirus capable d'infecter A. thaliana : le Plantago Asiatica Mosaic Virus (PlAMV). Les objectifs sont 1 / d’étudier la contribution des différents clades de REM dans le mouvement intercellulaire des potexvirus 2 / comprendre quels CPK sont impliquées dans ce processus en utilisant les mutants simples et double de REM mais aussi de CPK, ainsi que les surexpresseurs AtCPK 3 / Etudier la contribution du groupe 1 de REM et de CPK3 dans le mouvement systémique du potexvirus. Nous avions précédemment montré que, comme le PVX, le mouvement local du PlAMV est limité par StREM1.3 et AtCPK3 dans N.benthamiana. Nous avons optimisé les conditions expérimentales pour suivre et comparer le PlAMV marqué GFP dans différents fonds génétiques d'Arabidopsis. En utilisant cette méthode, nous avons pu suivre à la fois le mouvement de cellule à cellule du virus localement, puis l’infection systémique à travers la plante entière. Les mutants knock-out simples et multiples du groupe 1 de REM, ainsi que les surexpresseurs CPK ont été utilisés. Fait intéressant, nous n'avons pas détecté de différence de propagation par rapport au contrôle sur divers mutants de CPK, sauf dans le mutant cpk3KO. En effet, tant au niveau local que systémique, la propagation du PlAMV est améliorée sur le mutant cpk3KO alors que les lignées surexprimant CPK3 présentent un effet opposé, démontrant la grande implication de CPK3 dans la propagation du potexvirus. De même, nous démontrons la redondance de chaque isoforme du groupe 1 de REM sur la restriction du mouvement intercellulaire du PlAMV. Il est intéressant de noter que REM favorise la propagation intercellulaire d’un autre genre viral, le genre Potyvirus, ce qui suggère que les fonctions de REM ne sont pas généralisables pour tous les genres. Globalement, nos résultats classifient les groupes 1 de REM et CPK3 en tant que protéines de défenses antivirales dans les infections aux potexvirus, que ce soit au niveau local ou systémique, et suggèrent que la fonction de REM est dépendante du genre viral. Cette recherche ouvrira la voie sur de nouvelles clés thérapeutiques, pour in fine, lutter contre les infections virales.

In the battle against viruses, plants have evolved various defence mechanisms to protect themselves against pathogens. Membrane-bound plant proteins such as Remorin (REM) may restrict viral infection. REMs belong to a plant-specific multigene family, classified in six phylogenetic groups that are localized in plasma membrane nanodomains and for some of them in plasmodesmata. Our team previously showed that in tomato and Nicotiana benthamiana, overexpression of Solanum tuberosum group 1 isoform 3 (StREM1.3) limits the cell-to-cell spread of the potexvirus Potato virus X (PVX) without affecting viral replication. During my thesis, our data allowed to built a working model in which the Arabidopsis thaliana CALCIUM-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE 3 (AtCPK3) is able to interact with group 1 REM in vivo, phosphorylates the N-terminal domain of StREM1.3 and, finally, with the help of uncharacterized proteins lead to the restriction of PVX cell-to-cell movement in N.benthamiana. N.benthamiana is perfect for viral experimentation, but is allo-tetraploid, making it difficult for genetic studies. Because of CPKs have 34 isoforms with likely functional redundancy between them, we switched to another pathosystem using the genetic toolbox of Arabidopsis thaliana and a potexvirus species able to infect A. thaliana, the Plantago Asiatica Mosaic Virus (PlAMV). The objectives are 1/ to study the contribution of different REM clades in potexvirus intercellular movement; 2/ to understand which CPKs are involved in this process using REM and CPKs single and multiple mutants, as well as AtCPKs over-expressors; 3/ To study the contribution of Group 1 REM and CPK3 on systemic potexvirus movement. We previously showed that, like PVX, PlAMV local movement is restricted by StREM1.3 and AtCPK3 in N.benthamiana. We optimized the experimental conditions to track and compare GFP-tagged PlAMV in different Arabidopsis genetic backgrounds. By using this method, we were able to track both local virus cell-to-cell movement and systemic infection through the whole plant. Group 1 REM and CPK single and multiple knock out mutants, as well as CPK over-expressors wereused. Interestingly, we did not detect any difference in propagation compared with control on various CPKs KO, except in cpk3 mutant. Indeed, both in local and systemic, PlAMV propagation is enhanced on cpk3 mutant while CPK3 overexpressing lines display an opposite effect, demonstrating the great involvement of CPK3 in potexvirus propagation. Similarly, we demonstrate the redundancy of each isoform from group 1 REM on the restriction of the intercellular movement of PlAMV. Interestingly, REM promotes intercellular propagation of another viral genus, the potyvirus genus, suggesting that REM functions are not general for all genera. Globally, our results classify group 1 REM and CPK3 as antiviral defence protein both in local and systemic potexvirus infection, and suggest that REM function is viral genus dependent. This research will pave the way toward new host targets to fight phytovirus infection., Dans la lutte contre les virus, les plantes ont mis au point divers mécanismes de défenses pour se protéger contre les agents pathogènes. Les protéines végétales localisées à la membrane plasmique telles que les rémorines (REM) peuvent limiter l’infection virale. Les REM appartiennent à une famille de protéines multigéniques spécifiques à la plante, classées en six groupes phylogénétiques localisées dans les nanodomaines de la membrane plasmique et, dans certains cas, au niveau des plasmodesmes. Notre équipe avait précédemment montré que chez la tomate et Nicotiana benthamiana, la surexpression de l’isoforme 3 du groupe 1 de Solanum tuberosum (StREM1.3) limitait la propagation de cellule-à-cellule du Potato Virus X, un Potexvirus sans affecter la réplication virale. Au cours de ma thèse, nos données ont permis de construire un modèle de travail dans lequel une protéine kinase dépendante du calcium (AtCPK3) d’Arabidopsis thaliana est capable d’interagir in vivo avec StREM1.3, de phosphoryler le domaine N-terminal de StREM1.3 et, enfin, avec l'aide de protéines non caractérisées à ce jour, conduire à la restriction du mouvement de cellule à cellule de PVX chez N.benthamiana. N.benthamiana , parfaite pour l'expérimentation virale, est allo-tétraploïde, rendant de ce fait difficiles les études génétiques. Sachant qu’il existe 34 isoformes de CPKs, avec une redondance fonctionnelle probable entre elles, nous avons basculé sur un autre pathosystème : nous avons choisi Arabidopsis thaliana profitant de la « boîte à outils » génétiques que cette plante offre et nous avons choisi une autre espèce de virus, de la famille des potexvirus capable d'infecter A. thaliana : le Plantago Asiatica Mosaic Virus (PlAMV). Les objectifs sont 1 / d’étudier la contribution des différents clades de REM dans le mouvement intercellulaire des potexvirus 2 / comprendre quels CPK sont impliquées dans ce processus en utilisant les mutants simples et double de REM mais aussi de CPK, ainsi que les surexpresseurs AtCPK 3 / Etudier la contribution du groupe 1 de REM et de CPK3 dans le mouvement systémique du potexvirus. Nous avions précédemment montré que, comme le PVX, le mouvement local du PlAMV est limité par StREM1.3 et AtCPK3 dans N.benthamiana. Nous avons optimisé les conditions expérimentales pour suivre et comparer le PlAMV marqué GFP dans différents fonds génétiques d'Arabidopsis. En utilisant cette méthode, nous avons pu suivre à la fois le mouvement de cellule à cellule du virus localement, puis l’infection systémique à travers la plante entière. Les mutants knock-out simples et multiples du groupe 1 de REM, ainsi que les surexpresseurs CPK ont été utilisés. Fait intéressant, nous n'avons pas détecté de différence de propagation par rapport au contrôle sur divers mutants de CPK, sauf dans le mutant cpk3KO. En effet, tant au niveau local que systémique, la propagation du PlAMV est améliorée sur le mutant cpk3KO alors que les lignées surexprimant CPK3 présentent un effet opposé, démontrant la grande implication de CPK3 dans la propagation du potexvirus. De même, nous démontrons la redondance de chaque isoforme du groupe 1 de REM sur la restriction du mouvement intercellulaire du PlAMV. Il est intéressant de noter que REM favorise la propagation intercellulaire d’un autre genre viral, le genre Potyvirus, ce qui suggère que les fonctions de REM ne sont pas généralisables pour tous les genres. Globalement, nos résultats classifient les groupes 1 de REM et CPK3 en tant que protéines de défenses antivirales dans les infections aux potexvirus, que ce soit au niveau local ou systémique, et suggèrent que la fonction de REM est dépendante du genre viral. Cette recherche ouvrira la voie sur de nouvelles clés thérapeutiques, pour in fine, lutter contre les infections virales.

Nanodomains are dynamic membrane subcompartments, enriched in specific lipid, and protein components that act as functional platforms to manage an abundance of cellular processes. The remorin protein of plants is a well-established nanodomain marker and widely serves as a paradigm to study nanodomain clustering. Located at the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, remorins perform essential functions during signaling. Using deuterium and phosphorus solid-state NMR, we inquire on the molecular determinants of the lipid-protein and protein-protein interactions driving nanodomain clustering. By monitoring thermotropism properties, lipid acyl chain order and membrane thickness, we report the effects of phosphoinositides and sterols on the interaction of various remorin peptides and protein constructs with the membrane. We probed several critical residues involved in this interaction and the involvement of the coiled-coil homo-oligomerisation domain into the formation of remorin nanodomains. We trace the essential role of the pH in nanodomain clustering based on anionic lipids such as phosphoinositides. Our results reveal a complex interplay between specific remorin residues and domains, the environmental pH and their resulting effects on the lipid dynamics for phosphoinositide-enriched membranes., Les nanodomaines sont des sous-compartiments membranaires dynamiques, enrichis en lipides spécifiques et en composants protéiques qui servent de plateformes fonctionnelles pour gérer une abondance de processus cellulaires. La protéine remorine des plantes est un marqueur de nanodomaines bien établi et sert largement de paradigme pour l'étude des grappes de nanodomaines. Situés au niveau de la foliole interne de la membrane plasmique, les remorines remplissent des fonctions essentielles lors de la signalisation. En utilisant la RMN à l'état solide du deutérium et du phosphore, nous étudions les déterminants moléculaires des interactions lipide-protéine et protéine-protéine à l'origine des amas de nanodomaines. En surveillant les propriétés du thermotropisme, l'ordre de la chaîne acyle lipidique et l'épaisseur de la membrane, nous rapportons les effets des phosphoinositides et des stérols sur l'interaction de divers peptides et constructions protéiques de remorine avec la membrane. Nous avons étudié plusieurs résidus critiques impliqués dans cette interaction et l'implication du domaine de l'homo-oligomérisation à bobine enroulée dans la formation des nanodomaines remoriniques. Nous retraçons le rôle essentiel du pH dans la formation de grappes de nanodomaines à base de lipides anioniques tels que les phosphoinositides. Nos résultats révèlent une interaction complexe entre les résidus et les domaines spécifiques des remorines, le pH environnemental et leurs effets sur la dynamique lipidique des membranes enrichies en phosphoinositides.

As transport properties of doped ceria electrolytes depend significantly on the nature of the dopant and the defectivity, the design of new materials and devices requires proper understanding of the defect structure. Among lanthanide dopants, Yb shows some peculiar characteristics that call for a possible different defect structure compared to Gd and Sm conventional dopants, which could be linked to its poorer performance. For this purpose, we combine synchrotron and neutron powder diffraction exploiting the Rietveld and Pair distribution Function. By increasing its concentration, Yb produces qualitatively the same structural distortions as other dopants, leading to a domain structure involving the progressive nucleation and growth of nanodomains with a Yb2O3-like (C-type) structure hosted in a fluorite CeO2 matrix. However, when it comes to growing the C-type nanodomains into a long-range phase, the transformation is less pronounced. At the same time, a stronger structural distortion occurs at the local scale, which is consistent with the segregation of a large amount of oxygen vacancies. The strong trapping of VOs by Yb3+ explains the poor performance of Yb-doped ceria with respect to conventional Sm-, Gd-, and Y-doped samples at equal temperature and dopant amount.

Protein-protein interaction studies provide valuable insights into cellular signaling. The well-studied brassinosteroid (BR) signaling is initiated by the hormone-binding receptor Brassinosteroid Insensitive 1 (BRI1) and its co-receptor BRI1 Associated Kinase 1 (BAK1). BRI1 and BAK1 were shown to interact independently with the Receptor-Like Protein 44 (RLP44), which is implicated in BRI1/BAK1-dependent cell wall integrity perception. To demonstrate the proposed complex formation of BRI1, BAK1 and RLP44, we established three-fluorophore intensity-based spectral Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and FRET-fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) for living plant cells. Our evidence indicates that RLP44, BRI1 and BAK1 form a ternary complex in a distinct plasma membrane nanodomain. In contrast, although the immune receptor Flagellin Sensing 2 (FLS2) also forms a heteromer with BAK1, the FLS2/BAK1 complexes are localized in other nanodomains. In general, our three-fluorophore FRET approaches provide a feasible basis for studying the interaction and sub-compartmentalization of proteins in great detail.

Several aquaporin (AQP) water channels are short-term regulated by the messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), including AQP3. Bulk measurements show that cAMP can change diffusive properties of AQP3; however, it remains unknown how elevated cAMP affects AQP3 organization at the nanoscale. Here we analyzed AQP3 nano-organization following cAMP stimulation using photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) of fixed cells combined with pair correlation analysis. Moreover, in live cells, we combined PALM acquisitions of single fluorophores with single-particle tracking (spt-PALM). These analyses revealed that AQP3 tends to cluster and that the diffusive mobility is confined to nanodomains with radii of ∼150 nm. This domain size increases by ∼30% upon elevation of cAMP, which, however, is not accompanied by a significant increase in the confined diffusion coefficient. This regulation of AQP3 organization at the nanoscale may be important for understanding the mechanisms of water AQP3-mediated water transport across plasma membranes.

© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Plants as sessile organisms face daily environmental challenges and have developed highly nuanced signaling systems to enable suitable growth, development, defense, or stalling re-sponses. Moonlighting proteins have multiple tasks and contribute to cellular signaling cascades where they produce additional variables adding to the complexity or fuzziness of biological sys-tems. Here we examine roles of moonlighting kinases that also generate 3’,5’-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in plants. These proteins include receptor like kinases and lipid kinases. Their guanylate cyclase activity potentiates the development of localized cGMP-enriched nanodomains or niches surrounding the kinase and its interactome. These nanodomains contribute to allosteric regulation of kinase and other molecules in the immediate complex directly or indirectly modulating signal cascades. Effects include downregulation of kinase activity, modulation of other members of the protein complexes such as cyclic nucleotide gated channels and potential triggering of cGMP-dependent degradation cascades terminating signaling. The additional layers of information provided by the moonlighting kinases are discussed in terms of how they may be used to provide a layer of fuzziness to effectively modulate cellular signaling cascades.

The role of oxygen atoms in the α″ martensite phase was investigated in the Ti-20 at.% Nb alloy by X-ray diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry. The axial ratio b/a of α″ martensite and reverse martensitic transformation temperature increased with increasing oxygen content. These results imply that the α″ martensite was stabilized by oxygen atoms, owing to the relaxation of the strain field introduced by the oxygen atoms.

Frontiers in Immunology, 9, ISSN:1664-3224

Since the publication of the fluid mosaic as a relevant model for biological membranes, accumulating evidence has revealed the outstanding complexity of the composition and organization of the plant plasma membrane (PM). Powerful new methodologies have uncovered the remarkable multiscale and multicomponent heterogeneity of PM subcompartmentalization, and this is emerging as a general trait with different features and properties. It is now evident that the dynamics of such a complex organization are intrinsically related to signaling pathways that regulate key physiological processes. Listing and linking recent progress in precisely qualifying these heterogeneities will help to draw an integrated picture of the plant PM. Understanding the key principles governing such a complex dynamic organization will contribute to deciphering the crucial role of the PM in cell physiology.

The complexity of cell membranes is far from being only a simple assembly of lipids and proteins separating cells from the surrounding environment. Each of the thousands of different membrane components performs its specific role in cellular functions, since a multitude of biological processes is mediated by membranes. The understanding of the molecular basis of these processes is one of the important aims of current biological research. Our research employing single- molecule fluorescence methods (e.g. FCS, FCCS, FLIM-FRET) has made a contribution to the knowledge of membrane lateral organization or mechanism of membrane fusion. Furthermore, we revealed the mechanism of membrane activity of a small natural compound. As native cell membranes are very complex structures, we performed the experiments on simplified model lipid membranes that allow studying lipid-lipid or lipid-protein interactions at the molecular level in a controlled way. The first part of this thesis deals with the mode of action of a membrane active secondary metabolite didehydroroflamycoin (DDHR). We demonstrated that DDHR is a pore-forming agent and that this activity is influenced by the presence of cholesterol. Direct visualization of intrinsic fluorescence of DDHR revealed its preferential partitioning into membrane areas...

Several human diseases are associated with a lack of caveolae. Yet, the functions of caveolae and the molecular mechanisms critical for shaping them still are debated. We show that muscle cells of syndapin III KO mice show severe reductions of caveolae reminiscent of human caveolinopathies. Yet, different from other mouse models, the levels of the plasma membrane-associated caveolar coat proteins caveolin3 and cavin1 were both not reduced upon syndapin III KO. This allowed for dissecting bona fide caveolar functions from those supported by mere caveolin presence and also demonstrated that neither caveolin3 nor caveolin3 and cavin1 are sufficient to form caveolae. The membrane-shaping protein syndapin III is crucial for caveolar invagination and KO rendered the cells sensitive to membrane tensions. Consistent with this physiological role of caveolae in counterpoising membrane tensions, syndapin III KO skeletal muscles showed pathological parameters upon physical exercise that are also found in CAVEOLIN3 mutation-associated muscle diseases.

Several human diseases are associated with a lack of caveolae. Yet, the functions of caveolae and the molecular mechanisms critical for shaping them still are debated. We show that muscle cells of syndapin III KO mice show severe reductions of caveolae reminiscent of human caveolinopathies. Yet, different from other mouse models, the levels of the plasma membrane-associated caveolar coat proteins caveolin3 and cavin1 were both not reduced upon syndapin III KO. This allowed for dissecting bona fide caveolar functions from those supported by mere caveolin presence and also demonstrated that neither caveolin3 nor caveolin3 and cavin1 are sufficient to form caveolae. The membrane-shaping protein syndapin III is crucial for caveolar invagination and KO rendered the cells sensitive to membrane tensions. Consistent with this physiological role of caveolae in counterpoising membrane tensions, syndapin III KO skeletal muscles showed pathological parameters upon physical exercise that are also found in CAVEOLIN3 mutation-associated muscle diseases.

International audience; Phase separation in hybrid polymer/lipid giant unillamelar vesicles (GHUVs) has been described over the last few years. However there is still a lack of understanding in physical and molecular factors governing the phase separation in such systems. Among these parameters it has been suggested that in analogy to multicomponent lipid vesicles that hydrophobic mismatchs as well as lipid fludity play a role.In this work, we aim to map a global picture of phase separation and domain formation in membrane of GHUVs by using various copolymers based on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEO) with different architectures (grafted, triblock) and molar masses, combined with lipid at fluid (POPC) or gel state (DPPC) at room temperature. From confocal imaging and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy technique (FLIM), the phase separation into either micro- or nano- domains within GHVs were studied. In particular, our systematic studies demonstrate that in addition to lipid/polymer fraction or lipid physical state, important factors such as line tension at lipid polymer/lipid boundaries can be finely modulated by the molar mass and architecture of the copolymer and lead to the formation of stable lipid domains with different sizes and morphologies in such GHUVs.

International audience; Hybrid vesicles resulting from the combined self-assembly of both amphiphilic copolymers and lipids have attracted particular interest from chemists and (bio)physicists over the last five years. Such assemblies may be viewed as an advanced vesicular structure compared to their liposome and polymersome forerunners as the best characteristics from the two different systems can be integrated in a new, single vesicle. To afford such a design, the different parameters controlling both self-assembly and membrane structure must be tuned. This highlight aims to present a comprehensive overview of the fundamental aspects related to these structures, and discuss emerging developments and future applications in this field of research.

The microstructure and thermal expansion behavior of a Ti–23Nb–2Zr–0.7Ta–1.2O alloy (Gum metal) were investigated. A systematic diffraction pattern analysis using transmission electron microscopy revealed that a { 1 1 ¯ 0 } 〈 1 1 0 〉 -type transverse lattice modulation is present in the Ti–23Nb–2Zr–0.7Ta–1.2O alloy. Martensite-like nanodomains corresponding to { 1 1 ¯ 0 } 〈 1 1 0 〉 -type lattice modulations were observed in dark-field micrographs. Six variants of lattice modulation were confirmed to be distributed equivalently in the β phase in the annealed condition. Cold rolling resulted in preferential growth of a nanodomain variant which is most suited to releasing the applied stress although the long-range martensitic transformation was prevented by the local stress of the domain structure caused by oxygen atoms. It is suggested that the very small thermal expansion coefficient in the as-rolled specimen is caused by the preferential growth of the nanodomain variant due to residual stress.

Ever since technologies enabled the characterisation of eukaryotic plasma membranes, heterogeneities in the distributions of its constituents were observed. Over the years this led to the proposal of various models describing the plasma membrane organisation such as lipid shells, picket-and-fences, lipid rafts, or protein islands, as addressed in numerous publications and reviews. Instead of emphasising on one model we in this review give a brief overview over current models and highlight how current experimental work in one or the other way do not support the existence of a single overarching model. Instead, we highlight the vast variety of membrane properties and components, their influences and impacts. We believe that highlighting such controversial discoveries will stimulate unbiased research on plasma membrane organisation and functionality, leading to a better understanding of this essential cellular structure.

The plasma membrane constitutes the boundary between the environment inside the cell and the surrounding milieu. It is a self-organised structure composed of lipids and proteins. Over time the scientists’ view of the plasma membrane organisation has evolved presenting different organisation concepts. One of them is the lipid raft hypothesis which defines lipid rafts as cholesterol- and sphingolipid- rich nanodomains within the plasma membrane, which localise and concentrate raft-associated proteins, in particular signalling proteins, to specific sites. Due to their distinctive lipid composition, these domains are more ordered than their fluid surroundings. Hence, these membrane domains constitute biophysically and biochemically discrete platforms. However, lipid nanodomains remain controversial, mainly because they are difficult to visualise directly in intact, live cells due to their small size and transient nature. To map membrane order in lipid vesicles and live cell membranes, fluorescent microscopy techniques combined with membrane order sensitive dyes were applied. Moreover, a novel quantitative analysis of fluorescence lifetime and lipid mobility was established. Firstly, the new family of environmentally sensitive fluorophores was tested to measure membrane order by generalised polarisation imaging and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). It was shown that higher GP values and longer lifetimes were registered in plasma membranes compared to intercellular membranes, indicating a high degree of membrane order in the plasma membrane compared to intercellular membranes. Further, lipid mobility was investigated by fluorescence spectral correlation spectroscopy (FSCS) successfully combined with the membrane order sensitive dye NR12S. The diffusion of the lipid marker was simultaneously detected in both lipid phases and the single-molecule cross-correlation signal was obtained indicating the dye molecules diffusing between lipid phases. Furthermore, the solvent relaxation of the membrane marker was investigated by spectrally resolved FLIM. The results suggested that membrane curvature and lipid compositions influence the solvent relaxation process. Finally, the protein organisation in the membrane was investigated, showing preferences in distribution due to a membrane order. In conclusion, the data presented in this PhD thesis suggest the coexistence of both lipid phases in the plasma membrane. Moreover, the nanodomains in the plasma membrane are temporally stable within a millisecond time scale.

The influence of the artificial surface layer (photoresist film) on the domain kinetics was studied in congruent lithium niobate single crystals. The switching current data wasfitted by modified Kolmogorov-Avrami formula. The qualitative change of the domain structure evolution for photoresist film thickness above 2 μm was revealed by in situ optical visualization and analysis of the switching current data. The linear dependence of the threshold field increase on the film thickness was found. The quasi-regular nanodomain structures on Z+ polar surface were studied by scanning probe and Raman confocal microscopy and the domain evolution scenario was revealed. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.