Synthetic Membrane Shaper for Controlled Liposome Deformation

Shape defines the structure and function of cellular membranes. In cell division, the cell membrane deforms into a dumbbell shape, while organdies such as the autophagosome exhibit stomatocyte shapes. Bottom-up in vitro reconstitution of protein machineries that stabilize or resolve the membrane necks in such deformed liposome structures is of considerable interest to characterize their function. Here we develop a DNA-nanotechnology-based approach that we call the synthetic membrane shaper (SMS), where cholesterol-linked DNA structures attach to the liposome membrane to reproducibly generate high yields of stomatocytes and dumbbells. In silico simulations confirm the shape-stabilizing role of the SMS. We show that the SMS is fully compatible with protein reconstitution by assembling bacterial divisome proteins (DynaminA, FtsZ:ZipA) at the catenoidal neck of these membrane structures. The SMS approach provides a general tool for studying protein binding to complex membrane geometries that will greatly benefit synthetic cell research.

Automated summary

The shape of cellular membranes determines their structure and function. A DNA-nanotechnology-based approach, called the synthetic membrane shaper (SMS), can stabilize the shape of cellular membranes and is compatible with protein reconstitution. This method provides a general tool for studying protein binding to complex membrane geometries.