Proof

The proof of SynDrop’s concept consists of several critical steps:

• We have specified the parameters for cell-sized liposome (5-30 µm) synthesis by using our COMSOL model.

We have concluded that modifications to microfluidic channels affect our system the most (5 µm change in width increased liposome diameter by almost 6 µm), while viscosity and flow rate regulations proved to be an efficient way to fine-tune liposome size in a range of few micrometers (Fig. 1). Moreover, critical value of flow rate ratio was found (Q = 0.7), at which liposomes stopped forming.

Fig. 1 Visual representation of liposome formation based on baseline experimental parametric values. Phase variables A, B and C here have values of 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

We both stabilized and optimized the production of liposomes by implementing the obtained parameters of microfluidics variables from our COMSOL model calculations. Synthesized liposomes were biocompatible and capable of encapsulating an in vitro transcription-translation system.

The core of our project is liposomes - functional, well-characterized minimal systems for membrane protein research. We have successfully implemented a modified OLA (Octanol-assisted liposome assembly) method¹1 for high throughput production (Fig. 1) of homogenous and cell-sized (Fig. 2), bilayered (Fig. 3) liposomes that are capable of membrane protein synthesis and integration into the membrane (Fig. 4). To prove that synthesis of proteins is viable, we performed GFP protein synthesis inside our liposomes and recorded measurable fluorescence. Additionally, purified GFP was encapsulated to prove high encapsulation efficiency. To validate membrane protein integration into the membrane, pore forming membrane protein a-hemolysin was inserted into liposomes and the leakage of fluorophore molecule calcein was recorded in the outer solution.

Fig. 3 Automatic detection of droplets with SpotCaliper: the droplets are marked with teal colored circles and the diameter of each is measured; b size frequency distribution histogram fitted to Gaussian distribution (teal fit) proves the homogeneity of the liposomes;

Fig. 4 Brightfield image of the liposomes that contain IVTT system and plasmid GFP DNA (after incubation); scale bar is 10 µm; b liposomes imaged with FITC: fluorescence confirms that transcription and translation reactions occur inside them; scale bar is 10 µm; c liposomes containing purified GFP protein: all the liposomes exhibit fluorescence validating excellent encapsulation efficiency; scale bar is 20 µm.

Fig. 5 a concentrated calcein encapsulated within liposomes: the outer solution fluoresces as some of the liposomes inevitably burst releasing calcein into the outside (calcein exhibits fluorescence only after being diluted); b box plot comparison of the control (without a-hemolysin) and a group with inserted a-hemolysin; nonparametrical Mann-Whitney U test was used for the statistical evaluation: the group with a-hemolysin shows statistically significant (p< 0.0001) increase in fluorescence.

More about liposome production

• Moreover, we proved that liposomes can incorporate one of the main membrane protein assembly machinery proteins BamA into their membranes.

When incubated in a solution consisting of soluble BAM complex components and liposomes, unfolded BamA (denatured in urea) was successfully reconstituted and therefore integrated into the liposome membranes. It demonstrates the activity of the BAM complex, because BamA cannot self-integrate into the lipid bilayer without the assistance of other proteins from Bam complex₂ (Fig. 6).

More about Bam complex proteins

• Finally, as our ultimate goal was to use liposomes as a platform for membrane protein research, we constructed membrane proteins that were capable of displaying protein particles on the surface of E. coli, hence showed no warning signs of not being to do the same in liposomes.

We successfully constructed multiple novel membrane proteins based on ß-barrel bearing translocators that are capable of displaying protein particles on the surface of E. coli (Fig. 6). As liposomes feature the same lipids as E. coli membranes, and during our project were successfully incorporated with Bam complex proteins, it appears that these proteins will be able to expose fused protein particles as, if not more, efficiently as in bacteria, laying the foundation to reach new molecular evolution horizons.

More about surface display

References

1. Deshpande, S., Caspi, Y., Meijering, A. E. C. & Dekker, C. Octanol-assisted liposome assembly on chip. Nat. Commun. 7, 10447 (2016).
2. Hagan, C. L., Westwood, D. B. & Kahne, D. Bam Lipoproteins Assemble BamA in Vitro. Biochemistry 52, 6108–6113 (2013).