The Shiga toxin B subunit (STxB), which is involved in cell membrane attachment and trafficking of Shiga holotoxin, binds specifically to the glycosphingolipid Gb 3. In biological membranes, Gb 3 glycosphingolipids differ in their fatty acid composition and there is strong evidence that the fatty acid alters the binding behaviour of STxB as well as the intracellular routing of the Shiga toxin/Gb 3 complex. To analyse the binding of STxB to different Gb 3 s, we chemically synthesized saturated, unsaturated, a-hydroxylated Gb 3 s and a combination thereof, all based on a C 24-fatty acid chain starting from monosaccharide building blocks, sphingosine and the respective fatty acids. These chemically well-defined Gb 3 s were inserted into solid supported phase-separated lipid bilayers composed of DOPC/sphingomyelin/cholesterol as a simple mimetic of the outer leaflet of animal cell membranes. By fluorescenceand atomic force microscopy the phase behaviour of the bilayer as well as the lateral organization of bound STxB were analysed. The fatty acid of Gb 3 significantly alters the ratio between the ordered and disordered phase and induces a third intermediate phase in the presence of unsaturated Gb 3. The lateral organization of STxB on the membranes varies significantly. While STxB attached to membranes with Gb 3 s with saturated fatty acids forms protein clusters, it is more homogeneously bound to membranes containing unsaturated Gb 3 s. Large interphase lipid redistribution is observed for a-hydroxylated Gb 3 doped membranes. Our results clearly demonstrate that the fatty acid of Gb 3 strongly influences the lateral organization of STxB on the membrane and impacts the overall membrane organization of phase-separated lipid membranes.

Shiga toxin subunit B (STxB) binding to its cellular receptor Gb3 leads to the formation of protein-lipid clusters and bending of the membrane. A newly developed synthetic route allowed synthesizing the biologically most relevant Gb3-C24:1 2OH species with both, the natural (Gb3-R) as well as the unnatural (Gb3-S) configuration of the 2OH group. The derivatives bind STxB with identical nanomolar affinity, while the propensity to induce membrane tubules in giant unilamellar vesicles is more pronounced for Gb3-S. Fluorescence and atomic force microscopy images of phase-separated supported membranes revealed differences in the lateral organization of the protein on the membrane. Gb3-R favorably induces large and tightly packed protein clusters, while a lower protein density is found on Gb3-S doped membranes.

The two lectins LecA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the B-subunit of Shiga toxin from Shigella dysenteriae (StxB) share the glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) as receptor. Counterintuitively, we found that LecA and StxB segregated into different domains after recognizing Gb3 at the plasma membrane of cells. We hypothesized that the orientation of the carbohydrate head group of Gb3 embedded in the lipid bilayer differentially influences LecA and StxB binding. To test this hypothesis, we reconstituted lectin-Gb3 interaction using giant unilamellar vesicles and were indeed able to rebuild LecA and StxB segregation. Both, the Gb3 fatty acyl chain structure and the local membrane environment, modulated Gb3 recognition by LecA and StxB. Specifically, StxB preferred more ordered membranes compared to LecA. Based on our findings, we propose comparing staining patterns of LecA and StxB as an alternative method to assess membrane order in cells. To verify this approach, we re-established that the apical plasma membrane of epithelial cells is more ordered than the basolateral plasma membrane. Additionally, we found that StxB recognized Gb3 at the primary cilium and the periciliary membrane, whereas LecA only bound periciliary Gb3. This suggests that the ciliary membrane is of higher order than the surrounding periciliary membrane.

Rationale : Within the field of personalized medicine there is an increasing focus on designing flexible, multifunctional drug delivery systems that combine high efficacy with minimal side effects, by tailoring treatment to the individual. Methods : We synthesized a chemically stabilized ~4 nm nucleic acid nanoscaffold, and characterized its assembly, stability and functional properties in vitro and in vivo . We tested its flexibility towards multifunctionalization by conjugating various biomolecules to the four modules of the system. The pharmacokinetics, targeting capability and bioimaging properties of the structure were investigated in mice. The role of avidity in targeted liver cell internalization was investigated by flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and in vivo by fluorescent scanning of the blood and organs of the animals. Results : We have developed a nanoscaffold that rapidly and with high efficiency can self-assemble four chemically conjugated functionalities into a stable, in vivo -applicable system with complete control of stoichiometry and site specificity. The circulation time of the nanoscaffold could be tuned by functionalization with various numbers of polyethylene glycol polymers or with albumin-binding fatty acids. Highly effective hepatocyte-specific internalization was achieved with increasing valencies of tri-antennary galactosamine (triGalNAc) in vitro and in vivo . Conclusion : With its facile functionalization, stoichiometric control, small size and high serum- and thermostability, the nanoscaffold presented here constitutes a novel and flexible platform technology for theranostics.

The molecular interactions of three biologically important galactocerebrosides have been studied in monolayers formed at the soft air/water interface as 2D model membranes. Highly surface-sensitive techniques as GIXD (grazing incidence X-ray diffraction), IRRAS (infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy), and BAM (Brewster angle microscopy) have been used. The study reveals that small differences in the chemical structure have a relevant impact on the physical-chemical properties and intermolecular interactions. The presence of a 2-d-hydroxyl group in the fatty acid favored for GalCer C24:0 (2-OH) monolayers a higher hydration state of the headgroup at low lateral pressures (<25 mN/m) and a higher condensation effect above 30 mN/m. An opposite behavior was recorded for GalCer C24:0 and GalCer C24:1, for which the intermolecular interactions are defined by the weakly hydrated but strong H-bonded interconnected head groups. Additionally, the 15-cis-double bond in the fatty acid chain (nervonic acid) of GalCer C24:1 stabilized the LE phase but did not disturb the packing parameters of the LC phase as compared with the saturated compound GalCer C24:0.