The effect of lipid composition on the biogenesis of extracellular vesicles: a molecular perspective

• Grant number: 21/12285-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2022
• End date: April 22, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Thereza Amélia Soares da Silva
• Grantee: Diane Correia de Araújo Lima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/03184-7 - Understanding the role of lipid-A composition on the formation of outer membrane vesicles via small-angle scattering of light and X-rays, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

We propose to investigate at the molecular level the role of lipid composition and spatial distribution on the mechanism of vesicle biogenesis in osteoblasts and Gram-negative bacteria. This will be achieved through an integrated approach coupling molecular simulations of membranes and experimental techniques for the characterization of structural and thermodynamic properties in Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett films (e.g. Brewster angle microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and surface pressure isotherm as a function of the area). We target biomimetic systems representative of two important classes of biological vesicles, namely, the Matrix Vesicle (MV) composed of phospholipids (PL), and the bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicle (OMV) composed of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and phospholipids. (AU)