Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 6, 2026
11:17
Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
Published on: January 19, 2016
22.9K
Programmable Artificial-Cellular Membrane Dynamics via Ring-Closing Metathesis
Rei Hamaguchi1, Damian Alexander Graf2, Kazushi Kinbara1,3
1School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Science Tokyo, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|October 15, 2025
Summary
Researchers dynamically controlled lipid membrane phase separation using catalysis. A biotin-streptavidin artificial metalloenzyme triggered ring-closing olefin metathesis, releasing fatty acids to dissolve membrane domains.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Chemical Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Cellular membranes feature lateral phase-separated structures crucial for biological functions.
- Controlling these domains could lead to smart vesicles with life-like behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate dynamic control over lipid membrane lateral phase separation using catalysis.
- To engineer artificial metalloenzymes for membrane-associated reactions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) catalyzed by a biotin-streptavidin artificial metalloenzyme (ArM) on lipid membrane surfaces.
- Designed a substrate that releases decanoic acid upon RCM, integrating into the lipid bilayer.
- Genetically optimized the ArM for enhanced catalytic activity.
Main Results:
- Achieved the first example of catalytic control over lateral phase separation in lipid membranes.
- Observed the disappearance of lipid domains due to decanoic acid incorporation.
- Genetic optimization of the ArM increased catalytic activity threefold, promoting larger lipid domain budding.
Conclusions:
- Catalysis offers a novel strategy for dynamic control of membrane phase separation.
- Artificial metalloenzymes can be engineered for precise spatiotemporal control of membrane properties.
- This work paves the way for creating responsive biomimetic materials.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)
3.1K
Ring-opening metathesis polymerization or ROMP involves strained cycloalkenes as starting materials. The mechanism of ROMP proceeds by reacting cycloalkene with Grubbs catalyst to give metallacyclobutane intermediate which undergoes a ring-opening reaction to form new carbene. The new carbene reacts with another molecule of cycloalkene. Repetition of these steps leads to the formation of an unsaturated open-chain polymer product. All these steps are reversible, however, relieving the ring...
3.1K
00:53Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)
2.2K
Acyclic diene metathesis polymerization or ADMET polymerization involves cross-metathesis of terminal dienes, such as 1,8-nonadiene, to give linear unsaturated polymer and ethylene. As ADMET is a reversible process, the formed ethylene gas must be removed from the reaction mixture to complete the polymerization process.
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
2.2K
01:13Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
2.5K
Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
2.5K
02:15The Contractile Ring
7.1K
Contractile rings are composed of microfilaments and are responsible for separating the daughter cells during cytokinesis. Contractile ring assembly proceeds along with other cell cycle events; however, very few mechanistic details are known about the timing and coordination of the contractile rings with the cell cycle.
A small GTPase, RhoA, controls the function and assembly of the contractile ring. RhoA belongs to the Ras superfamily of proteins. The activation of formins by RhoA promotes...
A small GTPase, RhoA, controls the function and assembly of the contractile ring. RhoA belongs to the Ras superfamily of proteins. The activation of formins by RhoA promotes...
7.1K
01:17Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
2.5K
The stereochemistry of electrocyclic reactions is strongly influenced by the orbital symmetry of the polyene HOMO. Under thermal conditions, the reaction proceeds via the ground-state HOMO.
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
2.5K