Figure 6.
Biomimetic fission pathway mediated by DOLAs. The fission mechanism requires two sequential processes: domain budding and domain fission. (a) Schematic representation of the initial step, where bulging-out of DOLA-stabilized domains is caused by hyperosmotic shock, i.e., by increasing the outer concentration of solutes (CO) relative to the concentration inside the GUVs (CI). (b) Epifluorescence (top) and bright-field (bottom) micrographs of representative GUVs exposed to iso-osmolar (CI ≈ CO) or hyper-osmolar (CI < CO) environments, showing respectively spherical or bulging-out morphologies. (c) (Top) Schematic depiction of the second step, where fuel addition and tile desorption from the interfaces induce budding off or fission of the protruding domains. (Bottom) Evolution of Lo-domain fission in a representative liposome observed with bright-field and epifluorescence microscopy (see Supplementary Movie 6). Time-stamps refer to the time elapsed after initial acquisition. Fuel was added ∼2 min before acquisition began. (d) Evolution of Lo-domain fission in a representative GUV shown with overlaid confocal and bright-field images (see Supplementary Movie 7). Time-stamps refer to the time elapsed after initial acquisition. Fuel was added ∼90 min before acquisition began. (e) Overlaid confocal and bright-field micrographs of representative liposomes when exposed to hyper-osmotic environments containing fuel (left) or lacking fuel (middle) or in the presence of fuel but lacking DNA line-actants (right). Fluorescent marker is Texas Red-DHPE, which partitions to the Ld phase. All scale bars = 10 μm.