Lateral diffusion of ubiquinone during electron transfer in phospholipid- and ubiquinone-enriched mitochondrial membranes

After fusion of small unilamellar phospholipid liposomes with mitochondrial inner membranes, the rate of electron transfer between membrane dehydrogenases and cytochrome c decreases as the average distance between integral membrane proteins increases, suggesting that electron transfer is mediated through a diffusional process in the membrane plane (Schneider, H., Lemasters, J. J., H?chli, M., and Hackenbrock, C. R. (1980)., J. Biol. Chem. 255, 3748-3756). The role of ubiquinone in this process was evaluated by fusing liposomes containing ubiquinone-10 or ubiquinone-6, with inner membranes. In control membranes enriched with phospholipid only, ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase and NADH- and succinate-cytochrome c reductase activities decreased proportionally to the increase in bilayer lipid. These decreases were restored substantially in phospholipid plus ubiquinone-supplemented membranes. The degree to which restoration occurred was dependent upon the length of the isoprenoid side chain of the ubiquinone with the shorter chain length ubiquinone-6, always giving greater restoration than ubiquinone-10. It is concluded that electron transfer between flavin-linked dehydrogenases (Complexes I and II) and cytochrome bc1 (Complex III) occurs by independent, lateral diffusion of ubiquinone as well as independent, lateral diffusion of ubiquinone as well as the protein complexes within the plane of the membrane.     

Thermotropic lateral translational motion of intramembrane particles in the inner mitochondrial membrane and its inhibition by artificial peripheral proteins

Freeze fracturing and deep etching have been used to study thermotropic lateral translational motion of intramembrane particles and membrane surface anionic groups in the inner mitochondrial membrane. When the inner membrane is equilibrated at low temperature, the fracture faces of both halves of the membrane reveal a lateral separation between intramembrane particles and particle free, large smooth patches. Such separation is completely reversed through free lateral translational diffusion by reversing the temperature. The low temperature induced, particle-free, smooth membrane patches appear to represent regions of protein-excluding, ordered bilayer lipid which form during thermotropic liquid crystalline to gel state phase transitions. When polycationic ferritin is electrostatically bound to anionic groups exposed at the membrane surface at concentrations which inhibit the activities of cytochrome c oxidase and succinate permease, the bound ferritin migrates with intramembrane particles during the thermotropic lateral separation between the membrane particles and smooth patches. When bound polycationic ferritin is cross-bridged with native ferritin, an artificial peripheral protein lattice forms in association with the surface anionic groups and diminishes the thermotropic lateral translational motion of intramembrane particles in the membrane. These results reveal that the anionic groups of metabolically active integral proteins which are known to be exposed at the surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane migrate with intramembrane particles in the plane of the membrane under conditions which induce lipid-protein lateral separations. In addition, cross-bridging of the anionic groups through an artificial peripheral protein lattice appears to diminish such induced lipid protein lateral separations.     

Purification and analysis of phospholipids in the inner mitochondrial membrane fraction of bovine corpus luteum, and properties of cytochrome P-450scc incorporated into vesicles prepared from these phospholipids

Cytochrome P-450scc, which catalyses the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone in steroidogenic tissues, can be incorporated into artificial phospholipid vesicles and cholesterol binding to the cytochrome is affected by the composition of the vesicles. We have purified the phospholipids from the inner mitochondrial membrane fraction of the bovine corpus luteum where the cytochrome is located. The composition in mol % was 49% phosphatidylcholine, 34% phosphatidylethanolamine, 8.7% cardiolipin, 6.4% lysophosphatidylethanolamine and 1.5% phosphatidylinositol. The ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid (mol/mol) in the inner membrane fraction was 0.14 to 1. The Km for cholesterol of purified luteal cytochrome P-450scc incorporated into vesicles prepared from the total inner mitochondrial membrane phospholipids was 0.063 mol of cholesterol per mol of phospholipid. Removal of the cardiolipin component of the inner mitochondrial membrane phospholipids prior to preparation of vesicles caused a four fold increase in the Kd of cytochrome P-450 for cholesterol and a two fold increase in Km. The data suggests that in the inner mitochondrial membrane of the bovine corpus luteum the cholesterol concentration is less than saturating for cytochrome P-450scc.     

Cytochrome C interaction with cardiolipin/phosphatidylcholine model membranes: effect of cardiolipin protonation

Resonance energy transfer between anthrylvinyl-labeled phosphatidylcholine as a donor and heme moiety of cytochrome c (cyt c) as an acceptor has been employed to explore the protein binding to model membranes, composed of phosphatidylcholine and cardiolipin (CL). The existence of two types of protein-lipid complexes has been hypothesized where either deprotonated or partially protonated CL molecules are responsible for cyt c attachment to bilayer surface. To quantitatively describe cyt c membrane binding, the adsorption model based on scaled particle and double layer theories has been employed, with potential-dependent association constants being treated as a function of acidic phospholipid mole fraction, degree of CL protonation, ionic strength, and surface coverage. Multiple arrays of resonance energy transfer data obtained under conditions of varying pH, ionic strength, CL content, and protein/lipid molar ratio have been analyzed in terms of the model of energy transfer in two-dimensional systems combined with the adsorption model allowing for area exclusion and electrostatic effects. The set of recovered model parameters included effective protein charge, intrinsic association constants, and heme distance from the bilayer midplane for both types of protein-lipid complexes. Upon increasing CL mole fraction from 10 to 20 mol % (the value close to that characteristic of the inner mitochondrial membrane), the binding equilibrium dramatically shifted toward cyt c association with partially protonated CL species. The estimates of heme distance from bilayer center suggest shallow bilayer location of cyt c at physiological pH, whereas at pH below 6.0, the protein tends to insert into membrane core.     

Lipid composition and protein profiles of outer and inner membranes from pig heart mitochondria. Comparison with microsomes.

1. Mitochondria, inner and outer mitochondrial membranes and microsomes were isolated and purified from pig heart. Their lipid composition and protein components were studied. 2. The fatty acid distribution in the main phospholipids seemed specific rather of a given phospholipid and not of one type of membrane. 3. Inner mitochondrial membranes were characterized by a high content in cardiolipin and a very low level of triglycerides together with a high degree of unsaturation and C18 acids. Gel electrophoresis revealed 13 different polypeptide subunits of which 5 were major ranging in molecular weights from 10000 to 215000. 4. In outer mitochondrial membranes, total lipid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, plasmologen and triglyceride contents were much higher than in inner membranes. Fatty acids of phospholipids were mostly saturated and the polypeptide pattern showed 12 components, of which 4 were major of mol. wt 75000, 60000, 20000 and below 10000. 5. Compared to outer membrane, microsomes exhibited a much higher cholesterol content and markedly different protein profiles. They contained significant amounts of cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine, this latter phospholipid being exclusively located in microsomes. However odd similarities were observed in some lipid components of microsomes and inner mitochondrial membranes, but fatty acids were more saturated in microsomes and electrophoretic profiles of protein components appeared very different and revealed components of high mol. wt.     

Phospholipid asymmetry in the isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane

The total phospholipid content and distribution of phospholipid species between the outer and inner monolayers of the isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane was measured by phospholipase A2 activities and neutron diffraction. Phospholipase measurements showed that specific phospholipid species were asymmetric in their distribution between the outer and inner monolayers of the sarcoplasmic reticulum lipid bilayer; phosphatidylcholine (PC) was distributed 48/52 +/- 2% between the outer and inner monolayer of the sarcoplasmic reticulum bilayer, 69% of the phosphatidyl-ethanolamine (PE) resided mainly in the outer monolayer of the bilayer, 85% of the phosphatidylserine (PS) and 88% of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) were localized predominantly in the inner monolayer. The total phospholipid distribution determined by these measurements was 48/52 +/- 2% for the outer/inner monolayer of the sarcoplasmic reticulum lipid bilayer. Sarcoplasmic reticulum phospholipids were biosynthetically deuterated and exchanged into isolated vesicles with both a specific lecithin and a general exchange protein. Neutron diffraction measurements directly provided lipid distribution profiles for both PC and the total lipid content in the intact sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. The outer/inner monolayer distribution for PC was 47/53 +/- 1%, in agreement with phospholipase measurements, while that for the total lipid was 46/54 +/- 1%, similar to the phospholipase measurements. These neutron diffraction results regarding the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane bilayer were used in model calculations for decomposing the electron-density profile structure (10 A resolution) of isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum previously determined by X-ray diffraction into structures for the separate membrane components. These structure studies showed that the protein profile structure within the membrane lipid bilayer was asymmetric, complementary to the asymmetric lipid structure. Thus, the total phospholipid asymmetry obtained by two independent methods was small but consistent with a complementary asymmetric protein structure, and may be related to the highly vectorial functional properties of the calcium pump ATPase protein in the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane.     

Effect of free cholesterol on incorporation of triolein in phospholipid bilayers

Triacylglycerols are the major substrates for lipolytic enzymes that act at the surface of emulsion-like particles such as triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, chylomicrons, and intracellular lipid droplets. This study examines the effect of cholesterol on the solubility of a triacylglycerol, triolein, in phospholipid surfaces. Solubilities of [carbonyl-13C]triolein in phospholipid bilayer vesicles containing between 0 and 50 mol % free cholesterol, prepared by cosonication, were measured by 13C NMR. The carbonyl resonances from bilayer-incorporated triglyceride were shifted downfield in the 13C NMR spectra from those corresponding to excess, nonincorporated material. This enabled solubilities to be determined directly from carbonyl peak intensities at most cholesterol concentrations. The bilayer solubility of triolein was inversely proportional to the cholesterol/phospholipid mole ratio. In pure phospholipid vesicles the triolein solubility was 2.2 mol %. The triglyceride incorporation decreased to 1.1 mol % at a cholesterol/phospholipid mole ratio of 0.5, and at a mole ratio of 1.0 for the bilayer lipids, the triolein solubility was reduced to just 0.15 mol %. The effects of free cholesterol were more pronounced and progressive than observed previously on the bilayer solubility of cholesteryl oleate (Spooner, P. J. R., Hamilton, J. A., Gantz, D. L., & Small, D. M. (1986) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 860, 345-353]. As with cholesteryl oleate, we suggest that cholesterol also displaces solubilized triglyceride to deeper regions of the bilayer.     

Lipid topology and physical properties of the outer mitochondrial membrane of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The outer membrane of yeast mitochondria was studied with respect to its lipid composition, phospholipid topology and membrane fluidity. This membrane is characterized by a high phospholipid to protein ratio (1.20). Like other yeast cellular membranes the outer mitochondrial membrane contains predominantly phosphatidylcholine (44% of total phospholipids), phosphatidylethanolamine (34%) and phosphatidylinositol (14%). Cardiolipin, the characteristic phospholipid of the inner mitochondrial membrane (13% of total phospholipids) is present in the outer membrane only to a moderate extent (5%). The ergosterol to phospholipid ratio is higher in the inner (7.0 wt%) as compared to the outer membrane (2.1 wt.%). Attempts to study phospholipid asymmetry by selective degradation of phospholipids of the outer leaflet of the outer mitochondrial membrane failed, because isolated right-side-out vesicles of this membrane became leaky upon treatment with phospholipases. Selective removal of phospholipids of the outer leaflet with the aid of phospholipid transfer proteins and chemical modification with trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid on the other hand, gave satisfactory results. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol are more or less evenly distributed between the two sides of the outer mitochondrial membrane, whereas the majority of phosphatidylethanolamine is oriented towards the intermembrane space. The fluidity of mitochondrial membranes was determined by measuring fluorescence anisotropy using diphenylhexatriene (DPH) as a probe. The lower anisotropy of DPH in the outer as compared to the inner membrane, which is an indication for an increased lipid mobility in the outer membrane, was attributed to the higher phospholipid to protein and the lower ergosterol to phospholipid ratio. The data presented here show, that the outer mitochondrial membrane, in spite of its close contact to the inner membrane, is distinct not only with respect to its protein pattern, but also with respect to its lipid composition and physical membrane properties.     

Fusion of lipid vesicles with ascites tumor cells and their lipid-depleted variants. Studies with radioactive- and fluorescent-labeled vesicles

Cultured ascites tumor cells and their lipid-depleted variants, which contained 35-40% less membrane phospholipid and cholesterol, were used for fusion experiments with unilamellar lipid vesicles which were between 300 and 600 nm in diameter. Vesicle-cell interaction was followed by tracer studies using vesicles double-labeled in the lipid moiety, by vesicle-encapsulated [3H] dextran, and by measurements of energy transfer between N-(10-[1-pyrene]decanoyl)sphingomyelin-labeled vesicles and alpha-parinaric acid-labeled cells in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as fusogen. The reaction rates measured with the radiolabeled vesicles were found to follow patterns similar to those obtained with the resonance energy transfer assay. This latter method revealed a vesicle-cell membrane fusion reaction, which was substantiated by radiolabeling the internal cellular compartment after treatment of the cells with [3H]dextran-encapsulated vesicles as shown by electron microscopic autoradiography on semi-thin sections. Endocytosis as a reaction mechanism can be excluded, since no energy transfer was observed at 25 degrees C in the absence of PEG. Investigations of vesicle bilayer order and fluidity on vesicle-cell interaction revealed optimal reactivity, with intermediate fluidity corresponding to cholesterol/phospholipid ratios between 0.7 and 1.0 and fluorescence depolarization (P) values of 0.18 and 0.21. Lipid depletion decreased the reaction velocity between cells and vesicles by about 20%, exhibiting V values of 33.2 mumol/min, as compared to the control of 41.4 mumol/min determined for 10(7) cells. The affinity constants for vesicle lipid were affected only slightly with Km values of 0.195 mM (0.210 mM). The activation energies for the reaction were calculated to give values of EA = 22.44 kJ/mol for the control and of EA = 20.4 kJ/mol for the modified cells. These data indicate that the decrease in membrane lipid content apparently has no major influence on the extent of the interaction.     

Interaction of bovine serum high density lipoprotein with mixed vesicles of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol.

The interaction of sonicated, small vesicles of egg phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol (2:1, mol/mol) with bovine high density serum lipoproteins was examined in terms of lipid transfer between both types of particles and the resulting changes in lipoprotein structure. Saturation of high density lipoprotein preparations with vesicle lipids gave final lipoprotein particles with essentially unchanged protein content and composition, unchanged cholesterylester and nonpolar lipid content, but with markedly increased phospholipid content (59% increas by weight) and moderately increased cholesterol content (20% increase by weight). The lipoproteins enriched in lipid were relatively uniform, spherical particles, 110 +/- 3.6 A in diameter (6 A larger than the original lipoproteins); they had a markedly decreased intrinsic protein fluorescence, a red-shifted fluorescence wavelength maximum, and more fluid lipid domains. These results indicate that the direct addition of excess lipids from membranes or other lipoproteins is a possible mechanism for lipid transfer to high density lipoproteins. Also they suggest a structural flexibility of high density lipoproteins that allows the addition of significant amounts of surface components.     

Kinetics of cholesterol and phospholipid exchange between Mycoplasma gallisepticum cells and lipid vesicles. Alterations in membrane cholesterol and protein content

The kinetics of exchange of radiolabeled cholesterol and phospholipids between intact Mycoplasma gallisepticum cells and unilamellar lipid vesicles were investigated over a wide range of cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio. The change in cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio was achieved by adapting the sterol-requiring M. gallisepticum to grow in cholesterol-poor media, providing cells with decreased unesterified cholesterol content. At least 90% of the cholesterol molecules in unsealed M. gallisepticum membranes underwent exchange at 37 degrees C as a single kinetic pool in the presence of albumin (2%, w/v). However, we observed biphasic exchange kinetics with intact cells, indicating that cholesterol translocation from the inner to outer monolayers was rate-limiting in the exchange process. Approximately 50% of the cholesterol molecules were localized in each kinetic pool, independent of the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio in the cells and vesicles. A striking change in the kinetic parameters for cholesterol exchange occurred between 20 and 26 mol % cholesterol; for example, when the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio was decreased from 0.36 to 0.25, the half-time for equilibration of the two cholesterol pools at 37 degrees C decreased from 4.6 +/- 0.5 to 2.5 +/- 0.1 h. Phospholipid exchange rates were also enhanced on decreasing the membrane cholesterol content. The ability of cholesterol to modulate its own exchange rate, as well as that of phospholipids, is suggested to arise from the sterol's ability to regulate membrane lipid order. Extensive chemical modification of the membrane surface by cross-linking of some of the protein constituents with 1,4-phenylenedimaleimide decreased the cholesterol exchange rate. Depletion of membrane proteins by treatment of growing cultures with chloramphenicol increased the cholesterol exchange rate, possibly because of removal of some of the protein mass that may impede lipid translocation. The observations that phospholipid exchange was one order of magnitude slower than cholesterol exchange and that dimethyl sulfoxide, potassium thiocyanate, and potassium salicylate enhanced the cholesterol exchange rate are consistent with a mechanism involving lipid exchange by diffusion through the aqueous phase.     

Oxygen profiles in membranes

Transmembrane profiles of molecular oxygen in lipid bilayers are not only significant for membrane physiology and pathology, but also are essential to the determination of membrane protein structure by site-directed spin labeling. Oxygen profiles obtained with spin-labeled lipid chains have a Boltzmann sigmoidal dependence on the depth into each lipid leaflet, which represents a two-compartment distribution between outer and inner regions of the membrane, with a transfer free energy that depends linearly on distance from the dividing planes. Transmembrane profiles for intramembrane polarity, and for water penetration into the membrane, have an identical form, but are of the reverse sign. Comparison with recently published oxygen profiles from a site-specifically spin-labeled alpha-helical transmembrane peptide validates the use of spin-labeled lipids for all these profiles and provides the necessary bridge to generate the full bilayer from a single lipid leaflet.     

Effects of cholesterol on lipid organization in human erythrocyte membrane

The molar ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid (C/P) in human erythrocyte membrane is modified by incubating the cells with liposomes of various C/P ratios. The observed increase in cell surface area may be accounted for by the addition of cholesterol molecules. Fusion between liposomes and cells or attachment of liposomes to cells is not a significant factor in the alteration of C/P ratio. Onset temperatures for lipid phase separation in modified membranes are measured by electron diffraction. The onset temperature increases with decreasing C/P ration from 2 degrees C at C/P = 0.95 to 20 degrees C at C/P = 0.5. Redistribution of intramembrane particles is observed in membranes freeze-quenched from temperatures below the onset temperature. The heterogeneous distribution of intramembrane particles below the onset temperature suggests phase separation of lipid, with concomitant segregation of intramembrane protein into domains, even in the presence of an intact spectrin network.     

The multicollisional, obstructed, long-range diffusional nature of mitochondrial electron transport

Data are presented which reveal that ubiquinone (Q)-mediated electron transport is a multicollisional, obstructed, long-range diffusion process, where factors that affect the rate of lateral diffusion also affect the rate of electron transport. Based on fluorescence recovery after photobleaching measurements, it was concluded that Q-mediated electron transport occurs by the random collision of redox components which are independent lateral diffusants, each greater than 86% mobile and diffusing in a common pool. The diffusion process of Q-mediated electron transport is 1) multicollisional since the transfers of reducing equivalents between appropriate redox partners occur with less than 100% collision efficiency; 2) obstructed since its maximal rate as well as the rates of diffusion of all redox components involved vary as a function of the membrane protein density; and 3) long-range since the diffusion of all redox components is protein density-dependent, and the diffusion distance required for Q to catalyze the transfer of a reducing equivalent from Complex II to III must be, on average, greater than 37.6 nm. These findings and other theoretical treatments reveal that measurements of short-range diffusion (less than 10 nm), in which collisions between appropriate redox partners do not occur, on average, and which are not affected by membrane protein density, are irrelevant to the collisional process of electron transport. Thus, the data show that the maximum electron transport rate is dependent on both the diffusion rate and the concentration of the redox components. Sucrose was found to inhibit both the mobility of redox components as well as their electron transport rates. Data presented on the relationships between membrane viscosity, rates of lateral and rotational diffusion, and mobile fractions of redox components do not support rotationally immobile aggregates in the functional inner membrane. The high degree of unsaturated phospholipids and the absence of cholesterol in the bilayer of the native inner membrane reflect a requirement for a low resistance to motion of the redox components to compensate for the multicollisional, obstructive nature of their catalytically important collisions in this membrane. These findings support the Random Collision Model of electron transport in which the diffusion and concentration of redox components limit the maximum rate of electron transport.     

Structural and dynamical aspects of membrane immunochemistry using model membranes.

Three different phospholipid haptens have been synthesized, in which the haptenic group is the paramagnetic nitroxide (spin-label) group. These lipid haptens differ from one another in the length and composition of the molecular chain linking the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-N-oxy moiety to the phosphodiester group of the lipid. These lipid haptens have been incorporated at low molar concentrations (0.01 to 0.5 mol %) in liposomes containing various proportions of cholesterol and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). A study has been made of specific antinitroxide IgG (and Fab) binding to these liposomes, and the fixation of complement. From these studies we conclude: (a) For lipid haptens whose possible extension above the bilayer plane is limited (e.g., approximately 10-20 A), antibody binding and complement fixation depend strongly on the hapten structure and host lipid composition, because of steric limitations on the accessibility of lipid haptens to the binding sites in the protein. (b) Complement fixation by specific IgG antibodies directed against the nitroxide group as part of a lipid hapten depends strongly on the lateral mobility of the lipid hapten when its molar concentration in the plane of the membrane is of the order of 0.1 mol % or less. It is likely that this conclusion applies to many lipid haptens, and possibly other membrane components. (c) The inclusion of cholesterol in lipid membranes has at least two distinct effects on complement fixation involving lipid haptens. Through a steric effect on bilayer structure (probably involving lateral molecular ordering) cholesterol in phosphatidylcholine bilayers can enhance hapten exposure to antibody binding sites, enhance antibody binding, and thereby enhance complement fixation. It is likely that cholesterol also affects complement fixation at low hapten concentrations through a modification of membrane fluidity.     

Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of membrane proteins as a possible mechanism for structural rearrangement of membrane components.

A correlation was found between dephosphorylation of chicken erythrocyte membrane proteins, aggregation of intramembrane particles, increase in the lipid bilayer phase of the membrane and exposure of membrane phospholipids toward phospholipase A and trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Most of the covalently bound phosphate of the membrane proteins turns over and is associated with 5 major bands. It is suggested that phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of these proteins causes changes in their charge and conformation. Such changes might affect the interaction of these proteins with the neighbouring lipids or lipoprotein complexes and results in the aggregation of intramembrane particles and relative increase in the exposed free lipid bilayer phase of the membrane.     

Amphipathic helixes and plasma lipoproteins: Thermodynamic and geometric considerations

In this paper analyses are made of the thermodynamic and geometric properties of the predicted association between amphipathic helixes and phospholipid vesicles. From thermodynamic considerations it is proposed that a major driving force for such an association is the negative free energy gained by the transfer of a number of hydrophobic residues (contained within the non-polar faces of amphipathic helixes), from water to the interior of a phospholipid bilayer. The mechanism proposed is that in the aqueous state a potentially amphipathic sequence forms a non-helical hydrophobic patch on the surface of the apolipoprotein. Formation of an amphipathic helix and simultaneous burial of the hydrophobic residues in the surface of a phospholipid bilayer provides the driving force for lipid association. From this model an estimate of the upperlimit for the hydrophobically driven free energy of lipid association (?40?65 kcal/mol) is calculated for the 4 apolipoproteins with known sequences.On the basis of geometrical considerations a model for an intermediate state of high density lipoprotein (HDL) synthesis is proposed. This model consists of a cholesterol-containing phospholipid bilayer disc whose ‘naked’ hydrophobic edges are shielded from the aqueous phase by amphipathic helixes of the apolipoproteins. Exposure of these ‘bicycle tire’ micelles to the enzyme lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) is postulated to result in the formation of mature spherical HDL particles with cholesteryl ester forming a neutral lipid core.     

The Curvature and cholesterol content of phospholipid bilayers alter the transbilayer distribution of specific molecular species of phosphatidylethanolamine

The curvature, cholesterol content,and transbilayer distribution of phospholipids significantly influence the functional properties of cellular membranes, yet little is known of how these parameters interact. In this study, the transbilayer distribution of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is determined in vesicles with large (98 nm) and small (19 nm)radii of curvature and with different proportions of PE, phosphatidylcholine, and cholesterol. It was found that the mean diameters of both types of vesicles were not influenced by their lipid composition, and that the amino-reactive compound 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) was unable to cross the bilayer of either type of vesicle. When large vesicles were treated with TNBS, ~40% of the total membrane PE was derivatized; in the small vesicles 55% reacted. These values are interpreted as representing the percentage of total membrane PE residing in the outer leaflet of the vesicle bilayer. The large vesicles likely contained ~20% of the total membrane lipid as internal membranes. Therefore, in both types of vesicles, PE as a phospholipid class was randomly distributed between the inner and outer leaflets ofthe bilayer. The proportion oftotal PE residing in the outer leaflet was unaffected by changes in either the cholesterol orPE content of the vesicles. However, the transbilayer distributions of individual molecular species of PE were not random, and were significantly influenced by radius of curvature, membrane cholesterol content, or both. For example, palmitate and docosahexaenoate-containing species of PE were preferentially located in the outer leaflet of the bilayer. Membrane cholesterol content affected the transbilayer distributions of stearate-, oleate-, and linoleate-containing species. The transbilayer distributions ofpalmitate-, docosahexaenoate-, and stearate-containing species were significantly influenced by membrane curvature, but only in the presence of high levels of cholesterol. Thus, differences in membrane curvature and cholesterol content alter the array of PE molecules present on the surfaces of phospholipid bilayers. In cells and organelles, these differences could have profound effects on a number of critical membrane functions and processes.     

Modification of the erythrocyte membrane by a non-specific lipid transfer protein

The non-specific phospholipid transfer protein purified from bovine liver has been used to modify the phospholipid content and phospholipid composition of the membrane of intact human erythrocytes. Apart from an exchange of phosphatidylcholine between the red cell and PC-containing vesicles, the protein appeared to facilitate net transfer of phosphatidylcholine from the donor vesicles to the erythrocyte and sphingomyelin transfer in the opposite direction. Phosphatidylcholine transfer was accompanied by an equivalent transfer (on a molar basis) of cholesterol. An increase in phosphatidylcholine content in the erythrocyte membrane from 90 to 282 nmol per 100 microliters packed cells was observed. Phospholipase C treatment of modified cells showed that all of the phosphatidylcholine which was transferred to the erythrocyte was incorporated in the lipid bilayer. The nonspecific lipid transfer protein used here appeared to be a suitable tool to modify lipid content and composition of the erythrocyte membrane, and possible applications of this approach are discussed.     

The curvature and cholesterol content of phospholipid bilayers alter the transbilayer distribution of specific molecular species of phosphatidylethanolamine

The curvature, cholesterol content, and transbilayer distribution of phospholipids significantly influence the functional properties of cellular membranes, yet little is known of how these parameters interact. In this study, the transbilayer distribution of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is determined in vesicles with large (98 nm) and small (19 nm) radii of curvature and with different proportions of PE, phosphatidylcholine, and cholesterol. It was found that the mean diameters of both types of vesicles were not influenced by their lipid composition, and that the amino-reactive compound 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) was unable to cross the bilayer of either type of vesicle. When large vesicles were treated with TNBS, approximately 40% of the total membrane PE was derivatized; in the small vesicles 55% reacted. These values are interpreted as representing the percentage of total membrane PE residing in the outer leaflet of the vesicle bilayer. The large vesicles likely contained approximately 20% of the total membrane lipid as internal membranes. Therefore, in both types of vesicles, PE as a phospholipid class was randomly distributed between the inner and outer leaflets of the bilayer. The proportion of total PE residing in the outer leaflet was unaffected by changes in either the cholesterol or PE content of the vesicles. However, the transbilayer distributions of individual molecular species of PE were not random, and were significantly influenced by radius of curvature, membrane cholesterol content, or both. For example, palmitate- and docosahexaenoate-containing species of PE were preferentially located in the outer leaflet of the bilayer. Membrane cholesterol content affected the transbilayer distributions of stearate-, oleate-, and linoleate-containing species. The transbilayer distributions of palmitate-, docosahexaenoate-, and stearate-containing species were significantly influenced by membrane curvature, but only in the presence of high levels of cholesterol. Thus, differences in membrane curvature and cholesterol content alter the array of PE molecules present on the surfaces of phospholipid bilayers. In cells and organelles, these differences could have profound effects on a number of critical membrane functions and processes.