Role of the polar head group stereoconfiguration in the cation-induced aggregation of dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol vesicles

Cation-induced aggregation of small unilamellar vesicles of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidyl-sn-1'-glycerol (1'-DMPG), the corresponding 3' stereoisomer (3'-DMPG), and their 1:1 mixture was studied as a function of the concentration of different mono- and divalent cations. The order of efficiency, Na+ greater than Li+ greater than K+ greater than Cs+, of the monovalent cations to induce the aggregation of DMPG vesicles is the same for both stereoisomers and their mixture. However, significant differences in the Na+-induced aggregation of 1'-DMPG and 3'-DMPG were evident. The threshold concentration of aggregation by Na+ was 0.35 M for 3'-DMPG, 0.55 M for 1'-DMPG, and 0.50 M for the mixed liposomes. Such difference in the aggregation of DMPG stereoisomers was not observed for the other mono- and divalent cations. The higher affinity of 3'-DMPG for Na+ is suggested to be due to a slightly different favored conformation of the head group glycerol moiety. Aggregation of the stereoisomers by 1 M NaCl was identical, indicating that the differences in the affinity of 1'-DMPG and 3'-DMPG for sodium can be overcome by very high ionic strength. Inclusion of 20 mol % cholesterol in vesicles enhanced the aggregation of 1'-DMPG and decreased the aggregation of 3'-DMPG by Na+ and thus abolished the difference between the two stereoisomers.