Membrane fusion and inverted phases

We have found a correlation between liposome fusion kinetics and lipid phase behavior for several inverted phase forming lipids. N-Methylated dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE-Me), or mixtures of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), will form an inverted hexagonal phase (HII) at high temperatures (above TH), a lamellar phase (L alpha) at low temperatures, and an isotropic/inverted cubic phase at intermediate temperatures, which is defined by the appearance of narrow isotropic 31P NMR resonances. The phase behavior has been verified by using high-sensitivity DSC, 31P NMR, freeze-fracture electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The temperature range over which the narrow isotropic resonances occur is defined as delta TI, and the range ends at TH. Extruded liposomes (approximately 0.2 microns in diameter) composed of these lipids show fusion and leakage kinetics which are strongly correlated with the temperatures of these phase transitions. At temperatures below delta TI, where the lipid phase is L alpha, there is little or no fusion, i.e., mixing of aqueous contents, or leakage. However, as the temperature reaches delta TI, there is a rapid increase in both fusion and leakage rates. At temperatures above TH, the liposomes show aggregation-dependent lysis, as the rapid formation of HII phase precursors disrupts the membranes. We show that the correspondence between the fusion and leakage kinetics and the observed phase behavior is easily rationalized in terms of a recent kinetic theory of L alpha/inverted phase transitions. In particular, it is likely that membrane fusion and the L alpha/inverted cubic phase transition proceed via a common set of intermembrane intermediates.     

The dissimilar effect of diacylglycerols on Ca(2+)-induced phosphatidylserine vesicle fusion.

We have studied the effect of physiological concentrations of different diacylglycerols on Ca(2+)-induced fusion between phosphatidylserine vesicles. We monitored vesicle fusion as mixing of membrane lipids under conditions where the limiting factor was the aggregation and also in conditions where this aggregation was not the limiting factor. We found that diacylglycerols have a different modulating effect on the Ca(2+)-induced fusion: i) depending on their interfacial conformation, so that 1,2-isomers of diacylglycerols containing unsaturated or short saturated acyl chains stimulated fusion and their 1,3-isomers did not, and ii) depending on their specific type of bilayer interior perturbation, so that diacylglycerols containing unsaturated or short chain saturated acyl chains stimulated fusion but those containing long-chain saturated acyl chains did not. These requirements resembled those required for the diacylglycerol activation of protein kinase C, suggesting that diacylglycerol acts in both the specific activation of this enzyme and the induction of membrane fusion through the same perturbation of lipid structure. We found that polylysine affected the stimulatory role of 1,2-dioleoylglycerol differently, depending on whether aggregation was the limiting factor of fusion. When we studied the effect of very low concentrations of diacylglycerols on the bulk structural properties of phosphatidylserine, we found that they neither significantly perturbed the thermotropic transitions of phosphatidylserine nor affected the interaction of Ca2+ with the phosphate group of phosphatidylserine. The underlying mechanism of fusion between phosphatidylserine vesicles is discussed.     

Destabilization of phosphatidylethanolamine liposomes at the hexagonal phase transition temperature

We have examined whether there is a relationship between the lamellar-hexagonal phase transition temperature, TH, and the initial kinetics of H+- and Ca2+-induced destabilization of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) liposomes. The liposomes were composed of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine, egg phosphatidylethanolamine (EPE), or phosphatidylethanolamine prepared from egg phosphatidylcholine by transesterification (TPE). These lipids have well-spaced lamellar-hexagonal phase transition temperatures (approximately 12, approximately 45, and approximately 57 degrees C) in a temperature range that allows us to measure the initial kinetics of bilayer destabilization, both below and above TH. The liposomes were prepared at pH 9.5. The TH of EPE and TPE was measured by using differential scanning calorimetry, and it was found that the TH was essentially the same at low pH or at high pH in the presence of 20 mM Ca2+. At temperatures well below TH, either at pH 4.5 or at pH 9.5 in the presence of Ca2+, the liposomes aggregate, leak, and undergo lipid mixing and mixing of contents. We show that liposome/liposome contact is involved in the destabilization of the PE liposomes. The temperature dependence of leakage, lipid mixing, and mixing of contents shows that there is a massive enhancement in the rate of leakage when the temperature approaches the TH of the particular PE and that lipid mixing appears to be enhanced. However, the fusion (mixing of aqueous contents) is diminished or even abolished at temperatures above TH. At and above the TH, a new mechanism of liposome destabilization arises, evidently dependent upon the ability of the PE molecules to adapt new morphological structures at these temperatures. We propose that this destabilization demarks the first step in the pathway to the eventual formation of the HII phase. Thus, the polymorphism accessible to PE is a powerful agent for membrane destabilization, but additional factors are required for fusion.     

Effect of growth rate on lipid and lipoteichoic acid composition in Streptococcus faecium.

The lipid composition of Streptococcus faecium (S. faecalis ATCC 9790) was analyzed at various growth rates. Diphosphatidylglycerol and the non-ionic lipid fraction containing diacylglycerols and neutral glycolipids appeared to accumulate relative to cellular mass as the culture mass doubling time increased from 30 to 80 min. Within the same range of doubling times the non-ionic lipid fraction appeared to become substantially enriched with diacylglycerols. All lipid species and cellular lipoteichoic acid accumulated relative to the cellular mass at doubling times exceeding 80 min, although diacylglycerol accumulation exceeded that of all other compounds studied.     

Inverted micellar intermediates and the transitions between lamellar, cubic, and inverted hexagonal lipid phases. II. Implications for membrane-membrane interactions and membrane fusion.

Results of a kinetic model of thermotropic L alpha----HII phase transitions are used to predict the types and order-of-magnitude rates of interactions between unilamellar vesicles that can occur by intermediates in the L alpha----HII phase transition. These interactions are: outer monolayer lipid exchange between vesicles; vesicle leakage subsequent to aggregation; and (only in systems with ratios of L alpha and HII phase structural dimensions in a certain range or with unusually large bilayer lateral compressibilities) vesicle fusion with retention of contents. It was previously proposed that inverted micellar structures mediate membrane fusion. These inverted micellar structures are thought to form in all systems with such transitions. However, I show that membrane fusion probably occurs via structures that form from these inverted micellar intermediates, and that fusion should occur in only a sub-set of lipid systems that can adopt the HII phase. For single-component phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) systems with thermotropic L alpha----HII transitions, lipid exchange should be observed starting at temperatures several degrees below TH and at all higher temperatures, where TH is the L alpha----HII transition temperature. At temperatures above TH, the HII phase forms between apposed vesicles, and eventually ruptures them (leakage). In most single-component PE systems, fusion via L alpha----HII transition intermediates should not occur. This is the behavior observed by Bentz, Ellens, Lai, Szoka, et al. in PE vesicle systems. Fusion is likely to occur under circumstances in which multilamellar samples of lipid form the so-called "inverted cubic" or "isotropic" phase. This is as observed in the mono-methyl DOPE system (Ellens, H., J. Bentz, and F. C. Szoka. 1986. Fusion of phosphatidylethanolamine containing liposomes and the mechanism of the L alpha-HII phase transition. Biochemistry. In press.) In lipid systems with L alpha----HII transitions driven by cation binding (e.g., Ca2+-cardiolipin), fusion should be more frequent than in thermotropic systems.     

The thermodynamics of protein stability. Cold destabilization as a general phenomenon

A theoretical analysis of the temperature/stability profiles of proteins shows that, where a two-state model represents the denaturation, and where the free energy of denaturation delta G(T) shows a strong temperature dependence, then the protein becomes subject to both high- and low-temperature destabilization. In the simplest case delta G(T) is parabolic, therefore the high temperature TH, where delta (G(TH) = 0, is complemented by a low temperature TL, where delta G(TL) = 0. It is generally stated that the partial molal heat capacity change delta C accompanying the heat denaturation is positive and independent of the temperature. This implies that heating the protein through TL results in a negative delta C which seems physically unsatisfactory. The constant delta C model is explored and a physically more realistic model is advanced which allows for a temperature-dependent delta C which changes sign at some temperature within the range of stability of the native protein; delta G(T) then has the form of a skewed parabola. Experimental heat capacity data for native lysozyme and for a flexible polymer lend support to this model. The molecular basis of cold inactivation of proteins is discussed in the light of the thermodynamic analysis.     

Morphological changes induced by phospholipase C and by sphingomyelinase on large unilamellar vesicles: a cryo-transmission electron microscopy study of liposome fusion

Cryo-transmission electron microscopy has been applied to the study of the changes induced by phospholipase C on large unilamellar vesicles containing phosphatidylcholine, as well as to the action of sphingomyelinase on vesicles containing sphingomyelin. In both cases vesicle aggregation occurs as the earliest detectable phenomenon; later, each system behaves differently. Phospholipase C induces vesicle fusion through an intermediate consisting of aggregated and closely packed vesicles (the "honeycomb structure") that finally transforms into large spherical vesicles. The same honeycomb structure is also observed in the absence of enzyme when diacylglycerols are mixed with the other lipids in organic solution, before hydration. In this case the sample then evolves toward a cubic phase. The fact that the same honeycomb intermediate can lead to vesicle fusion (with enzyme-generated diacylglycerol) or to a cubic phase (when diacylglycerol is premixed with the lipids) is taken in support of the hypothesis according to which a highly curved lipid structure ("stalk") would act as a structural intermediate in membrane fusion. Sphingomyelinase produces complete leakage of vesicle aqueous contents and an increase in size of about one-third of the vesicles. A mechanism of vesicle opening and reassembling is proposed in this case.     

Experiments towards quantification of saturated and polyunsaturated diacylglycerols by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

As recently shown, different physiologically relevant lipid classes can easily be analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS). In the present study the first application of MALDI–TOF for the quantitative analysis of diacylglycerols is described. It is shown that the use of a suitable reference sample enables the quantification of diacylglycerols up to the picomolar range. The best reproducibility of quantitative results for diacylglycerols was obtained using a matrix of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid in ethylacetate and incorporation of an internal standard of the same lipid class. A moderate laser power was used, resulting in a very low extent of fragmentation, allowing a quantification by using solely the highest signal arising from sodium adduct formation of diacylglycerols. A linear correlation between peak intensity and lipid concentration over one order of magnitude was found. The applicability of this new technique for the analysis of other lipids like phosphatidylcholines is also discussed.     

Effect of growth temperature on the lipid composition of Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC 607

The total lipid content of Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC 607 was the same whether it was grown at 27 or 37 degrees C. The total phospholipid content, however, increased significantly at 27 degrees C. Phosphatidylethanolamine increased most markedly with a simultaneous decrease in phosphatidylinositol mannosides. Among individual phosphatidylinositol mannosides, tri- and tetra-acylated dimannophosphoinositides and tetra-acylated hexamannophosphoinositides all decreased at the lower growth temperature. Triacylglycerols and monoacylglycerols increased at the lower temperature but diacylglycerols were unaffected. Unsaturated fatty acids of total phospholipids increased as the temperature was lowered.     

Respiratory load compensation in neuromuscular disorders

First-breath ventilatory responses to graded elastic (delta E) and resistive (delta R) loads from 10 people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), 15 people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and 80 able-bodied people were compared. The SMA and DMD groups produced equal tidal volume, respiratory frequency, inspiratory duration (TI), expiratory duration, mean inspiratory airflow, and duty cycle responses to both delta E and delta R. Thus SMA (primarily a motoneuron disorder) and DMD (primarily a muscle disorder) have the same net effect on loaded breathing responses. The SMA and DMD groups failed to duplicate the normal group's short expirations during delta E, long inspirations during delta R, and thus, extended duty cycles during both delta E and delta R. The deficit in load compensation therefore was due to impaired regulation of respiratory timing (reflecting neural mechanisms) but not airflow defense (reflecting mechanical and neural mechanisms). One-fifth of the normal but none of the SMA or DMD subjects actively generated an "optimal" TI response (defined theoretically as TI greater than 160% control during large delta R and TI less than 75% control during large delta E). This lack of optimal responses, which is the same abnormality exhibited by quadriplegic people, suggests that SMA and DMD also impair human ability to discriminate between large delta R and delta E. These findings support the hypothesis that neuromuscular disorders can lead to disturbances in respiratory perception.     

The role of calcium, diglyceride ester bindings and a synthetic polypeptide in protein kinase C activation

Protein kinase C, which plays a significant role in the polyphosphoinositide pathway of transmembrane signaling, is activated by a large class of extracellular ligands including neurotransmitters, hormones and growth factors. Diacylglycerols are the intracellular mediators of protein kinase C activation. Tumor promoting phorbol esters mimic the diacylglycerol action in binding to the same site. Active diacylglycerols have the 1.2 sn configuration and saturated short chain or unsaturated long chain fatty acids. Alkyl analogs of diacylglycerols were devoid of activity when an ether bond was present in position 1, whereas activity of the alkyl analog in position 2 was retained. Protein kinase C activation and 3H-TPA binding to the enzyme occurred in the presence of 0.5 mM EGTA. Moreover it has been shown in vivo that full activation of the enzyme was obtained in the intact platelets loaded with an excess of Quin 2, prior to stimulation by phorbol esters. A peptide (residues 499-513) was synthesized which enhanced the affinity of protein kinase C for histone. It is suggested that it may be the receptor site for another peptide of the enzyme (residues 19 to 36) which behaves as a pseudosubstrate.     

Myelin basic protein component C1 in increasing concentrations can elicit fusion, aggregation, and fragmentation of myelin-like membranes

Myelin basic protein (MBP) is considered to have a primary role in the formation and maintenance of the myelin sheath. Many studies using artificial vesicle systems of simple lipid composition, and generally small size, have shown that MBP can elicit vesicle fusion, aggregation, or even fragmentation under different conditions. Here, we have studied the effects of increasing concentrations of bovine MBP charge isomer C1 (MBP/C1) on large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) composed of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine (92:8 molar ratio), or with a lipid composition similar to that of the myelin membrane in vivo (Cyt-LUVs). Using absorbance spectrophotometry, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, we have shown that vesicle aggregation and some vesicle fusion occurred upon addition of MBP/C1, and as the molar protein-lipid ratio increased. Fragmentation of Cyt-LUVs was observed at very high protein concentrations. These results showed that the phenomena of vesicle fusion, aggregation, and fragmentation can all be observed in one in vitro system, but were dependent on lipid composition and on the relative proportions of protein and lipid.     

A role for clathrin in the sorting of vacuolar proteins in the Golgi complex of yeast.

We have investigated the role of clathrin in vacuolar protein sorting using yeast strains harboring a temperature-sensitive allele of clathrin heavy chain (chc1-ts). After a 5 min incubation at the non-permissive temperature (37 degrees C), the chc1-ts strains displayed a severe defect in the sorting of lumenal vacuolar proteins. Sorting of a vacuolar membrane protein, alkaline phosphatase, and transport to the surface of a cell wall protein, was not affected at 37 degrees C. In chc1-ts cells incubated at 37 degrees C, secretion of the missorted lumenal vacuolar protein carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) was blocked by the sec1 mutation which prevents fusion of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane. Unexpectedly, chc1-ts cells incubated for extended periods at 37 degrees C regained the ability to sort CPY. Cells carrying deletions of the CHC1 gene (chc1 delta) also sorted CPY to the vacuole even when subjected to temperature shifts. Vacuolar delivery of CPY in chc1 delta cells was not blocked by sec1 suggesting that transport does not occur by secretion and endocytosis. These results provide in vivo evidence that clathrin plays a role in the Golgi complex in sorting of vacuolar proteins from the secretory pathway. With time, however, yeast cells lacking functional clathrin heavy chains are able to adapt in a way that allows restoration of vacuolar protein sorting in the Golgi complex. These conclusions clarify previous studies of chc1 delta cells which raised the possibility that clathrin is not involved in vacuolar protein sorting.     

High-fat diet-induced lipidome perturbations in the cortex,hippocampus, hypothalamus,and olfactory bulb of mice

Given their important role in neuronal function, there has been an increasing focus on altered lipid levels in brain disorders. The effect of a high-fat (HF) diet on the lipid profiles of the cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and olfactory bulb of the mouse brain was investigated using nanoflow ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry in the current study. For 8?weeks, two groups of 5-week-old mice were fed either an HF or normal diet (6 mice from each group analyzed as the F and N groups, respectively). The remaining mice in both groups then received a 4-week normal diet. Each group was then subdivided into two groups for another 4-week HF or normal diet. Quantitative analysis of 270 of the 359 lipids identified from brain tissue revealed that an HF diet significantly affected the brain lipidome in all brain regions that were analyzed. The HF diet significantly increased diacylglycerols, which play a role in insulin resistance in all regions that were analyzed. Although the HF diet increased most lipid species, the majority of phosphatidylserine species were decreased, while lysophosphatidylserine species, with the same acyl chain, were substantially increased. This result can be attributed to increased oxidative stress due to the HF diet. Further, weight-cycling (yo-yo effect) was found more critical for the perturbation of brain lipid profiles than weight gain without a preliminary experience of an HF diet. The present study reveals systematic alterations in brain lipid levels upon HF diet analyzed either by lipid class and molecular levels.     

The lipid environment of the glucagon receptor regulates adenylate cyclase activity.

1. The lipids composition of rat liver plasma membranes was substantially altered by introducing synthetic phosphatidylcholines into the membrane by the techniques of lipid substitution or lipid fusion. 40-60% of the total lipid pool in the modified membranes consisted of a synthetic phosphatidylcholine. 2. Lipid substitution, using cholate to equilibrate the lipid pools, resulted in the irreversible loss of a major part of the adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by F-, GMP-P(NH)P or glucagon. However, fusion with presonicated vesicles of the synethic phosphatidylcholines causes only small losses in adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by the same ligands. 3. The linear form of the Arrhenius plots of adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by F- or GMP-(NH)P was unaltered in all of the membrane preparations modified by substitution or fusion, with very similar activation energies to those observed with the native membrane. The activity of the enzyme therefore appears to be very insensitive to its lipid environment when stimulated by F- or gmp-p(nh)p. 4. in contrast, the break at 28.5 degrees C in the Arrhenius plot of adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by glucagon in the native membrane, was shifted upwards by dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, downwards by dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine, and was abolished by dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine. Very similar shifts in the break point were observed for stimulation by glucagon or des-His-glucagon in combination with F- or GMP-P(NH)P. The break temperatures and activation energies for adenylate cyclase activity were the same in complexes prepared with a phosphatidylcholine by fusion or substitution. 5. The breaks in the Arrhenius plots of adenylate cyclase activity are attributed to lipid phase separations which are shifted in the modified membranes according to the transition temperature of the synthetic phosphatidylcholine. Coupling the receptor to the enzyme by glucagon or des-His-glucagon renders the enzyme sensitive to the lipid environment of the receptor. Spin-label experiments support this interpretation and suggest that the lipid phase separation at 28.5 degrees C in the native membrane may only occur in one half of the bilayer.     

The Effects of 1,2-Diacylglycerols on the Structural Organization of Model Membranes and Their Fusion

Abstract

The effects of synthetic and natural 1,2 diacylglycerols (DAG) on structural organization of lamellar dispersions of phosphatidylcholine (PC) or PC: phosphatidylinositol (PI) mixtures has been studied with the help of NMR spectroscopy. Asymmetric accumulation of natural DAG in two-component model membranes was achieved by their treatment with phospholipase C specific for PI. It was found that high concentrations (20 mol per cent) of synthetic DAG are needed to induce partial lipid bilayer transition from lamellar into hexagonal and/or isotropic phase. Asymmetric accumulation of natural DAG in thionphosphatidylcholine: PI bilayers treated with phospholipase C resulted in modification of bilayer packing at DAG concentrations as low as 1.5 mol per cent and at physiological temperature (37°C). With the help of fluorescence spectroscopy it was shown that formation of DAG in one of membrane layers of large mono-bilayer liposomes results in the membranes destabilization and fusion.     

Expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein C/EBPalpha, beta and delta in rat adipose stromal-vascular cells in vitro.

Stromal-vascular (S-V) cells from rat inguinal fat depots were isolated and cultured in medium containing fetal bovine serum (FBS) and differentiated in defined medium until lipid accumulation was apparent. C/EBPalpha, beta and delta levels were evaluated for different growth conditions and at different times using Western blots. Immediately after isolation C/EBPalpha, beta and delta could not be detected in S-V cells. After seeding for 24 h in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) with FBS, C/EBPalpha, beta and delta could all be detected. Cells at day 1 of culture in insulin, transferrin, triiodothyronine and selenium (ITTS) had increased levels of C/EBPalpha and continued steady high levels to day 6 of culture. Cultures grown in DMEM alone, with no ITTS, showed C/EBPalpha levels similar to ITTS cultures at day 1 and day 3; however, levels diminished after day 3. DMEM cultures also showed lipid accumulation at day 6; however, the number of cells and the amount of lipid cell were reduced from levels observed in ITTS cultures. C/EBPbeta was expressed uniformly throughout the culture period in either DMEM or ITTS cultures while C/EBPdelta expression was higher with DMEM treatment than with ITTS. Treatment of 2 day DMEM cultures with FBS increased levels of C/EBPbeta and delta but significantly reduced levels of C/EBPalpha. Immunocytochemical analysis of S-V cells at day 1 of culture showed a similar percentage of cells stained in DMEM cultures and ITTS cultures. However, by day 6 of culture the percentage of cells staining positively for C/EBPalpha in DMEM had been reduced by one half while in ITTS the percent positive cells remained about the same. Our results indicate that ITTS is not necessary for the induction of C/EBPalpha and accumulation of lipid in S-V cells. However, ITTS is responsible for maintaining C/EBPalpha and enhanced lipid accumulation. Because C/EBPalpha, beta and delta expression occurs very early in cell culture and C/EBPalpha and delta expression continues to increase in DMEM without any apparent inducing agents, our results suggest that these factors may be expressed by the same cells in vivo before being placed in culture. Thus, a large fraction of S-V cells may be further along in the differentiation program than 3T3 cells are when they begin differentiation.     

Defective adipocyte differentiation in mice lacking the C/EBPbeta and/or C/EBPdelta gene.

To investigate the role of C/EBP family members during adipocyte differentiation in vivo, we have generated mice lacking the C/EBPbeta and/or C/EBPdelta by gene targeting. Approximately 85% of C/EBPbeta(-/-).delta(-/-) mice died at the early neonatal stage. By 20 h after birth, brown adipose tissue of the interscapular region in wild-type mice contained many lipid droplets, whereas C/EBPbeta(-/-).delta(-/-) mice did not accumulate droplets. In addition, the epidydimal fat pad weight of surviving adult C/EBPbeta(-/-).delta(-/-) mice was significantly reduced compared with wild-type mice. However, these adipose tissues in C/EBPbeta(-/-).delta(-/-) mice exhibit normal expression of C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma, despite impaired adipogenesis. These results demonstrated that C/EBPbeta and C/EBPdelta have a synergistic role in terminal adipocyte differentiation in vivo. The induction of C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma does not always require C/EBPbeta and C/EBPdelta, but co-expression of C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma is not sufficient for complete adipocyte differentiation in the absence of C/EBPbeta and C/EBPdelta.     

Role of head group structure in the phase behavior of amino phospholipids. 2. Lamellar and nonlamellar phases of unsaturated phosphatidylethanolamine analogues

Three types of analogues of unsaturated phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) have been prepared: phosphatidyl-omega-amino-1-alkanols, N-alkyl-PE's, and C2-alkyl-PE's, with alkyl substitution of carbon-2 of the ethanolamine head group. The physical properties of dioleoyl, dielaidoyl, and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phospholipids with these head groups have been examined by calorimetry, 31P NMR, freeze-fracture electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. N-Alkylation of PE, or substitution of the ethanolamine moiety by 3-amino-1-propanol or 4-amino-1-butanol, decreases the transition temperature of the hydrated gel phase (Tc) and considerably increases the temperature of the lamellar to hexagonal II transition (TH). The pattern of these effects for various PE analogues suggests that head group size and hydrophobicity as well as hydrogen bonding are important determinants of the phase behavior of these lipids. C2-Alkylated PE analogues exhibit several rather surprising properties, notably the ready formation of a quasi-crystalline "high-melting" solid phase even for di-cis-unsaturated species and substantially lower TH values than are observed for the parent PE species. The behavior of these compounds suggests that "hydration forces" can be more important than considerations of lipid "dynamic shape" in predicting the relative stabilities of lamellar vs. nonlamellar phases for at least some zwitterionic phospholipids.     

Characterization of the seed and leaf lipids of high and low linolenic acid flax genotypes

The total seed lipids of four flax (Linum usitatissimum) genotypes, differing markedly in their acyl composition, were extracted and fractionated using column, preparative, and thin-layer chromatography. In the total lipid extract of seeds, the lower linolenate content of the cultivar Glenelg (39.1% compared to that of cv. Croxton (50.5%) was associated with a higher oleate content. Further reductions in linolenate content in the induced mutants of cv. Glenelg, M1722 (17.2%) and "Zero" (1.9%) were accompanied by equivalent increases in linoleate but only minor increases in oleate. Similar changes were observed in the major triacylglycerol fraction of the simple lipids (fatty acid esters of glycerol and sterols), but there was considerable heterogeneity for acyl composition in the minor simple lipid components, including both diacylglycerols and sterol esters, and the complex lipids (glycolipids and phospholipids). The induced mutations substantially reduced linolenate content of all lipid fractions but in no case was it eliminated. Maturation of "Zero" seed at 15/10 degrees C (compared to 24/19 degrees C) increased linoleate and decreased stearate and oleate contents in all lipid fractions. In contrast to seed lipids, the acyl composition of the leaf lipids of the mutant genotypes was the same as those of their parent.