Fluorescent probe studies of normal, persistently infected, rous sarcoma virus-transformed, and trypsinized rat cells

The fluorescent probes pyrene, pyrene butyric acid and N-phenyl 1-naphthylamine were used to study membranes of normal cells, RSV-transformed cells, cells treated with a proteolytic enzyme, and cells persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. The lifetimes of excited pyrene and pyrene butyric acid showed only minor changes when these probes were in normal, transformed, trypsinized or persistently infected cells. However, pyrene, but not pyrene butyric acid, lifetimes are shorter in cell membranes than in homogeneous solvents. The quenching of excited pyrene in cells by quencher molecules was slower than corresponding reactions in homogeneous solutions indicating that the probe was screened from the quenchers by the membrane. However, quenching reactions with the pyrene butyric acid probe were similar in cells and homogeneous solvents. This indicates that pyrene and pyrene butyric acid reside in different lipid regions of the membrane. Transformed and trypsinized cells showed increased membrane fluidity compared to normal and persistently infected cells. Membrane fluidity was determined from the excimer/monomer fluorescence ratios of pyrene, and by the polarization of N-phenyl 1-naphthylamine fluorescence. Several techniques distinguished between normal and transformed or trypsinized cells; however, the only parameter unique to viral transformation was a blue shift of the fluorescence maxima of N-phenyl 1-naphthylamine. This shift reflected a less polar environment for N-phenyl 1-naphthylamine in virus-transformed cells.     

Kinetic processes in Escherichia coli membranes and cells: A laser photolysis study using derivatives of pyrene

Pyrene and several derivatives of pyrene are used to investigate photo-induced kinetic processes in whole cells and membranes extracted from Escherichia coli. A mutant of E. coli was used which, under appropriate growth conditions, produced a complete or incomplete lipopolysaccharide in the outer membrane. The pyrene derivatives used were: pyrene sulfonic acid, pyrene butyric acid and the ester of pyrene butyric acid and 10-hydroxydecanoic acid. The pyrene chromophore was excited by the ultraviolet pulse from a Q switch, frequency-doubled, ruby laser. The lifetimes of the pyrene fluorescence in the presence of the quenchers O₂, thallous ion (TI⁺), I-and CH₃NO₂ were measured and tabulated as second order rate constants. For the most part the quenching rate constants were much lower than the corresponding values observed in simple nonviscous solution, e.g. ethanol. This is interpreted as being due to the location of the probe within the membrane. The membrane inhibits the movement of the quenchers to the excited state. Cell membranes containing complete lipopolysaccharide showed significantly lower quenching rates for the probes pyrene and pyrene sulfonic acid than cell membranes with incomplete lipopolysaccharide. From an analysis of the kinetic data it is suggested that pyrene and pyrene sulfonic acid are located near and under lipopolysaccharide and close to membrane proteins. On the other hand, no effect of lipopolysaccharide composition was observed for the probes pyrene butyric acid and pyrene butyroyl decanoic acid. This may suggest that these probes are located primarily in the lipid part of the membrane. A simple model for the outer membrane of E. coli is suggested that accounts for the observed laser-induced kinetic processes.     

Interaction of S-100b protein with cardiolipin vesicles as monitored by electron spin resonance, pyrene fluorescence and circular dichroism

The interaction of S-100b protein with cardiolipin (CL) vesicles has been studied by electron spin resonance, pyrene fluorescence, and circular dichroism. Electron spin resonance and pyrene fluorescence data indicate that S-100b binds to the polar surface of vesicles Ca2+-independently. In the presence of Ca2+, S-100b potentiates the Ca2+-induced clustering of the polar headgroups of CL molecules and causes a further reduction in the Ca2+-dependent decrease in the lateral mobility of the pyrene inserted into the lipid bilayer, which points to an effect of the protein on the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer through a larger perturbation of its polar surface. Circular dichroism analyses indicate that CL vesicles cause a decrease in the alpha-helical content of S-100b, analogous to that produced by Ca2+ and that the effects of CL vesicles and of Ca2+ on the secondary structure of the protein are supra-additive. By this technique, we found that the affinity of Ca2+ for S-100b increases substantially in the presence of CL vesicles, even in the presence of physiologic concentrations of KCl, suggesting that once S-100b had interacted with CL vesicles it assumes a new conformation in which its Ca2+-binding properties are greatly enhanced. These results are discussed in relation to binding of S-100b proteins to natural membranes, and to a possible involvement of S-100b in the regulation of membrane structural organization.     

Use of pyrene as a luminescence indicator of the viscosity of model and biological membranes

The pyrene movement in a lipid bilayer has been shown to occur not only in the lateral but also transmembrane direction. Within the excited state lifetime the pyrene monomer elevates from the depth to the polar regions of the membrane and emits a luminescence photon. The excimer does not exhibit any marked transmembrane movement while luminescing from the hydrophobic regions. The luminescence quenching efficiency of monomers and excimers depends on the depth of quencher penetration into the membrane. In the lipid bilayer the pyrene luminescence is strongly quenched by molecular oxygen. The pyrene binding to membrane proteins protects it from quenching. A conclusion has been made that the carrying out estimations of membrane viscosity from pyrene luminescence require considerable correction.     

On measuring biomembrane microviscosity using pyrene luminescence in aerobic conditions

The movement of pyrene in a lipid bilayer is shown to occur not only in the lateral but also transmembrane direction. Within the excited state lifetime, the pyrene monomer elevates from the depth to the polar region of the membrane and emits a luminescence photon. The excimer does not exhibit any marked transmembrane movement. The luminescence quenching efficiency of monomers and excimers depends on the depth of penetration of the quencher into the membrane. In the lipid bilayer, pyrene luminescence is strongly quenched by oxygen. The binding of pyrene to membrane proteins protects it from quenching. It has been concluded that the widely used estimations of membrane viscosity from pyrene luminescence intensity are incorrect.     

2H-NMR study and molecular dynamics simulation of the location, alignment, and mobility of pyrene in POPC bilayers

The alignment of pyrene in a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine bilayer was investigated using two different approaches, namely solid-state (2)H-NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Quadrupolar splittings from (2)H-NMR spectra of deuterated pyrene-d(10) in an oriented lipid bilayer give information about the orientation of C-D bonds with respect to the membrane normal. From MD simulations, geometric information is accessible via trajectories. By defining molecular and bond order parameters, the data from MD trajectories and NMR spectra can be compared straightforwardly. To ensure that the results from both methods are comparable, parameters of the experimental and the simulation setup were chosen to be as similar as possible. From simulations, we saw that pyrene prefers a position inside the lipid membrane near the headgroups and has no tendency to diffuse from one monolayer of the membrane to the other. The results from simulation and NMR show that the normal of the molecular plane is aligned nearly perpendicular to the bilayer normal. The long axis of pyrene lies preferentially parallel to the bilayer normal within a range of +/-30 degrees . The results from the two different methods are remarkably consistent. The good agreement can be explained by the fact that the different kind of motions of a pyrene molecule are already averaged within a few nanoseconds, which is the timescale covered by the MD simulation.     

Stabilization of Membrane Bound Enzyme Profiles and Lipid Peroxidation by Withania Somnifera Along with Paclitaxel on Benzo(a)pyrene Induced Experimental Lung Cancer

The present study was aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Withania somnifera along with paclitaxel on lung tumor induced by benzo(a)pyrene in male Swiss albino mice. The levels of ATPase enzymes and lipid peroxidation were evaluated in lung cancer bearing mice, in erythrocyte membrane and tissues. The extent of peroxidation was estimated by measuring the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Simultaneously the activities of different ATPases (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPases, Mg²⁺-ATPases and Ca²⁺-ATPases) were determined. The alterations of these enzyme activities in membrane and tissues were indicative of the tumor formation caused by benzo(a)pyrene (50 mg/kg body weight, orally) in cancer bearing animals. The activities of these enzymes were reversed to near normal control values in animals treated with Withania somnifera (400 mg/kg b.wt, orally) along with paclitaxel (33 mg/kg b.wt, i.p). Treatment with Withania somnifera along with paclitaxel altered these damage mediated through free radicals, and the treatment displays the protective role of these drugs by inhibiting free radical mediated cellular damages. Over, based on the data providing a correlation Withania somnifera along with paclitaxel provide stabilization of membrane bound enzyme profiles and decreased lipid peroxidation against benzo(a)pyrene induced lung cancer in mice.     

细胞色素C和含心磷脂的人工脂膜相互作用

 本文报告以芘为荧光探剂,研究细胞色素C和含心磷脂的人工脂膜的相互作用。1.由于芘和细胞色素C的血红素团之间的能量转移,细胞色素C与心磷脂结合引起芘的单体荧光发射峰(395nm)强度下降。这种淬灭效应受脂膜的相行为影响,在液晶相时淬灭效应小于凝胶相;2.氧化态细胞色素C与还原态相比,对心磷脂结合的视和度稍高;3.在以芘的激发二聚体荧光峰(475nm)强度与单体荧光峰强度之比做为脂膜流动性的指标,发现还原态细胞色素C与含心磷脂脂膜结合后引起流动性增加的效应高于氧化态的结合。     

Mn2+ prevents the Ca2+-induced inhibition of ATP synthesis in brain mitochondria

The differential scanning microcalorimetry and fluorescence methods, using probes ANS and pyrene, have been employed to study thermotropic behaviour of rat liver microsomes in the presence and absence of Mg2+. Addition of Mg2+ yields three partially reversible phase transitions at 18, 27 and 32 degrees C, respectively. A character of Mg2+-induced rearrangements in a membrane and their relation to a catalytic function of a cytochrome P-450-dependent enzymatic system is discussed.     

Ca2+-induced conformational changes in cardiac troponin C as measured by N-(1-pyrene)maleimide fluorescence

Bovine cardiac troponin C was modified by N-(1-pyrene)maleimide at Cys-35 and Cys-84; the Ca2+-induced conformational changes were followed by measuring pyrene fluorescence. In isolated troponin C, the saturation of Ca2+, Mg2+-sites leads to a simultaneous increase in the pyrene monomer as well as to a decrease in the pyrene excimer fluorescence, whereas the saturation of Ca2+-specific sites results in a slight decrease in the fluorescence of pyrene monomer. Troponin T does not influence the dependence of pyrene-troponin C fluorescence on Ca2+ concentration. Within the equimolar complex of troponin C and troponin I, the saturation of Ca2+, Mg2+-sites has no effect on pyrene fluorescence, whereas the saturation of Ca2+-specific sites leads to a simultaneous decrease of both pyrene monomer and pyrene excimer fluorescence. It is supposed that troponin I diminishes the conformational changes in troponin C that are induced by the saturation of Ca2+, Mg2+-sites and enhances the conformational changes induced by the saturation of Ca2+-specific sites of troponin C.     

The study of rous sarcoma virus-transformed baby hamster kidney cells using fluorescent probes.

The fluorescent probes pyrene, pyrene butyric acid and N-phenyl 1-naphthylamine have been used to investigate the changes that accompany in vitro transformation of a baby hamster kidney cell line using Rous sarcoma virus. The fluorescent probes which reside in the membrane were used to compare the changes in microviscosity and polarity of the membranes of normal cells with two transformed cell lines. The spectrofluorimetric data indicate that following transformation the probe N-phenyl 1-naphthylamine resides in a more polar environment. However, using the probe pyrene, the yield of excimer indicates decreased mobility of this probe in the membrane of transformed cells. The data also indicate differences between the two transformed cell lines. Laser photolysis was used to study the lifetime of the pyrene probes and the quenching of the pyrene fluorescence in the membrane by several different quenching molecules. The data indicate differences between the three cell lines and suggest that transformation decreases movement within the membrane.     

Relation of the antimutagenic activity of simple phenols to the number of hydroxyl groups

The influence of mono-phenol, di-resorcinol and tri-pyrogallol hydroxyl groups of simple unsubstituted phenols on the mutagenic potentials of benzo(a)pyrene was studied in vivo (micronuclear test on bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes) and in vitro (test of direct point mutations at V79/HGPRT system induced by metabolic activation by mouse liver microsomal enzymes). The phenols decreased the mutagenic activity of benzo(a)pyrene in in vivo tests, with pyrogallol being the most active, it followed by resorcinol and phenol. The mixtures of benzo(a) pyrene + pyrogallol and benzo(a)pyrene + resorcinol were significantly less mutagenic in in vitro tests than benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene + phenol.     

Pyrene as a membrane depth gauge: wavelength selective fluorescence approach to monitor pyrene localizations in the membrane

We take the advantage of pyrene's unique spectral properties as a reliable polarity indicator to monitor pyrene localizations in the membrane depth by using wavelength selective fluorescence approach. We show that fine structure of pyrene fluorescence emission spectra and excimerization rate in model and native phospholipid membranes depend on the excitation wavelength. This phenomenon is not observed in neat solvents. In membranes, the dependence on the excitation wavelength reflects selective excitation of pyrene molecules located close to the membrane-water polar interface, or deep in the hydrophobic core of the membrane, verified with the aid of pyrene derivatives of fatty acids of various lengths.     

Cystic fibrosis: II. Altered microviscosity of erythrocyte membrane

Erythrocyte membrane fluidity alterations in cystic fibrosis are described. The relative flexibility of the membrane was studied using lipid spin label, i.e. methyl-5-doxylpalmitate (M5DP), and pyrene as a fluorescence probe. It was found that there was a decrease of membrane fluidity in the hydrophobic midzone of the membrane, probed by pyrene, as well as at the hydrophilic surface region, probed by M5DP.     

Effect of cholinergic ligands on the lipids of acetylcholine receptor-rich membrane preparations from torpedo californica

Ion permeation, triggered by ligand-receptor interaction, is associated with the primary events of membrane depolarization at the neuromuscular junction and synaptic connections. To explore the possible sites of ion permeation, the long-lived fluorescent probe pyrene (fluorescence lifetime ～400 nsec) has been inserted into the lipid phase of acetylcholine receptor-rich membrane (AcChR-M) preparations from Torpedo californica. The pyrene probe is susceptible to both fluidity and permeability changes in the lipid bilayer. These changes are detected by variations in the rate of decay of the excited singlet state of pyrene after pulsation with a 10-nsec ruby laser flash. Variations of these lifetimes in the membrane preparations alone or in the presence of quenchers show that binding of cholinergic agonists and antagonists, neurotoxins, and local anesthetics to AcChR-M produces varying effects on the properties of the pyrene probe in the lipid phase. It is concluded that binding of cholinergic ligands to the receptor does not significantly alter the fluidity or permeability of the lipids in the bilayer in contact with pyrene. On the other hand, local anesthetics do affect these properties.     

A method for measuring membrane microviscosity using pyrene excimer formation. Application to human erythrocyte ghosts.

In order to determine the microviscosity of human erythrocyte membrane suspensions, a method has been developed which is based on pyrene excimer formation. First, measurements of partitioning of pyrene into membranes, in conjunction with known values for the volume of the lipid compartment of erythrocyte ghosts are used to determine the concentration of pyrene in the membrane lipid. Secondly, reported measurements of the diffusion constants of aromatic hydrocarbons similar in structure to pyrene, are used to derive an empirical equation relating solvent viscosity and the diffusion constant of pyrene. Then, measurements of pyrene excimer formation in a series of solvents ranging up to several poise in viscosity are used to determine that the interaction diameter of the excimer formation reaction is 3 +/- 1 A. Finally all these data are brought together in order to conclude that the viscosity of the lipid in the human erythrocyte ghost is 8.0, 4.0 and 1.6 P at 10, 25 and 40 degrees C, respectively.     

Characterization of interaction between Tb3+ and porcine intestinal brush-border membranes

Effects of ionic strength and temperature on the interaction between Tb3+ and porcine intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles were studied. When Tb3+ was added to the vesicle suspension, Tb3+ fluorescence increased with increasing concentration of Tb3+, showing a saturation. The apparent dissociation constant of one of at least two components of this binding reaction was estimated to be about 12.5 microM at 25 degrees C, pH 7.4. But the affinity of Tb3+ for the membrane vesicles was variable with changes of ionic strength and temperature. The affinity was lowered by addition of KCl to medium and by increase of temperature above 30 degrees C. In addition, temperature-induced change in the affinity of Tb3+ for the membranes was reversible over a temperature range from 13 to 46 degrees C. Temperature-dependence profiles of the excimer formation efficiency of pyrene-labeled membranes and of the harmonic mean of the rotational relaxation times of pyrene molecules in the membranes revealed that the phase transition of the membrane lipids occurs at about 30 degrees C. Based on these results, characteristics of Tb3+ binding to the membranes are discussed in relation to the nature of lipid phase and surface charges of the membranes.     

Pyrene and Phenanthrene Influence on Soil Microbial Populations

Two studies were conducted to evaluate microbial populations in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Captina silt loam was freshly exposed to (1) 0 or 2000?mg pyrene/kg and sampled after 10- and 61-wk incubation and (2) 0 or 505?mg pyrene + 445?mg phenanthrene/kg and sampled after a 21-wk incubation. Microbial numbers were determined by plate-count techniques. Isolated bacteria, selected degraders, and wholesoil extracts were analyzed by fatty acid methyl ester analysis (FAME). In the pyrene experiment, pyrene did not affect total bacterial or fungal numbers, but pyrene degraders increased from undetectable levels to 7.09 log₁₀ degraders/g in the contaminated soil. The FAME analysis of bacterial isolates detected no pyrene effect, but wholesoil FAME indicated an increase in the contaminated soil of a fatty acid characteristic of protozoa and a major fatty acid detected in isolated degraders. In the pyrene + phenanthrene experiment, the contaminants had no impact on bacterial, fungal, or actinomycete numbers but increased degrader numbers. No effect of pyrene + phenanthrene was detected by isolate FAME, but whole-soil FAME indicated an effect similar to that in the pyrene experiment. The results indicate that pyrene, although not impacting microbial numbers, may have altered the soil microbial composition and that Captina silt loam can develop an effective degrader population under tested conditions.     

Pyrene and Phenanthrene Influence on Soil Microbial Populations

Two studies were conducted to evaluate microbial populations in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Captina silt loam was freshly exposed to (1) 0 or 2000 mg pyrene/kg and sampled after 10- and 61-wk incubation and (2) 0 or 505 mg pyrene + 445 mg phenanthrene/kg and sampled after a 21-wk incubation. Microbial numbers were determined by plate-count techniques. Isolated bacteria, selected degraders, and wholesoil extracts were analyzed by fatty acid methyl ester analysis (FAME). In the pyrene experiment, pyrene did not affect total bacterial or fungal numbers, but pyrene degraders increased from undetectable levels to 7.09 log₁₀ degraders/g in the contaminated soil. The FAME analysis of bacterial isolates detected no pyrene effect, but wholesoil FAME indicated an increase in the contaminated soil of a fatty acid characteristic of protozoa and a major fatty acid detected in isolated degraders. In the pyrene + phenanthrene experiment, the contaminants had no impact on bacterial, fungal, or actinomycete numbers but increased degrader numbers. No effect of pyrene + phenanthrene was detected by isolate FAME, but whole-soil FAME indicated an effect similar to that in the pyrene experiment. The results indicate that pyrene, although not impacting microbial numbers, may have altered the soil microbial composition and that Captina silt loam can develop an effective degrader population under tested conditions.     

Effect of sealing on the incorporation of pyrene in goat erythrocyte ghosts — A fluorescence study

The incorporation of pyrene within the membrane interior of goat erythrocyte ghost has been estimated from its fluorescence spectrum. The excimer to monomer fluorescence intensity ratio of embedded pyrene is a function of the fluidity of its environment and the magnitude of its incorporation. Our study shows that this ratio is considerably less (30%) in a pre-sealed ghost than in the non-sealed ghost revealing that the site of incorporation of the probe is indeed the hydrophobic interior of the membrane; as in the later case, the probe has access to the membrane interior from both sides of the membrane. Our study on kinetics of molecular exchange indicates a very fast (of the order of seconds) transfer rate of pyrene from probed to unprobed erythrocyte ghosts through the aqueous phase rather than actual fusion of the membranes.