Modelling the phase equilibria in two-component membranes of phospholipids with different acyl-chain lengths

A phenomenological model is proposed to describe the membrane phase equilibria in binary mixtures of saturated phospholipids with different acyl-chain lengths. The model is formulated in terms of thermodynamic and thermomechanic properties of the pure lipid bilayers, specifically the chain-melting transition temperature and enthalpy, the hydrophobic bilayer thickness, and the lateral area compressibility modulus. The model is studied using a regular solution theory made up of a set of interaction parameters which directly identify that part of the lipid-lipid interaction which is due to hydrophobic mismatch of saturated chains of different lengths. It is then found that there is effectively a single universal interaction parameter which, in the full composition range, describes the phase equilibria in mixtures of DMPC/DPPC, DPPC/DSPC, DMPC/DSPC, and DLPC/DSPC, in excellent agreement with experimental measurements. The model is used to predict the variation with temperature and composition of the specific heat, as well as of the average membrane thickness and area in each of the phases. Given the value of the universal interaction parameter, the model is then used to predict the phase diagrams of binary mixtures of phospholipids with different polar head groups, e.g., DPPC/DPPE, DMPC/DPPE and DMPE/DSPC. By comparison with experimental results for these mixtures, it is shown that difference in acyl-chain lengths gives the major contribution to deviation from ideal mixing. Application of the model to mixtures with non-saturated lipids is also discussed.     

Phospholipid miscibility in ternary mixtures

The gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition of aqueous dispersions of phospholipid mixtures was investigated by means of the repartition of the spin label 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-I-oxyl between aqueous space and lipid hydrocarbon region. The dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC)/dibehenoylphosphatidylcholine (DBPC) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/DBPC phase diagrams indicate gel phase immiscibility, whereas the distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC)/DBPC phase diagram indicates non-ideal gel phase miscibility at low DBPC molar fractions. Aqueous dispersions of DMPC/DPPC/DBPC ternary mixtures show two distinct phase transitions, the first associated with the melting of a DMPC/DPPC phase and the second with the melting of a DBPC phase. Aqueous dispersions of DMPC/DSPC/DBPC ternary mixtures show to phase transitions at low DSPC molar fractions; the first is probably associated with the melting of a DMPC/DSPC phase, and the second with the melting of a DBPC/DSPC phase. At high DSPC molar fractions, only one phase transition is observed; this suggests that all the lipids are mixed in gel state membranes.     

Interaction of a bacterial monorhamnolipid secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa MA01 with phosphatidylcholine model membranes

This work presents a biophysical study on the interactions of a monorhamnolipid (monoRL) produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa MA01 with model phosphatidylcholine membranes. The molecular characterization of the biological activities, including the modulation of phospholipid membranes structure, of this monoRL biosurfactant is of importance for the validation of this particular Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain as a useful biosurfactant producer. The marked amphiphilic structure of monoRL is expected to result in strong interactions with the phospholipid constituents of membrane bilayers. Incorporation of monoRL into DMPC completely abolished the pretransition, and the main gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition was progressively broadened and shifted to lower temperatures, as observed by differential scanning calorimetry. Partial phase diagrams for DPPC and DSPC indicated near-ideal behavior. However, the DMPC diagram indicated fluid phase immiscibility. X-ray diffraction showed and apparent increase in d-value for DPPC containing monoRL, which might be the result of an effective increase in the bilayer thickness, or in the thickness of the hydration layer between bilayers. FTIR indicated that interaction of monoRL with the phospholipid acyl chains did not result in a large additional disordering of the acyl chain region of the fluid bilayer. Analysis of the CO stretching band of DPPC indicated an important effect of monoRL on the interfacial region of phosphatidylcholine bilayers, which might contribute to explain some of the biological activities of this glycolipid.     

A new method for determining the phase in the X-ray diffraction structure analysis of phosphatidylcholine/alcohol

A new method based on a sampling theorem is proposed for determining the phase in the X-ray diffraction analysis of the structure of phospholipid systems. The thickness of a lipid layer is changed by changing the length of hydrocarbon chains in order to rebuild the continuous transform from the scattering amplitudes. By employing this method, the phases were accurately determined in a structure analysis of nine phospholipid/alcohol systems at the interdigitated gel phase. The nine systems are dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine(DMPC)/propanol, DPPC/methanol, DPPC/ethanol, DPPC/propanol, DPPC/butanol, distearoylphosphatidylcholine(DSPC)/methanol, DSPC/ethanol, DSPC/propanol and DSPC butanol systems.     

Interactions of angiotensin II non-peptide AT(1) antagonist losartan with phospholipid membranes studied by combined use of differential scanning calorimetry and electron spin resonance spectroscopy.

We used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy to investigate the interactions of Losartan, a potent, orally active Angiotensin II AT(1) receptor antagonist with phospholipid membranes. DSC results showed that Losartan sensitively affected the chain-melting behavior of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer membranes. ESR spectroscopy showed that phosphatidylcholines spin-labeled at the 5-position of the sn-2 acyl chain (n-PCSL with n=5), incorporated either in DMPC or DPPC bilayers containing Losartan, were restricted in motion both in the gel and in the liquid-crystalline membrane phases, indicating a location of the antagonist close to the interfacial region of the phosphatidylcholine bilayer. At high drug concentrations (mole fraction >/= x=0.60), the decrease in chain mobility registered by 5-PCSL in fluid-phase membranes is smaller than that found at lower concentrations, whereas that registered by 14-PCSL is further increased. This indicates a different mode of interaction with Losartan at high concentrations, possibly arising from a location deeper within the bilayer. Additionally, Losartan reduced the spin-spin broadening of 12-PCSL spin labels in the gel-phase of DMPC and DPPC bilayers. As a conclusion, our study has shown that Losartan interacts with phospholipid membranes by affecting both their thermotropic behavior and molecular mobility.     

A region-matched hydrophobic interaction between melittin and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine in a ternary mixture of phosphatidylcholines

Interaction of melittin with phosphatidylcholine molecules in pure vesicles, binary mixtures and a ternary mixture of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine IDMPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. Melittin binds preferentially with DMPC, and results in segregation of DMPC in binary mixtures of DMPC/DPPC and DMPC/DSPC and in a ternary mixture of DMPC/DPPC/DSPC. The results indicate that the hydrophobic part of peptide interacts preferentially with the phospholipid which has the same size of hydrophobic region or fatty acyl chains.     

Hydrophobic matching controls the tilt and stability of the dimeric platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) β transmembrane segment

The platelet-derived growth factor receptor β is a member of the cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase family and dimerizes upon activation. We determined the structure of the transmembrane segment in dodecylphosphocholine micelles by liquid-state NMR and found that it forms a stable left-handed helical dimer. Solid-state NMR and oriented circular dichroism were used to measure the tilt angle of the helical segments in macroscopically aligned model membranes with different acyl chain lengths. Both methods showed that decreasing bilayer thickness (DEPC-POPC-DMPC) led to an increase in the helix tilt angle from 10° to 30° with respect to the bilayer normal. At the same time, reconstitution of the comparatively long hydrophobic segment became less effective, eventually resulting in complete protein aggregation in the short-chain lipid DLPC. Unrestrained molecular dynamics simulations of the dimer were carried out in explicit lipid bilayers (DEPC, POPC, DMPC, sphingomyelin), confirming the observed dependence of the helix tilt angle on bilayer thickness. Notably, molecular dynamics revealed that the left-handed dimer gets tilted en bloc, whereas conformational transitions to alternative (e.g. right-handed dimeric) states were not supported. The experimental data along with the simulation results demonstrate a pronounced interplay between the platelet-directed growth factor receptor β transmembrane segment and the bilayer thickness. The effect of hydrophobic mismatch might play a key role in the redistribution and activation of the receptor within different lipid microdomains of the plasma membrane in vivo.     

A calorimetry and deuterium NMR study of mixed model membranes of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleylphosphatidylcholine and saturated phosphatidylcholines

Binary phase diagrams have been constructed from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data for the systems 1-palmitoyl-2-oleylphosphatidylcholine (POPC)/dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), POPC/dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and POPC/distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC). Mixtures of POPC with DMPC exhibit complete miscibility in the gel and liquid crystalline states. Mixtures of POPC with DPPC or with DSPC exhibit gel phase immiscibility over the composition range 0-75% DPPC (or DSPC). These results, when taken together with previous studies of mixtures of phosphatidylcholines, are consistent with the hypothesis that PCs whose order-disorder transition temperatures (Tm values) differ by less than 33 deg. C exhibit gel state miscibility. Those whose Tm values differ by more than 33 deg. C exhibit gel state immiscibility. 2H-NMR spectroscopy has been used to further study mixed model membranes composed of POPC and DPPC, in which either lipid has been labeled with deuterium in the 2-, 10- or 16-position of the palmitoyl chain(s) or in the N-methyls of the choline head group. POPC/DPPC mixtures in the liquid crystalline state are intermediate in order between pure POPC and DPPC at the same temperature. The POPC palmitoyl chain is always more disordered than the palmitoyl chains of DPPC in liquid crystalline POPC/DPPC mixtures. This is attributed to the fact that a POPC palmitoyl chain is constrained by direct bonding to have at least one oleyl chain among its nearest neighbors, while a DPPC palmitoyl chain must have at least one neighboring palmitoyl chain. When liquid crystalline POPC, DPPC and POPC/DPPC mixtures are compared at a reduced temperature (relative to the acyl chain order-disorder transition), POPC/DPPC mixtures are more disordered than predicted from the behavior of the pure components, in agreement with enthalpy data derived from DSC studies. Within the temperature range of the broad phase transition of 1:1 POPC/DPPC, a superposition of gel and liquid crystalline spectra is observed for 1:1 POPC/[2H]DPPC, while 1:1[2H]POPC/DPPC exhibits only a liquid crystalline spectrum. Thus, at temperatures within the phase transition region, the liquid crystalline phase is POPC-rich and the gel phase is DPPC-rich. Comparison of the liquid crystalline quadrupole splittings within the thermal phase transition range suggests that mixing of the residual liquid crystalline POPC and DPPC is highly non-ideal.     

Membrane fluidity as affected by the organochlorine insecticide DDT

Fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) was used to study the interaction of DDT with model and native membranes. DDT decreases the phase transition midpoint temperature (Tm) of liposomes reconstituted with dimyristoyl-, dipalmitoyl- and distearoylphosphatidylcholines (DMPC, DPPC and DSPC), and broadens the thermotropic profile of the transition. The effects of DDT are concentration dependent and are more pronounced in bilayers of short-chain lipids, e.g., DMPC. The insecticide fails to alter DPH polarization in the fluid phase of the above lipids. Similar effects were observed in binary mixtures of DMPC plus DPPC. Furthermore, DDT alters the single broad transition of the equimolar mixture of DMPC plus DSPC into a biphasic transition. The lower temperature component has a midpoint at 25 degrees C, i.e., a value close to the Tm of DMPC. DDT inhibits to some extent the cholesterol-induced ordering in DMPC bilayers and high cholesterol concentrations (greater than or equal to 30 mol%) do not prevent insecticide interaction, conversely to the effect observed for lindane (Antunes-Madeira, M.C. and Madeira, V.M.C. (1989) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 982, 161-166). Apparently, the bilayer order is not disturbed by DDT in fluid native membranes of mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum, but moderate disordering effects are noticed in membranes enriched in cholesterol, namely, brain microsomes and erythrocytes.     

Topology of gel-phase domains and lipid mixing properties in phase-separated two-component phosphatidylcholine bilayers.

The influence of the lipid mixing properties on the lateral organization in a two-component, two-phase phosphatidylcholine bilayer was investigated using both an experimental (fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP)) and a simulated (Monte Carlo) approach. With the FRAP technique, we have examined binary mixtures of 1-stearoyl-2-capryl-phosphatidylcholine/1,2-distearoyl-phosphat idylcholine (C18C10PC/DSPC), and 1-stearoyl-2-capryl-phosphatidylcholine/1,2-dipalmitoyl-phospha tid ylcholine (C18C10PC/DPPC). Comparison with the 1,2-dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine/1,2-distearoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC/DSPC) previously investigated by FRAP by Vaz and co-workers (Biophys. J., 1989, 56:869-876) shows that the gel phase domains become more effective in restricting the diffusion coefficient when the ideality of the mixture increases (i.e., in the order C18C10PC/DSPC-->C18C10PC/DPPC-->DMPC/DSPC). However, an increased lipid miscibility is accompanied by an increasing compositional dependence: the higher the proportion of the high-temperature melting component, the less efficient the gel phase is in compartmentalizing the diffusion plane, a trend that is best accounted for by a variation of the gel phase domain shape rather than size. Computer-simulated fluorescence recoveries obtained in a matrix obstructed with obstacle aggregates of various fractal dimension demonstrate that: 1) for a given obstacle size and area fraction, the relative diffusion coefficient increases linearly with the obstacle fractal dimension and 2) aggregates with a lower fractal dimension are more efficient in compartmentalizing the diffusion plane. Comparison of the simulated with the experimental mobile fractions strongly suggests that the fractal dimension of the gel phase domains increases with the proportion of high-temperature melting component in DMPC/DSPC and (slightly) in C18C10PC/DPPC.     

Interaction of a synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminus of canine distemper virus fusion protein with phospholipid vesicles: a biophysical study

The F protein of canine distemper virus (CDV) is a classic type I glycoprotein formed by two polypeptides, F1 and F2. The N-terminal regions of the F1 polypeptides of CDV, measles virus and other paramyxoviruses present moderate to high homology, supporting the existence of a high conservation within these structures, which emphasises its role in viral-host cell membrane fusion. This N-terminal polypeptide is usually termed the fusion peptide. The fusion peptides of most viral fusion-mediating glycoproteins contain a high proportion of hydrophobic amino acids, which facilitates its insertion into target membranes during fusion. In this work we report on the interaction of a 31-residue synthetic peptide (FP31) corresponding to the N terminus of CDV F1 protein with phospholipid membranes composed of various phospholipids, as studied by means of various biophysical techniques. FTIR investigation of FP31 secondary structure in aqueous medium and in membranes resulted in a major proportion of alpha-helical structure which increased upon membrane insertion. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the presence of concentrations of FP31 as low as 0.1 mol%, in mixtures with L-alpha-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and L-alpha-distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), already affected the thermotropic properties of the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition. In mixtures with the three lipids, increasing the concentration of peptide made the pretransition to disappear, and lowered and broadened the main transition. This effect was slightly stronger as the acyl chain length of the phospholipid grew larger. In the corresponding partial phase diagrams, no immiscibilities or critical points were observed. FTIR showed that incorporation of 1 mol% of peptide in DPPC shifted the antisymmetric and symmetric CH2 stretching bands to higher values, indicating the existence of an additional disordering of the acyl chain region of the fluid bilayer. FTIR studies of the Cz=O stretching band indicated that incorporation of FP31 into phosphatidylcholine membranes produced a strong dehydration of the polar part of the bilayer. In mixtures with L-alpha-dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DEPE), increasing FP31 concentrations broadened and shifted to lower temperatures the lamellar to hexagonal-HII phase transition, indicating that this peptide destabilized the bilayer and promoted formation of the hexagonal-HII phase. The results are discussed in terms of lipid-peptide hydrophobic mismatch and its influence on the role of the N-terminal polypeptide of CDV F1 protein in viral membrane fusion.     

Changes in membrane fluidity evoked by organophosphorus insecticide bromfenvinfos and its methylated analogue

The interaction of organophosphorus insecticides bromfenvinfos and methyl bromfenvinfos with model and native membranes was investigated by the fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), a probe located in the hydrophobic core of the bilayer and 1,3-bis-(1-pyrene)propane, a probe distributed in the outer region of the bilayer. DPH reported a broadening of the transition profile and solidifying effects in the fluid phase of liposomes formed from dimyristoyl (DMPC), dipalmitoyl (DPPC), and distearoyl (DSPC) phosphatidylcholine in the presence of the insecticides. A shift of the transition temperature towards a lower temperature was observed in DPPC- and DSPC-bromfenvinfos-treated vesicles. Py(3)Py detected an ordering effect of the insecticides in the fluid state of the lipids and abolished pre-transition in DPPC and DSPC vesicles. These results suggest that the insecticides localize in the co-operative region of the bilayer. Cholesterol added to DMPC decreased the influence of the insecticides as reported by both DPH and Py(3)Py. The effect of the insecticides on the fluidity of some native membranes, namely erythrocytes, lymphocytes, brain microsomes, and sarcoplasmic reticulum, depended on the cholesterol content in these membranes, the higher the cholesterol content, the smaller the solidifying effect. The physical mechanism of action of the insecticides on membrane lipids can be similar to that of cholesterol. All observed effects were more pronounced for bromfenvinfos than for its methylated analogue which correlates with the toxicity of these compounds for mammals.     

Membrane fluidity as affected by the insecticide lindane

Fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) was used to study the interaction of lindane with model and native membranes. Lindane disorders the gel phase of liposomes reconstituted with dimyristoyl-, dipalmitoyl- and distearoylphosphatidylcholines (DMPC, DPPC and DSPC), since it broadens and shifts the main phase transition, but no apparent effect is detected in the fluid phase. These effects of lindane are more pronounced in bilayers of short-chain lipids, e.g., DMPC. In equimolar mixtures containing DMPC and DSPC, lindane preferentially interacts with the more fluid lipid species inducing lateral phase separations. However, in mixtures of DMPC and DPPC, the insecticide only broadens and shifts the main phase transition, i.e., an effect similar to that observed in bilayers of pure lipids. Lindane has no apparent effect in DMPC bilayers enriched with high cholesterol content (greater than or equal to 30 mol%), whereas disordering effects can still be detected in bilayers with low cholesterol (less than 30 mol%). Apparently, lindane does not perturb the fluid phase of representative native membranes, namely, mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, myelin, brain microsomes and erythrocytes in agreement with the results obtained in fluid phospholipid bilayers, despite the reasonable incorporation of the insecticide in these membranes, as previously reported (Antunes-Madeira, M.C. and Madeira, V.M.C. (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 820, 165-172).     

Phospholipase A(2) activity towards vesicles of DPPC and DMPC-DSPC containing small amounts of SMPC.

Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) is an interfacially active enzyme whose hydrolytic activity is known to be enhanced in one-component phospholipid bilayer substrates exhibiting dynamic micro-heterogeneity. In this study the activity of PLA(2) towards large unilamellar vesicles composed of DPPC:SMPC and DMPC:DSPC:SMPC is investigated using fluorescence and HPLC techniques. Phase diagrams of the mixtures are established by differential scanning calorimetry and the PLA(2) activity, monitored by the lag time, is correlated with the phase behavior of the mixtures. In addition, the degree of lipid hydrolysis in the DMPC:DSPC:SMPC lipid mixtures is detected by HPLC. The PLA(2) activity is found to be significantly increased in the temperature range of the coexistence region where the lipid mixtures exhibit lateral gel-fluid phase separation. Furthermore, in the entire temperature range it is demonstrated that PLA(2) preferentially hydrolyzes the short chain DMPC lipid. This discriminative effect becomes less pronounced when the asymmetric lipid SMPC is present in the lipid substrate. Inclusion of SMPC into either DPPC or DMPC:DSPC vesicles prolongs the lag time. The results clearly show that the PLA(2) activity is significantly enhanced by lipid bilayer micro-heterogeneity in both one-component and multi-component lipid bilayer substrates. The PLA(2) activity measurements are discussed in terms of dynamic gel-fluid lipid domain formation due to density fluctuations and static lipid domain formation due to gel-fluid phase separation.     

Using micropatterned lipid bilayer arrays to measure the effect of membrane composition on merocyanine 540 binding

The lipophilic dye merocyanine 540 (MC540) was used to model small molecule-membrane interactions using micropatterned lipid bilayer arrays (MLBAs) prepared using a 3D Continuous Flow Microspotter (CFM). Fluorescence microscopy was used to monitor MC540 binding to fifteen different bilayer compositions simultaneously. MC540 fluorescence was two times greater for bilayers composed of liquid-crystalline (l.c.) phase lipids (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC),1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (SOPC), and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)) compared to bilayers in the gel phase (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC)). The effect cholesterol (CHO) had on MC540 binding to the membrane was found to be dependent on the lipid component; cholesterol decreased MC540 binding in DMPC, DPPC and DSPC bilayers while having little to no effect on the remaining l.c. phase lipids. MC540 fluorescence was also lowered when 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine (sodium salt) (DOPS) was incorporated into DOPC bilayers. The increase in the surface charge density appears to decrease the occurrence of highly fluorescent monomers and increase the formation of weakly fluorescent dimers via electrostatic repulsion. This paper demonstrates that MLBAs are a useful tool for preparing high density reproducible bilayer arrays to study small molecule-membrane interactions in a high-throughput manner.     

A differential scanning calorimetry study of phosphocholines mixed with paclitaxel and its bromoacylated taxanes

High sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to investigate the thermotropic phase properties of binary mixtures of disaturated phosphocholines (PCs) and alpha-bromoacyl taxane derivatives. The alpha-bromoacyl taxanes were synthesized as hydrolyzable hydrophobic prodrugs of paclitaxel. The PCs used were 1, 2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidyl-choline (DMPC), 1, 2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and 1, 2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC). The bromoacyl chain lengths of the taxane prodrugs were varied from 6 to 12 or 16 carbons. For comparison, paclitaxel and PC mixtures were also examined. DSC data from DPPC and bromoacyl taxane mixtures showed a complete abolition of the pretransition and significant broadening of the main phase transition with increasing amounts of bromoacyl taxane prodrugs. The effects were more pronounced with the long-chain compared to the short-chain prodrugs. Under equivalent DSC conditions, the short-chain DMPC showed greater changes in thermotropic phase behavior than with DPPC on taxane addition, suggesting an enhanced degree of association with the fluid-type bilayers. Under similar conditions, the long-chain DSPC bilayers showed a far less significant change in phase behavior on taxane addition than DPPC. These changes were also chain length-dependent for both the PCs and the taxane prodrugs. In contrast, PC and paclitaxel (lacking the acyl chain) mixtures under similar conditions showed insignificant changes in the endotherms, suggesting only slight insertion of the molecule into the PC bilayers. From the DSC data it is apparent that taxane prodrugs solvated in DMPC bilayers more than in DPPC and DSPC bilayers, and taxane prodrugs with longer acyl chains were able to associate with PCs better than those with shorter chain prodrugs. DSC data also suggest that paclitaxel was poorly associated with any of the PCs. In general, the amount of taxane association with bilayers decreased in order: DMPC > DPPC > DSPC. In contrast, the transition enthalpy (DeltaH) of DMPC, DPPC, and DSPC mixtures with paclitaxel showed significantly lower enthalpies than with taxane prodrugs. Taken together, the DSC data suggest that the acyl chains of paclitaxel prodrugs have some access into the bilayers via alignment with the acyl chain of the PC component.     

ESR studies of spin-labeled membranes aligned by isopotential spin-dry ultracentrifugation: lipid-protein interactions.

Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies have been performed on spin-labeled model membranes aligned using the isopotential spin-dry ultracentrifugation (ISDU) method of Clark and Rothschild. This method relies on sedimentation of the membrane fragments onto a gravitational isopotential surface with simultaneous evaporation of the solvent in a vacuum ultracentrifuge to promote alignment. The degree of alignment obtainable using ISDU, as monitored by ESR measurements of molecular ordering for both lipid (16-PC) and cholestane spin labels (CSL), in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) model membranes compares favorably with that obtainable by pressure-annealing. The much gentler conditions under which membranes may be aligned by ISDU greatly extends the range of macroscopically aligned membrane samples that may be investigated by ESR. We report the first ESR study of an integral membrane protein, bacteriorhodopsin (BR) in well-aligned multilayers. We have also examined ISDU-aligned DPPC multilayers incorporating a short peptide gramicidin A' (GA), with higher water content than previously studied. 0.24 mol% BR/DPPC membranes with CSL probe show two distinct components, primarily in the gel phase, which can be attributed to bulk and boundary regions of the bilayer. The boundary regions show sharply decreased molecular ordering and spectral effects comparable to those observed from 2 mol% GA/DPPC membranes. The boundary regions for both BR and GA also exhibit increased fluidity as monitored by the rotational diffusion rates. The high water content of the GA/DPPC membranes reduces the disordering effect as evidenced by the reduced populations of the disordered components. The ESR spectra obtained slightly below the main phase transition of DPPC from both the peptide- and protein-containing membranes reveals a new component with increased ordering of the lipids associated with the peptide or protein. This increase coincides with a broad endothermic peak in the DSC, suggesting a disaggregation of both the peptide and the protein before the main phase transition of the lipid. Detailed simulations of the multicomponent ESR spectra have been performed by the latest nonlinear least-squares methods, which have helped to clarify the spectral interpretations. It is found that the simulations of ESR spectra from CSL in the gel phase for all the lipid membranes studied could be significantly improved by utilizing a model with CSL molecules existing as both hydrogen-bonded to the bilayer interface and non-hydrogen-bonded within the bilayer.     

A correlation between lipid domain shape and binary phospholipid mixture composition in free standing bilayers: A two-photon fluorescence microscopy study

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) composed of different phospholipid binary mixtures were studied at different temperatures, by a method combining the sectioning capability of the two-photon excitation fluorescence microscope and the partition and spectral properties of 6-dodecanoyl-2-dimethylamino-naphthalene (Laurdan) and Lissamine rhodamine B 1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (N-Rh-DPPE). We analyzed and compared fluorescence images of GUVs composed of 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1, 2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC/DPPC), 1, 2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1, 2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC/DSPC), 1, 2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1, 2-diarachidoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC/DAPC), 1, 2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1, 2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC/DSPC) (1:1 mol/mol in all cases), and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine/1, 2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPE/DMPC) (7:3 mol/mol) at temperatures corresponding to the fluid phase and the fluid-solid phase coexistence. In addition, we studied the solid-solid temperature regime for the DMPC/DSPC and DMPE/DMPC mixtures. From the Laurdan intensity images the generalized polarization function (GP) was calculated at different temperatures to characterize the phase state of the lipid domains. We found a homogeneous fluorescence distribution in the GUV images at temperatures corresponding to the fluid region for all of the lipid mixtures. At temperatures corresponding to phase coexistence we observed concurrent fluid and solid domains in the GUVs independent of the lipid mixture. In all cases the lipid solid domains expanded and migrated around the vesicle surface as we decreased the temperature. The migration of the solid domains decreased dramatically at temperatures close to the solid-fluid-->solid phase transition. For the DLPC-containing mixtures, the solid domains showed line, quasicircular, and dendritic shapes as the difference in the hydrophobic chain length between the components of the binary mixture increases. In addition, for the saturated PC-containing mixtures, we found a linear relationship between the GP values for the fluid and solid domains and the difference between the hydrophobic chain length of the binary mixture components. Specifically, at the phase coexistence temperature region the difference in the GP values, associated with the fluid and solid domains, increases as the difference in the chain length of the binary mixture component increases. This last finding suggests that in the solid-phase domains, the local concentration of the low melting temperature phospholipid component increases as the hydrophobic mismatch decreases. At the phase coexistence temperature regime and based on the Laurdan GP data, we observe that when the hydrophobic mismatch is 8 (DLPC/DAPC), the concentration of the low melting temperature phospholipid component in the solid domains is negligible. This last observation extends to the saturated PE/PC mixtures at the phase coexistence temperature range. For the DMPC/DSPC we found that the nonfluorescent solid regions gradually disappear in the solid temperature regime of the phase diagram, suggesting lipid miscibility. This last result is in contrast with that found for DMPE/DMPC mixtures, where the solid domains remain on the GUV surface at temperatures corresponding to that of the solid region. In all cases the solid domains span the inner and outer leaflets of the membrane, suggesting a strong coupling between the inner and outer monolayers of the lipid membrane. This last finding extends previous observations of GUVs composed of DPPE/DPPC and DLPC/DPPC mixtures (, Biophys. J. 78:290-305).     

Phospholipase C and the physical states of polar head groups of lipids

Summary Activity of phospholipase C fromClostridium perfringens on liposomes made fromsn-3-phosphatidylcholine, dimyristoyl (DMPC), dipalmitoyl (DPPC) or distearoyl (DSPC) was measured at various temperatures and was correlated with their gel/liquid-crystalline phase transitions (T _c : 23, 41.5, 52°C for DMPC, DPPC, DSPC, respectively). In all cases, the activity of phospholipase C was high in the gel phases of the substrates and was almost zero in their liquid-crystalline phases. Fluorescence depolarization measurements of N-dansyl-sn-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DPE) and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) incorporated into the liposomes showed that both the head group and the alkyl chains of the lipids were immobilized in the gel phases but were highly mobile in the liquid-crystalline phase. These results indicate that the rotational mobility of lipids (both of the head groups and the alkyl chains) was not a major factor in the phospholipase C reaction. It is inferred that some electrostatic and/or hydrophobic interactions might play important roles in regulation of the phospholipase C activity.     

Ether phosphatidylcholines: comparison of miscibility with ester phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelin, vesicle fusion, and association with apolipoprotein A-I

Nonhydrolyzable matrices of ether-linked phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and sphingomyelin have been used to study the mechanism of action of lipolytic enzymes. Since ether PCs, sphingomyelin, and ester PCs vary in the number of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors in the carbonyl region of the bilayer, we have examined several physical properties of ether PCs and sphingomyelin in model systems to validate their suitability as nonhydrolyzable lipid matrices. The intermolecular interactions of ether PCs with ester PCs, sphingomyelin, and cholesterol were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. Phase diagrams constructed from the temperature dependence of the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition of 1,2-O-dihexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC-ether) and 1,2-O-ditetradecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC-ether) with both 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) demonstrated complete lipid miscibility in the gel and liquid-crystalline phases. Additionally, phase diagrams of egg yolk sphingomyelin (EYSM) with DMPC or DMPC-ether and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) or 1,2-O-dioctadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC-ether) demonstrated no major differences in miscibility of EYSM in ester and ether PCs. The effect of 10 mol % cholesterol on the thermal transitions of mixtures of ester and ether PCs also indicates little preference of cholesterol for either lipid. The fusion of small single bilayer vesicles of DMPC, DMPC-ether, DPPC, and DPPC-ether to larger aggregates as determined by gel filtration indicated that the ester PC vesicles were somewhat more stable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)