Effect of ultrasound on a bilayer lipid membrane.

The effects of continuous wave ultrasound at a frequency of 1 MHz in the intensity range of 0-1.4 W/cm2 on an oxidized cholesterol bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) were observed. Ultrasound at 1.5 W/cm2 broke the membrane; in the range from 0.5 to 1.4 W/cm2, it accelerated the draining of the bulk lipid solution from the annulus to the Teflon support. At all intensities it has no effect on the conductance, the capacitance, or the dependence of each on the voltage applied across the membrane. Electrical parameters were measured in the presence of aqueous solutions of NaCl, KCl, and distilled water. The motivation and results of this project are explained in relation to an overall objective of determining the specific effects of ultrasound on biological membranes.     

Effect of insulin on lipid bilayer viscoelasticity

Changes in the Young elasticity modulus in perpendicular direction to the membrane surface E perpendicular, in the coefficient of dynamic viscosity eta, in the electric capacitance C, in the surface charge U1, in the conductivity g and in the coefficient of non-linearity beta of current-voltage characteristic caused by insulin were studied in bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) prepared from a mixture of egg lecithin and cholesterol (4:1, w/w) in n-heptane. Even relatively small concentrations of insulin in electrolyte (ci approximately 4.8 x 10(-11) mol/l) caused a diminution in parameters E perpendicular and eta. Negative surface charge emerged on the membrane due to the insulin absorption, and U1 gradually increased depending on the concentration of the hormone in the electrolyte. Addition of insulin was also followed by an increase in membrane conductivity and affected the value of the coefficient of non-linearity beta of current-voltage characteristic. The effect of insulin on the BLM structure was discussed on the basis of the results obtained.     

氯化钠处理对原壳小球藻生长及油脂积累的影响

采用Basal培养基,通过光学显微镜、电子显微镜、激光共聚焦显微镜以及尼罗红染色定量等方法研究了不同浓度氯化钠(0、150、300、600 mmol/L)对小球藻属原壳小球藻的生长状态、脂滴分布、总脂含量的影响。结果表明,添加不同浓度的氯化钠对原壳小球藻的生长有明显的影响,随着氯化钠浓度的增加,小球藻的生长速度受到明显的抑制,600 mmol/L氯化钠处理时生长几乎完全被抑制。在显微镜下观察,可见氯化钠浓度的增加会导致小球藻聚集成团,这种现象在150 mmol/L和300 mmol/L氯化钠培养下比较明显;通过电子显微镜下观察,可以发现培养初期,随着氯化钠浓度的增加,小球藻细胞壁增厚,脂滴增多。通过尼罗红染色对脂含量进行定量,处理初期脂滴的合成量在600 mmol/L时最高,但到后期,随着藻生物量的增加,150 mmol/L和300 mmol/L处理下脂合成量逐渐升高,而对照小球藻脂合成量基本不变。稳定期后,从生物量(干重)和脂总量来看,300 mmol/L氯化钠培养处理的小球藻虽然生物量只有对照的73.55%,但是总脂含量却是对照的2.22倍,可见一定浓度的氯化钠处理一定时间可显著提高原壳小球藻的油脂含量。     

Adsorption of proteins on a lipid bilayer

In our analysis of protein adsorption on a lipid bilayer, the protein surface is considered to contain one or a few charged spots, and the bilayer contains a significant amount of lipids with oppositely charged head groups. After adsorption, a folded protein is assumed to change its shape slightly due to the electrostatic attraction, so that one of the spots forms a flat contact with the oppositely charged lipid heads of the lipid bilayer. With realistic parameters, this model predicts that the contribution of electrostatic interactions to the protein adsorption energy per charged amino acid–lipid pair is 16–25 kJ/mol. Thus, a few (four or five) pairs is sufficient for irreversible adsorption.     

Effect of local anesthetic lidocaine on electrostatic properties of a lipid bilayer

The influence of the local anesthetic lidocaine on electrostatic properties of a lipid membrane bilayer was studied by molecular dynamics simulations. The electrostatic dipole potential, charge densities, and orientations of the headgroup angle have been examined in the presence of different amounts of charged or uncharged forms of lidocaine. Important changes in the membrane properties caused by the presence of both forms of lidocaine are presented and discussed. Our simulations have shown that both charged and uncharged lidocaine cause almost the same increase in the electrostatic potential in the middle of the membrane, although for different reasons. The increase, ∼90 mV for 9 mol % of lidocaine and 220 mV for 28 mol % of lidocaine, is of a size that may affect the functioning of voltage-gated ion channels.     

Effect of the lantibiotic warnerin on lipid bilayer membranes

The effect of the lantibiotic warnerin on the ionic permeability of artificial membranes was studied. Membranes were composed of different lipid fractions, including lipids isolated from warnerin-sensitive cells of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Warnerin was shown to selectively interact with artificial membranes of different lipid composition, which in some cases led to formation of ion channels. Computer modeling of warnerin spatial structure supported the probable membranotropic activity of the peptide.     

The effect of the lipid bilayer state on fluorescence intensity of fluorescein-PE in a saturated lipid bilayer

Fluorescein-PE is a fluorescence probe that is used as a membrane label or a sensor of surface associated processes. Fluorescein-PE fluorescence intensity depends not only on bulk pH, but also on the local electrostatic potential, which affects the local membrane interface proton concentration. The pH sensitivity and hydrophilic character of the fluorescein moiety was used to detect conformational changes at the lipid bilayer surface. When located in the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer, probe fluorescence depends on conformational changes that occur during phase transitions. Relative fluorescence intensity changes more at pretransition than at the main phase transition temperature, indicating that interface conformation affects the condition in the vicinity of the membrane. Local electrostatic potential depends on surface charge density, the local dielectric constant, salt concentration and water organisation. Initial increase in fluorescence intensity at temperatures preceding that of pretransition can be explained by the decreased value of the dielectric constant in the lipid polar headgroups region related in turn to decreased water organisation within the membrane interface. The abrupt decrease in fluorescence intensity at temperatures between 25 degrees C and 35 degrees C (DPPC pretransition) is likely to be caused by an increased value of the electrostatic potential, induced by an elevated value of the dielectric constant within the phosphate group region. Further increase in the fluorescence intensity at temperatures above that of the gel-liquid phase transition correlates with the calculated decreased surface electrostatic potential. Above the main phase transition temperature, fluorescence intensity increase at a salt concentration of 140 mM is larger than with 14 mM. This results from a sharp decline of the electrostatic potential induced by the phosphocholine dipole as a function of distance from the membrane surface.     

Volatile anesthetics inhibit sodium channels without altering bulk lipid bilayer properties

Although general anesthetics are clinically important and widely used, their molecular mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. Volatile anesthetics such as isoflurane (ISO) are thought to alter neuronal function by depressing excitatory and facilitating inhibitory neurotransmission through direct interactions with specific protein targets, including voltage-gated sodium channels (Na_v). Many anesthetics alter lipid bilayer properties, suggesting that ion channel function might also be altered indirectly through effects on the lipid bilayer. We compared the effects of ISO and of a series of fluorobenzene (FB) model volatile anesthetics on Na_v function and lipid bilayer properties. We examined the effects of these agents on Na_v in neuronal cells using whole-cell electrophysiology, and on lipid bilayer properties using a gramicidin-based fluorescence assay, which is a functional assay for detecting changes in lipid bilayer properties sensed by a bilayer-spanning ion channel. At clinically relevant concentrations (defined by the minimum alveolar concentration), both the FBs and ISO produced prepulse-dependent inhibition of Na_v and shifted the voltage dependence of inactivation toward more hyperpolarized potentials without affecting lipid bilayer properties, as sensed by gramicidin channels. Only at supra-anesthetic (toxic) concentrations did ISO alter lipid bilayer properties. These results suggest that clinically relevant concentrations of volatile anesthetics alter Na_v function through direct interactions with the channel protein with little, if any, contribution from changes in bulk lipid bilayer properties. Our findings further suggest that changes in lipid bilayer properties are not involved in clinical anesthesia.     

Clusters in a liquid-crystalline lipid bilayer

From analysis of the position and width of the diffuse maximum from X-ray scattering on hydrocarbon chains of phospholipid molecules, the average distance between neighbour chains in a bilayer and the values of interaction (correlation) radia were estimated. Comparison with the results of other methods applied shows that the cluster model of molecule packing in lipid bilayers explains the experimental data in the best way. The minimal dimensions of the clusters, average areas per molecule and approximate fraction of molecules in the clusters were estimated.     

Effect of pH on the interfacial tension of lipid bilayer membrane

The dependence of the interfacial tension of a lipid bilayer on the pH of the aqueous solution has been studied. A theoretical equation is derived to describe this dependence. Interfacial tension measurements of an egg phosphatidylcholine bilayer were carried out. The experimental results agreed with those derived from the theoretical equation obtained close to the isoelectric point within a range of three pH units. A maximum corresponding to the isoelectric point appears both in the theoretical equation and in the experimental data.     

Action of leukemia inhibitory factor on a lipid bilayer

It has been found that the recombinant leukemia inhibitory factor (rLIF) induces jumps of current in bilayer lipid membranes, which indicates formation of ion channels. Some properties of these channels (dependence on voltage and sign of potential, ionic strength of solution, and lipid composition) were studied. A difference was shown between the effects of rLIF from eukaryotic and prokaryotic producers.     

Effect of fatty acids and monoglycerides on permeability of lipid bilayer

The effect of fatty acids and monoglycerides on barrier properties of liposomal membranes prepared from egg phosphatidylcholine was investigated. The incorporation of these lipids as liposomal membrane components induced the alteration of the permeability to less permeable liposomally entrapped drugs, sulfanilic acid and procainamide ethobromide (PAEB). Monoolein caused greatly increased permeability of both drugs and unsaturated fatty acids markedly enhanced the release rate of PAEB, while saturated fatty acids caused a small increase in the release rate.Electron spin resonance (ESR) investigation with 5-nitroxide stearic acid showed that fatty acids disordered the hydrophobic region of the lipid bilayer and the disordering effect of unsaturated fatty acids was greater than that of saturated ones. It was demonstrated that the incorporated fatty acids and monoglycerides interacted with the polar region of the membranes by ESR study with cholestane label and ¹H-NMR study. These results indicated that the increase in the membrane permeability caused by fatty acids and monoglycerides associated with the disorder in the membranes' interior and the interaction of the incorporated lipid with the polar head group of phospholipid.     

Effect of ionic polarizability on electrodiffusion in lipid bilayer membranes.

Ion-carrier complexes and organic ions of similar size and shape have mobilities in lipid bilayer membranes which span several orders of magnitude. In this communication, an examination is made of the hypothesis that the basis for this unusually wide range of ionic mobilities is the potential energy barrier arising from image forces which selectively act on ions according to their polarizability. Using Poisson's equation to evaluate the electrostatic interaction between an ion and its surroundings, the potential energy barrier to ion transport due to image effects is computed, with the result that the potential energy barrier height depends strongly on ionic polarizability. Theoretical membrane potential energy profile calculations are used in conjunction with Nernst-Planck electrodiffusion equation to analyze the available mobility data for several ion-carrier complexes and lipid-soluble ions in lipid bilayer membranes. The variation among the mobilities of different ions is shown to be in agreement with theoretical predictions based on ionic polarizability and size. Furthermore, the important influence exerted by image forces on ion transport in lipid bilayer membranes compared to the frictional effect of membrane viscosity is established by contrasting available data on the activation energy of ionic conductivity with that for membrane fluidity.     

Effect of acyl chain structure and bilayer phase state on binding and penetration of a supported lipid bilayer by HPA3

The effect of acyl chain structure and bilayer phase state on binding and penetration by the peptide HPA3 was studied using dual polarisation interferometry. This peptide is an analogue of Hp(2-20) derived from the N-terminus of Helicobacter pylori ribosomal protein L1 (RpL1) which has been shown to have antimicrobial and cell-penetrating properties. The binding of HPA3 to zwitterionic 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) or 1-palmitolyl-2-oleyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and negatively charged membranes composed of DMPC and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-(phosphor-rac-(1-glycerol)) (DMPG) or POPC and 1-palmitolyl-2-oleyl-sn-glycero-3-(phosphor-rac-(1-glycerol)) (POPG) was determined using dual polarisation interferometry (DPI). Mass and birefringence were measured in real time, enabling the creation of birefringence–mass plots for detailed analysis of the changes in lipid bilayer order during the peptide-binding process. HPA3 bound to all four lipids and the binding progressed as a single phase for the saturated gel phase bilayers DMPC and DMPC–DMPG. However, the binding process involved two or more phases, with penetration of the unsaturated fluid phase POPC and POPC–POPG bilayers. Structural changes in the saturated bilayer were partially reversible whereas binding to the unsaturated bilayer resulted in irreversible changes in membrane structure. These results demonstrate that more disordered unsaturated bilayers are more susceptible to further disorganisation and have a lower capacity to recover from peptide-induced structural changes than saturated ordered bilayers. In addition, this study further establishes DPI as powerful tool for analysis of multiphase peptide-insertion processes associated with complex structural changes in the liquid-crystalline membrane.     

Effect of sodium chloride on the growth ofLolium perenne

Summary Under the conditions of these experiments sodium chloride in the rooting medium does not have the same effect on the growth ofLolium perenne as does water stress.     

Effect of glycerol on the capacity and conductivity of lipid bilayer membranes

It is shown that glycerol addition to one side of BLM containing cholesterol leads to a significant decrease of its capacity, and the decrease rate is in indirect proportion to glycerol concentration. Washing out or addition of glycerol to another side results in a full or partial reconstitution of the capacity. The effect of glycerol on the BLM conductivity is manifested in its increase for membranes having specific conductivity above 2.10(-7) Om-1 X cm2. The peculiarity of glycerol is manifested in the fact that during definite period of time (20 +/- 30 min) the membrane is under "stress" condition with the characteristic current fluctuations, which may be compared with its medium meaning. Such condition is preserved up to the moment of BLM rupture. It is supposed that such effects are due to the big-scale reconstructions of membrane structure under the influence of glycerol.     

Effect of peptide PV on the ionic permeability of lipid bilayer membranes

This paper reports the effects of peptide PV (primary structure: cyclo-(D-val-L-pro-L-val-D-pro)_δ) on the electrical properties of sheep red cell lipid bilayers. The membrane conductance (G_m) induced by PV in either Na⁺ or K⁺ medium is proportional to the concentration of PV in the aqueous phase. The PV concentration required to produce a comparable increase in G_m in K⁺ medium is about 10⁴ times greater than for its analogue, valinomycin (val). Although the selectivity sequence for PV and val is similar, K⁺ ≳ Rb⁺ > Cs⁺ > NH₄ ⁺ > TI⁺ > Na⁺ > Li⁺; the ratio of GGm in K⁺ to that in Na⁺ is about 10 for PV compared to > 10³ for val. When equal concentrations of PV are added to both sides of a bilayer, the membrane current approaches a maximum value independent of voltage when the membrane potential exceeds 100 mV. When PV is added to only one side of a bilayer separating identical salt solutions of either Na⁺ or K⁺ salts, rectification occurs such that the positive current flows more easily away rather than toward the side containing the carrier. Under these conditions, a large, stable, zero-current potential (VVm) is also observed, with the side containing PV being negative. The magnitude of this VVm is about 90 mV and relatively independent of PV concentration when the latter is larger than 2 Times; 10^–5 M. From a model which assumes that V_m equals the equilibrium potential for the PV-cation complexes (MS ⁺) and that the reaction between PV and cations is at equilibrium on the two membrane surfaces, we compute the permeability of the membrane to free PV to be about 10^–5 cm s^–1, which is about 10^–7 times the permeability of similar membranes to free val. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the observed values of V_m are in agreement with the calculated equilibrium potential for MS⁺ over a wide range of ratios of concentrations of total PV in the two bathing solutions, if the unstirred layers are taken into account in computing the MS⁺ concentrations at the membrane surfaces.     

Electrostatic interactions across a charged lipid bilayer

We present theoretical work in which the degree of electrostatic coupling across a charged lipid bilayer in aqueous solution is analyzed on the basis of nonlinear Poisson–Boltzmann theory. In particular, we consider the electrostatic interaction of a single, large macroion with the two apposed leaflets of an oppositely charged lipid bilayer where the macroion is allowed to optimize its distance to the membrane. Three regimes are identified: a weak and a high macroion charge regime, separated by a regime of close macroion–membrane contact for intermediate charge densities. The corresponding free energies are used to estimate the degree of electrostatic coupling in a lamellar cationic lipid–DNA complex. That is, we calculate to what extent the one-dimensional DNA arrays in a sandwich-like lipoplex interact across the cationic membranes. We find that, in spite of the low dielectric constant inside a lipid membranes, there can be a significant electrostatic contribution to the experimentally observed cross-bilayer orientational ordering of the DNA arrays. Our approximate analytical model is complemented and supported by numerical calculations of the electrostatic potentials and free energies of the lamellar lipoplex geometry. To this end, we solve the nonlinear Poisson–Boltzmann equation within a unit cell of the lamellar lipoplex using a new lattice Boltzmann method. Dedicated to Prof. K. Arnold on the occasion of his 65th birthday.