Separation of mono- and diglycerides by gas--liquid chromatography

The parameters affecting the separation and quantification of trimethylsilyl ethers of mono- and diglycerides have been investigated by gas-liquid chromatography with QF-1 and SE-30 as stationary phases and a flame ionization detector. Results have been compared with those obtained earlier for triglycerides. The isothermal characteristics of a range of trimethylsilyl ethers of mono- and diglycerides on both stationary phases showed that log retention volume was directly proportional to carbon number and inversely proportional to absolute temperature. However, glyceride derivatives with lower carbon numbers deviated from these relationships. By using various rates of programmed temperature rise, we have determined the elution temperatures (Kelvin scale) of the mono- and diglyceride trimethylsilyl ethers relative to that of glycerol trilaurate. The "carbon equivalent of a trimethylsilyl group" is defined and shown to be useful in comparing the chromatographic properties of different glyceride classes. Weight and molar correction factors have been obtained and used to analyze diglycerides derived from egg and bovine brain lecithins.     

Glyceride Structure and Biosynthesis of Natural Fats

In order to study specificity of pancreatic lipase, a number of synthetic triglycerides were hydrolyzed by the enzyme under an improved condition. The proportions of isomers of the derived mono- and diglycerides, and the fatty acid compositions of the derived free acids and monoglycerides were determined. The hydrolyzing rate of fatty acids in glycerides depended on the position esterified in the glycerol, carbon number of the acid, and structure of the glyceride. Positional specificity of the enzyme was markedly displayed for symmetrical triglyceridcs composed of long chain acids, but at somewhat lower rate for glycerides containing short chain or highly unsaturated acids.     

Hormonal influence on uterine lipids.

The effects of oestrogen (OE), progesterone (P) and oestrogen plus progesterone (OEPP) on uterine lipids of adult ovariectomized rats were studied. Administration of gonodal hormones brought about considerable alterations in total lipids, mainly due to an increase in phospholipids and glycerides in the case of OE and P groups. Even though the total cholesterol remained unaltered, a marked alteration in its fractions was evident in all the groups. Oestrogen seems to decrease all the glyceride classes while progesterone induces accumulation ot triglycerides with concomitant decrease in mono- and diglycerides. Individual classes of phospholipids show marked alterations in their distribution in all the groups studied.     

Calculation of phase diagrams for non-ideal mixtures of lipids,and a possible non-random distribution of lipids in lipid mixtures in the liquid crystalline phase

An approach is presented which can simulate phase diagrams for binary mixtures of lipid molecules showing close agreement with experimental data and using a single parameter to describe the non-ideality of mixing in each phase. It is suggested that lipid mixtures form non-ideal mixtures in the liquid crystalline phase. Application of the theory of athermal solutions allows an estimate to be made of the relative distribution of like and unlike lipid molecules about a central lipid molecule.     

Concentrations of glycerides and phospholipids in rat heart and gastrocnemius muscles: Effects of alloxan-diabetes and perfusion

1. Methods are described for the extraction of lipid and assay of mono-, di- and tri-glyceride glycerol and phospholipid phosphorus in rat heart and gastrocnemius muscles. 2. In hearts from normal animals, concentrations found were: monoglyceride, 0·6; diglyceride, 0·1; triglyceride, 12·6μmoles of glyceride glycerol/g. of dry muscle; phospholipid, 171μg.atoms of phospholipid phosphorus/g. of dry muscle. Concentrations of glycerides in gastrocnemius muscle were similar to heart muscle but those of phospholipids were lower (64μg.atoms of phospholipid phosphorus/g. of dry muscle). 3. Alloxan-diabetes increased the concentration of triglyceride in the muscles twofold. This increase was shown to be dependent in the heart on the availability of growth hormone and cortisol but not on the availability of dietary lipid. Total glyceride in the heart was increased after 48 and 72hr. starvation but not after 96hr. Changes in glyceride concentration seen in starvation and diabetes were not associated with significant changes in phospholipid concentration. It is suggested that mobilization of free fatty acids in diabetes leads to the synthesis of additional glyceride in muscle. 4. The possible contribution of glyceride fatty acid in the heart to respiration during perfusion has been calculated from the net loss of glyceride during perfusion, and also from the relative rates of lipolysis and esterification and compared with oxidation of fatty acid required for the balance of oxygen consumption (oxygen not utilized in the oxidation of glucose or glycogen glucose). In the normal or diabetic heart perfused with glucose and insulin the breakdown of glyceride can account for the balance of oxygen consumption. In the normal heart perfused without substrate the balance of oxygen consumption is not entirely accounted for by the breakdown of glyceride.     

Thermodynamic properties of model CdTe/CdSe mixtures

We report on the thermodynamic properties of binary compound mixtures of model groups II–VI semiconductors. We use the recently introduced Stillinger–Weber Hamiltonian to model binary mixtures of CdTe and CdSe. We use molecular dynamics simulations to calculate the volume and enthalpy of mixing as a function of mole fraction. The lattice parameter of the mixture closely follows Vegard's law: a linear relation. This implies that the excess volume is a cubic function of mole fraction. A connection is made with hard sphere models of mixed fcc and zincblende structures. The potential energy exhibits a positive deviation from ideal soluton behaviour; the excess enthalpy is nearly independent of temperatures studied (300 and 533 K) and is well described by a simple cubic function of the mole fraction. Using a regular solution approach (combining non-ideal behaviour for the enthalpy with ideal solution behaviour for the entropy of mixing), we arrive at the Gibbs free energy of the mixture. The Gibbs free energy results indicate that the CdTe and CdSe mixtures exhibit phase separation. The upper consolute temperature is found to be 335 K. Finally, we provide the surface energy as a function of composition. It roughly follows ideal solution theory, but with a negative deviation (negative excess surface energy). This indicates that alloying increases the stability, even for nano-particles.     

Manipulation of galactolipid Fatty Acid composition with substituted pyridazinones

The fatty acid composition of the major lipids of the chloroplast membranes, the mono- and digalactosyl diglycerides, can be definably altered with various substituted pyridazinones. Galactolipid fatty acid composition of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) can be altered so that there is a decrease in linolenic acid accompanied by an increase in linoleic acid without a shift in the relative proportion of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids; the fatty acid composition can be shifted toward a higher proportion of saturated fatty acids; or the fatty acid composition of the monogalactosyl diglycerides can be altered in preference to the digalactosyl diglycerides. Also, the light-mediated parallel accumulation of chlorophyll and linolenic acid can be separated with a substituted pyridazinone. The substituted pyridazinones may be useful tools in clarifying the role the galactolipids and their component fatty acids play in the structure and function of chloroplast membranes in higher plants.     

Phosphatidylcholine synthesis in castor bean endosperm

Three pathways for phosphatidylcholine synthesis were assayed in castor bean (Ricinus communis var. Hale) endosperm. Phosphatidylethanolamine: S-adenosylmethionine methyl transferase occurred predominantly in the endoplasmic reticulum fraction, but some activity appeared in the mitochondria. Phosphorylcholine glyceride transferase occurred exclusively in the endoplasmic reticulum. The phosphorylcholine glyceride transferase activity was approximately 20-fold greater than the methylation pathway in the endoplasmic reticulum. No exchange activity was found. The Michaelis constant for the methylation was 31 mum for S-adenosylmethionine; phosphatidylethanolamine promoted the reaction slightly while other intermediates stimulated it by about 50%. The pH optimum was 9. Phosphorylcholine glyceride transferase had a Michaelis constant of 9.7 mum for cytidine diphosphate choline but variable results were obtained from diglycerides. The pH optimum was 7.5 and a divalent cation was required, Mg(2+) giving the greatest stimulation.     

Condensed complexes of cholesterol and phospholipids

There is overwhelming evidence that lipid bilayer regions of animal cell membranes are in a liquid state. Quantitative models of these bilayer regions must then be models of liquids. These liquids are highly non-ideal. For example, it has been known for more than 75 years that mixtures of cholesterol and certain phospholipids undergo an area contraction or condensation in lipid monolayers at the air-water interface. In the past 3 years, a thermodynamic model of "condensed complexes" has been proposed to account for this non-ideal behavior. Here we give an overview of the model, its relation to other models, and to modern views of the properties of animal cell membranes.     

Condensed complexes of cholesterol and phospholipids

There is overwhelming evidence that lipid bilayer regions of animal cell membranes are in a liquid state. Quantitative models of these bilayer regions must then be models of liquids. These liquids are highly non-ideal. For example, it has been known for more than 75 years that mixtures of cholesterol and certain phospholipids undergo an area contraction or condensation in lipid monolayers at the air-water interface. In the past 3 years, a thermodynamic model of “condensed complexes” has been proposed to account for this non-ideal behavior. Here we give an overview of the model, its relation to other models, and to modern views of the properties of animal cell membranes.     

Thermotropic behavior of binary mixtures of diplamitoylphosphatidylcholine and glycosphingolipids in aqueous dispersions

The thermotropic behavior of mixtures of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) with natural glycosphingolipids (galactosylceramide, phrenosine, kerasine, glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, asialo-G_M1, sulfatide, G_M3, G_M1, G_D1a, G_T1b) in dilute aqueous dispersions were studied by high sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry over the entire composition range. The pretransition of DPPC is abolished and the cooperativity of the main transition decreases sharply at mole fractions of glycosphingolipids below 0.2. All systems exhibit non-ideal temperature-composition phase diagrams. The mono- and di-hexosylceramides are easily miscible with DPPC when the proportion of glycosphingolipids in the system is high. A limited quantity (1–6 molecules of DPPC per molecule of glycosphingolipid (GSL) can be incorporated into a homogeneously mixed lipid phase. Domains of DPPC, immiscible with the rest of a mixed GSL-DPPC phase that shows no cooperative phase transition, are established as DPPC exceeds a certain proportion in the system. One negative charge (sulfatide) or four neutral carbohydrate residues (asialo-G_M1) in the oligosaccharide chain of the glycosphingolipids results in phase diagrams exhibiting coexistence of gel and liquid phases over a broad temperature-composition range. Systems containing gangliosides show complex phase diagrams, with more than one phase transition. However, no evidence for phase-separated domains of pure ganglioside species is found. The thermotropic behavior of systems containing DPPC and glycosphingolipids correlates well with their interactions in mixed monolayers at the air/water interface.     

Hypothesis. Cytochrome c oxidase as a proton pump. A transition-state mechanism

The thermotropic behavior of mixtures of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) with natural glycosphingolipids (galactosylceramide, phrenosine, kerasine, glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, asialo-GM1, sulfatide, GM3, GM1, GD1a, GT1b) in dilute aqueous dispersions were studied by high sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry over the entire composition range. The pretransition of DPPC is abolished and the cooperativity of the main transition decreases sharply at mole fractions of glycosphingolipids below 0.2. All systems exhibit non-ideal temperature-composition phase diagrams. The mono- and di-hexosylceramides are easily miscible with DPPC when the proportion of glycosphingolipids in the system is high. A limited quantity (1-6 molecules of DPPC per molecule of glycosphingolipid (GSL) can be incorporated into a homogeneously mixed lipid phase. Domains of DPPC, immiscible with the rest of a mixed GSL-DPPC phase that shows no cooperative phase transition, are established as DPPC exceeds a certain proportion in the system. One negative charge (sulfatide) or four neutral carbohydrate residues (asialo-GM1) in the oligosaccharide chain of the glycosphingolipids results in phase diagrams exhibiting coexistence of gel and liquid phases over a broad temperature-composition range. Systems containing gangliosides show complex phase diagrams, with more than one phase transition. However, no evidence for phase-separated domains of pure ganglioside species is found. The thermotropic behavior of systems containing DPPC and glycosphingolipids correlates well with their interactions in mixed monolayers at the air/water interface.     

Solid-liquid phase behavior of binary fatty acid mixtures. 1. Oleic acid/stearic acid and oleic acid/behenic acid mixtures

Solid-liquid phase behavior of binary fatty acid mixtures was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) for the mixture composed of oleic acid (OA) and stearic acid (SA) and that composed of OA and behenic acid (BA). The DSC results provided a monotectic type T-X phase diagram for these mixtures, from which it was suggested that the two fatty acid species are completely immiscible in a solid phase regardless of the two polymorphs of OA, i.e., alpha-form or gamma-form. The solid phase immiscibility was confirmed by the FT-IR observation that the spectra obtained for the mixtures correspond to the superposition of the two spectra for respective components. Thermodynamic analysis of liquidus line demonstrated that OA and SA form an ideal mixture in a liquid phase, whereas the mixing of OA and BA in a liquid phase is slightly non-ideal.     

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.     

Gel-state metastability and nature of the azeotropic points in mixtures of saturated phosphatidylcholines and fatty acids

The temperature-composition phase diagrams of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/palmitic acid and distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC)/stearic acid mixtures in excess water were recorded using high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry. New, slowly reversible phase transitions were found at 38° C in DPPC/palmitic acid mixtures at 0.4–0.9 mole fractions of palmitic acid and at 46° C in the DSCP/stearic acid binary. These transitions reveal gel-state metastability of the mixtures which is caused most probably by co-crystallization of the two lipids as it cannot be observed in the pure components. Both mixtures display azeotropic behavior at 2 fatty acids per 1 phospholipid. The physical reasons for such behavior have been analyzed theoretically in the framework of the Bragg-Williams and the UNIversal QUAsiChemical (UNIQUAC) approximations. This analysis shows that the azeotropic points in the phase diagrams are due to a combination of compound formation in the solid state and close to random mixing in the liquid state of the mixtures. UNIQUAC provides better fits to the experimental phase diagrams since it accounts also for the dimer-monomer character of the phospholipid/fatty acid mixtures. At fatty acid mole fractions greater than 0.65–0.7 the excess fatty acids phase separate from the compound phase. The stability of the compound phase domains at low fatty acid concentrations in relation to their possible physiological role has been discussed.     

Triglyceride Interesterification by Lipases: 2. Reaction parameters for the reduction of trisaturated impurities and diglycerides in batch reactions

A model system consisting of pure triolein and palmitic acid and LipozymeTM, an immobilized lipase (E.C. 3.1.1.3.). has been used to determine the effects of various reaction parameters on the reaction rate and the formation of by-products in the interesterification reaction. The goal was to minimize the level of diglycerides and eliminate trisaturated triglycerides at an endpoint chosen so that the results could be applied to the production of cocoa butter substitutes. The levels of diglycerides, which are essential reaction intermediates, and trisaturated glycerides, which are believed to be formed as a result of spontaneous acyl migration of mono- and diglyceride intermediates, were determined at a defined endpoint. A lag period was observed in which no tripalmitate was formed. The content of Lipozyme used was the most powerful factor in eliminating tripalmitate formation and reducing diglycerides; by using large quantities of Lipozyme, the reaction reached the endpoint before the tripalmitate formation became measurable and low levels of diglycerides were formed. The effects of varying the ratio of palmitic acid to triolein were investigated. A complex relationship between the ratio of substrate components emerged in which the diglyceride content increased with increasing triolein concentration and the tripalmitate content was lowest at a molar ratio of palmitic acid to triolein of 3.5. The reaction was run at 70, 80, and 90°C; best results were obtained at 70°. The water activity of the reaction was adjusted prior to catalysis and maintained during the reaction by equilibrating the reaction mixture and enzyme and running the reaction in an atmosphere of controlled water activity. A direct relationship between diglycerides and water activity was observed, and the level of tripalmitate formed corresponded to the time required to reach the endpoint. The reaction system was tested using ethyl palmitate instead of palmitic acid as acyl donor; the diglyceride content again increased with increasing water activity, but larger amounts of diglycerides were formed. Much shorter reaction times were required, with small quantities of tripalmitate formed.     

The structure and possible function of the glycolipid from Staphylococcus lactis I3

1. The total lipid was extracted from Staphylococcus lactis I3 with chloroform-methanol mixtures and the glycolipid component was isolated by chromatography on silicic acid. 2. Saponification yielded a non-crystalline glycoside for which the structure O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->1)-d-glycerol has been established by chemical degradations and by comparison with synthetic material. 3. The role of the glycosyl diglycerides in bacterial membranes is discussed.     

Exeristes,Itoplectis, Aphaereta,Brachymeria, and Hyposoter species: In vitro glyceride synthesis and regulation of fatty acid composition

Microsomes from two species of parasitic Hymenoptera, Exeristes roborator and Itoplectis conquisitor, exhibited little or no de novo glyceride synthesis but actively acylated endogenous mono- and diacylglycerides. It is suggested that this lack of de novo synthesis is related to the fact that the fatty acid composition of these parasitoid species closely resembles that of the hosts on which they are reared. Microsomes from three other species of parasitic Hymenoptera, Aphaereta pallipes, Brachymeria lasus, and Hyposoter exigua, whose fatty acid compositions are little influenced by the host species, exhibited active de novo glyceride synthesis as well as acylation of endogenous mono- and diacylglycerides. Radiotracer studies indicated that E. roborator microsomes and cytosol did not contain noncompetitive or uncompetitive inhibitors of glycerophosphate acyltransferase. E. roborator microsomes acylated exogenous phosphatidic acid but not dihydroxyacetone phosphate or glycerol. The maximum rate of glycerophosphate acylation was less than 0.1 nmole/min/mg microsomal protein after 15 min incubation. The incorporation was subject to rapid lipolysis on further incubation. The addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) reduced the ability of E. roborator microsomes to acylate mono- and diacylglycerides with endogenous acyl groups. In the absence of BSA, palmitoyl-CoA was a more effective substrate than stearoyl-CoA for both mono- and diacylglyceride acyltransferases.     

The isolation and characterization of trigalactosyl diglyceride from potato tubers

Trigalactosyl diglyceride has been isolated from tubers of potato (Solanum tuberosum) by a combination of chromatographic methods. This galactolipid, which constitutes approximately 1% by weight of the total lipids, was characterized by analysis of the intact lipid and its deacylation product. The fatty acids:glycerol:galactose molar proportions were shown to be close to 2:1:3. Evidence was obtained that suggests that trigalactosyl diglyceride is a higher homologue of mono- and di-galactosyl diglycerides and contains an additional d-galactopyranosyl moiety that is linked alpha-(1-->6) to the terminal galactose unit of digalactosyl diglyceride.     

Molecular species of mono-, di-, and triphosphoinositides of bovine brain

The mono-, di-, and triphosphoinositides of bovine brain were isolated by chromatography on columns of DEAE-cellulose, alumina, and silicic acid. The major molecular species in each phosphoinositide class were identified and quantitatively estimated by combined thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography of the component diglycerides, which were released by hydrolysis with a specific brain phosphodiesterase. The diglycerides were treated with pancreatic lipase, and the positional distribution of the fatty acids was determined. Over 27 molecular species were identified, and these accounted for about 95% of each phosphoinositide class, but the 1-stearate 2-arachidonate derivative contributed more than 40% of the total in each class. The other molecular species also were qualitatively and quantitatively similar in the three phosphoinositide classes. All the long-chain and polyunsaturated acids were confined to the 2-position and were preferentially paired with stearic acid in the 1-position. Oleic acid in the 2-position was about equally divided between species with palmitic and stearic acids in the 1-position. These results suggest that the mono-, di-, and triphosphoinositides of the bovine brain have similar compositions and that the various molecular species may be metabolically related.