Competitive carotenoid and cholesterol incorporation into liposomes: effects on membrane phase transition, fluidity, polarity and anisotropy

Pure 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (DPPC) or mixed DPPC:1,2-dipalmitoyl phosphatidyletanolamine (DPPE):1,2-dipalmitoyl diphosphatidylserine (DPPS) (17:5:3) liposomes were incorporated with 5 mol% dietary carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin) or with cholesterol (16 and 48 mol%) in the absence or presence of 15 mol% carotenoids, respectively. The carotenoid incorporation yields ranged from 0.42 in pure to 0.72 in mixed phospholipid liposomes. They decreased significantly, from 3 to 14%, in the corresponding cholesterol-doped liposomes, respectively. Highest incorporation yields were achieved by zeaxanthin and lutein in phospholipid liposomes while in cholesterol-containing liposomes, lutein was highest incorporated. The effects on membrane structure and dynamics were determined by differential scanning calorimetry, steady-state fluorescence and anisotropy measurements. Polar carotenoids and cholesterol cause similar, dose-dependent effects: ordering and rigidification revealed by broadening of the transition peak, and increase of anisotropy. Membrane hydrophobicity is determined by cholesterol content and carotenoid polarity. In cholesterol-doped liposomes, beta-carotene is less incorporated than in cholesterol-free liposomes. Our observations suggest effects of carotenoids, even at much lower effective concentrations than cholesterol (8 to 80-fold), on membrane structure and dynamics. Although they are minor constituents of animal membranes, carotenoids may act as modulators of membrane phase transition, fluidity, polarity and permeability, and therefore, can influence the membrane physiology and pathology.