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Deletional analysis of the rod photoreceptor cell peripherin/RDS carboxy-terminal region.

The C-terminal region of peripherin/rds contains three predicted alpha-helical domains. One of these domains, corresponding to amino acids 311-322, form an amphiphilic alpha-helix previously shown to promote membrane fusion. The present studies were conducted to determine how the additional alpha-helical regions of the peripherin/rds C-terminus affect complex formation with rom-1, glycosylation, intracellular localization and membrane fusion properties. Bovine peripherin/rds and rom-1 were epitope tagged with an amino-terminal FLAG-tag or amino-terminal hemagglutinin (HA)-tag, respectively, and cloned into the pCI-neo expression vector for transient transfection into COS cells. Similarly, four C-terminal peripherin/rds truncation mutants (Delta1, Delta2, Delta3 and Delta4), corresponding to deletions of -19, -29, -39 and -59 amino acids were designed to disrupt the alpha-helical domains. Immunofluorescence microscopy and enzymatic digestions demonstrated that full-length peripherin/rds and the four C-terminal deletion mutants were localized to intracellular membranes and were all Endo-H sensitive. Western blotting and immunoprecipitation studies showed that the FLAG-tagged bovine peripherin/rds (full-length) was expressed as a 76kDa dimer, which associates with HA-tagged rom-1 to form a higher order complex. The deletion mutants were also able to associate with rom-1. However, when analyzed using non-denaturing tricine electrophoresis, full-length peripherin/rds and the Delta1, Delta2 and Delta3 mutants formed homo-oligomeric complexes, while the Delta4 mutant appeared to form only homodimers suggesting a region upstream of amino acid 300 may be involved in C-terminal interactions. Membrane fusion was then evaluated using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (RET) techniques. Intracellular COS cell membranes containing full-length peripherin/rds fused with rod outer segment plasma membrane vesicles. This fusion was inhibited with the addition of a synthetic peptide (PP-5) corresponding to the fusion domain of peripherin/rds. In contrast, fusion was negligible with any of the C-terminal truncation mutants. Collectively, these results suggest that in addition to the fusion domain, other regions of the peripherin/rds C-terminus are required for fusion. Most interesting is the observation that the last 19amino acids, a region downstream of the fusion peptide that is deleted in the Delta1 mutant, appear to be necessary for fusion. This region corresponds to the epitope for anti-peripherin/rds monoclonal antibody 2B6, which is shown to partially inhibit peripherin/rds mediated membrane fusion.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural localization of calcium in matrix vesicles and preodontoblasts of developing rat molar tooth germs during initial dentinogenesis.

We investigated the ultrastructural localization of calcium in progenitor predentine and preodontoblasts of developing rat molar tooth germs using the potassium pyroantimonate technique. At the precalcification stage, antimonate reaction product was sparsely, randomly distributed in the preodontoblasts and in the progenitor predentine but no significant reaction could be noticed associated with matrix vesicles. At the matrix vesicle calcification stage, large amounts of antimonate reaction product tended to be localized in the region adjacent to the distal, outer surface membrane of preodontoblasts in which moderate antimonate reaction activity could be observed in mitochondria. Strong antimonate reaction was detected preferentially on the outer surface membrane of some matrix vesicles at this stage. At the subsequent collagen calcification stage, definite antimonate reaction was no longer seen within mitochondria of the late preodontoblasts, instead precipitate was mainly distributed in Golgi area, secretory granules and lateral intercellular spaces. It is suggested that although matrix vesicles contain few calcium capable of reacting to antimonate immediately after their biogenesis, subsequently, large amounts of calcium are accumulated associated with the outer surface membrane of matrix vesicles in the extracellular matrix.

Animals↗

Phospholipid packing asymmetry in curved membranes detected by fluorescence spectroscopy.

There are distinct differences in the molecular packing of phospholipid molecules in the inner and outer membrane monolayers of small lipid vesicles; a small radius of curvature imparts an asymmetry to the interface between these two monolayers. I have used an amphiphilic fluorescent probe, N-[5-(dimethylamino)naphthalenyl-1-sulfonyl]glycine (dansylglycine), to determine if this asymmetry in molecular packing leads to the existence of different environments for fluorescent probes resident in the membrane. Dansylglycine is highly sensitive to the dielectric constant of its environment, and the fluorescence signal from membrane-bound dye is distinct from that in the aqueous medium. When dansylglycine is first mixed with vesicles, it rapidly partitions into the outer monolayer; the subsequent movement of dye into the inner monolayer is much slower. Because of the time lag between the initial partitioning and the subsequent translocation, it is possible to measure the emission spectrum from membrane-bound dye before and after translocation, thus distinguishing the two potential environments for dansylglycine molecules. In the outer membrane monolayer of small dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles, dye fluorescence emission is maximal at 530 nm, corresponding to a dielectric constant of 7 for the medium surrounding the fluorophore. For dye in the inner monolayer, emission is maximal at 519 nm, corresponding to a dielectric constant of 4.7. The results suggest that water molecules are excluded more efficiently from the dye binding sites of the inner membrane monolayer than they are from those of the outer monolayer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fluorescent Dyes↗

Cellular and subcellular localization of stathmin during oocyte and preimplantation embryo development.

Stathmin is a 19 kDa cytosolic phosphoprotein, proposed to act as a relay integrating diverse intracellular signaling pathways involved in regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and function. To gain further information about its significance during early development, we analyzed stathmin expression and subcellular localization in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos. RT-PCR analysis revealed a low expression of stathmin mRNA in unfertilized oocytes and a higher expression at the blastocyst stage. A fine cytoplasmic punctuate fluorescent immunoreactive stathmin pattern was detected in the oocyte, while it evolved toward an increasingly speckled pattern in the two-cell and later four- to eight-cell embryo, with even larger speckles at the morula stage. In blastocysts, stathmin immunoreactivity was fine and intense in inner cell mass cells, whereas it was low and variable in trophectodermal cells. Electron microscopic analysis allowed visualization with more detail of two types of stathmin immunolocalization: small clusters in the cytoplasm of oocytes and blastocyst cells, together with loosely arranged clusters around the outer membrane of cytoplasmic vesicles, corresponding to the immunofluorescent speckles in embryos until the morula stage. In conclusion, it appears from our results that maternal stathmin is accumulated in the oocyte and is relocalized within the oocyte and early preimplantation embryonic cell cytoplasm to interact with specific cytoplasmic membrane formations. Probably newly synthesized, embryonic stathmin is expressed in the blastocyst, where it is localized more uniformly in the cytoplasm mostly of inner cell mass (ICM) cells. These expression and localization patterns are probably related to the particular roles of stathmin at the successive steps of oocyte maturation and early embryonic development. They further support the proposed physiologic importance of stathmin in essential biologic regulation.

Animals↗

Degradative fate of transplanted proteins.

The majority of cell proteins are non-cytosolic and are found in specific extracytosolic cytomorphological sites. Rat liver mitochondria and outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) vesicles were transplanted homologously into rat hepatocytes and heterologously into rat hepatoma (HTC) cells by polyethylene glycol-mediated organelle--cell or OMM vesicle-cell fusion. The subsequent destructive fate of these non-cytosolic proteins was studied. During culture of hepatocyte monolayers in conditions which give in vivo catabolic rates, the transplanted organelle proteins and monoamine oxidase were degraded at rates similar to in vivo rates, although the transplanted material was not found in the hepatocyte mitochondria. Degradation was preceded by internalization (1-6 h) of the transplanted material and its translocation to a perinuclear, vesicular cytoplasmic position. Prevention of translocation by the disruption of the cytoskeleton inhibited subsequent degradation. In contrast, rat OMM heterologously transplanted into HTC cells was patched, capped and internalized into 'unique' vesicles and degraded 2.5 times faster than in hepatocytes. In both hepatocytes and HTC cells mitochondrial protein degradation was partially susceptible to lysosomotropic agents. The results are discussed in terms of a protein turnover cycle which attempts to coordinate the biochemistry and cell biology of protein synthesis and degradation in eukaryotic cells.

Animals↗

Interfacial interactions of hydrophobic peptides with lipid bilayers.

Four hydrophobic laminin-related peptides and their corresponding parent peptides were synthesized to use them to target liposomes to tumoral cells. The peptide sequence was YIGSR((NH(2))), and hydrophobic residues linked to the alpha-amino terminal end were decanoyl, myristoyl, stearoyl, and cholesteryl-succinoyl. Before use in biological systems, a physicochemical study was carried out in order to determine their interaction with DPPC bilayers that could compromise both the toxicity and the stability of liposomal preparations. The experiments were based on DSC, fluorescence polarization, outer-membrane destabilization, and vesicle leakage. These peptides showed in general a low interaction with the vesicles, promoting in all cases the rigidification of bilayers. This lack of strong disturbances in the ordered state of phospholipid molecules seems more likely due to the similarity of peptide acyl chains with those of lipids than to the absence of interactions. The bulkiness of cholesteryl derivative as well as its tendency toward aggregation resulted in weak interaction levels except in thermograms. The binding of peptides to the surface of liposomes loaded with doxorubicin resulted in preparations with good entrapment yields and small size, required for long circulating vesicles (especially for the myristoyl derivative). The alternative method based on the reaction of parent peptide to the surface of liposomes through an amide linkage was slightly more efficient when the peptide was linked to the carboxy-terminal end of the DSPE-PEG-COOH-containing liposomes. Nevertheless, the final decision must be made with the simplicity of the procedure and reduction in losses during all the steps of the processes taken into consideration.

Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions↗

Cloning of a Bacteroides gingivalis outer membrane protein gene in Escherichia coli.

Gene banks of chromosomal DNA from Bacteroides gingivalis 381 were constructed using the bacteriophage replacement vector lambda L47.1. A clone encoding an outer membrane protein from B. gingivalis was identified by Western blot screening with antiserum raised against the outer membrane fraction of B. gingivalis 381 cells. The DNA insert contained within this phage was cloned into the plasmid vector pACYC184 to create the recombinant plasmid pMD123. An Escherichia coli transformant, MD123, containing pMD123 produced a protein having an apparent molecular weight of 40 kDa. The recombinant protein was purified, and amino acid analysis revealed the recombinant protein to have a relatively high content of hydrophobic amino acids (43.6%). Antiserum against the purified recombinant 40 kDa protein reacted with a polypeptide of similar size in the outer membrane fraction and vesicles of B. gingivalis.

Amino Acids↗

Immunohistochemical localization of neurocalcin in the rat inner ear.

Localization in the rat inner ear of neurocalcin, a three EF-hand calcium-binding protein, was examined immunohistochemically. Neurocalcin-like immunoreactivity was restricted to neurons in neuroepithelial receptor organs, while hair cells and supporting cells showed no such immunoreactivity. In the organ of Corti, both afferent and efferent nerve terminals, which formed synapses on both inner and outer hair cells, showed distinct immunoreactions. Spiral ganglion neurons and cochlear nerves were immunopositive. In the cristae ampullaris, macula utriculi and macula sacculi, afferent nerve terminals forming nerve calices or terminal boutons were strongly immunopositive. Efferent nerve terminals making synapses either on nerve calices or on hair cells showed an intense immunoreactivity. Vestibular ganglion neurons were strongly immunopositive. In electron microscopy, immunoreaction products were diffuse in the cytoplasm of ganglion neurons and nerve terminals. Neurocalcin-like immunoreactivity occurred in association with microtubules, outer mitochondrial membranes, synaptic vesicles and synaptic membranes. It is thus likely that neurocalcin is involved in neural functions in each type of afferent and efferent transmission in the inner ear.

Animals↗

Interaction of an amine oxide detergent with lecithin vesicles as studied by nuclear magnetic resonance.

The interaction of an amine oxide detergent with single bilayer lecithin vesicles was investigated with proton and phosphorus magnetic resonance. The addition of the detergent micelles to vesicles suspensions leads to rapid detergent incorporation into the vesicle bilayer, resulting in a heterogenous vesicle population. Initially, some vesicles take up the equivalent of one detergent micelle, whereas others contain no detergent. Subsequently, the detergent is distributed between the vesicles by vesicle-vesicle collisions. This can be followed by the change in the Pr3+-shifted spectral positions of the detergent and lecithin head groups with time. From the intensity of the head-group signals, it can be concluded that after about 20 h the detergent is almost equally distributed between the outer and inner vesicle membrane monolayers. Vesicles obtained by cosonication of the detergent and lecithin take up metal ions. This ion permeability depends on the vesicle concentration and can be attributed to vesicle-vesicle or vesicle-mixed micelle collisions. Egg lecithin vesicles are stable against the detergent up to molar ratios of detergent to lecithin of 0.2--0.3. At larger ratios mixed micells and multibilayers are formed. Measurements of proton spin-lattice relaxation times confirmed that the internal architecture of the vesicle bilayer is almost unaffected by the incorporated detergent.

Detergents↗

Enhanced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor by periodontal pathogens in gingival fibroblasts.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has recently attracted attention as a potent inducer of vascular permeability and angiogenesis. Aberrant angiogenesis is often associated with lesion formation in chronic periodontitis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the properties of VEGF expression in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) culture. HGF were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), vesicle (Ve) and outer membrane protein (OMP) from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. HGF constitutively produced VEGF and levels were significantly enhanced (P < 0.01) by stimulation with Ve and OMP from A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis at concentrations of 10 microg/ml or higher. On the other hand, VEGF levels were not increased by LPS stimulation. VEGF mRNA expression was also observed in Ve- and OMP-stimulated HGF. A vascular permeability enhancement (VPE) assay was performed using guinea pigs to ascertain whether supernatant from cultures of Ve- and OMP-stimulated HGF enhance vascular permeability in vivo. Supernatant from cultures of Ve- and OMP-stimulated HGF strongly induced VPE. This was markedly suppressed upon simultaneous injection of anti-VEGF polyclonal antibodies with the supernatant. Heating and protease treatment of the stimulants reduced the VEGF enhancing levels in Ve and OMP in vitro. These results suggest that Ve and OMP may be crucial heat-labile and protease-sensitive components of periodontal pathogens that enhance VEGF expression. In addition, VEGF might be associated with the etiology of periodontitis in its early stages according to neovascularization stimulated by periodontal pathogens causing swelling and edema.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗

Submitochondrial location and electron transport characteristics of enzymes involved in proline oxidation.

Isolated corn mitochondria (Zea mays cv. B73 x Mo17) were fractionated and the fragments were separated on a 20-45% (weight/weight) continuous sucrose gradient. Soluble enzymes remained at the top of the gradient overlapping with the outer membranes, while inner membrane vesicles and intact inner membranes were distributed farther down the gradient. Proline oxidase and Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid dehydrogenase activities were associated only with the inner mitochondrial membrane. Glutamate dehydrogenase was confirmed as a matrix enzyme.Both proline and Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid supported oxygen uptake in isolated mitochondria. Proline dependent oxygen uptake was relatively independent of pH with a maximum rate at pH 7.2. In contrast, Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid-dependent oxygen uptake was sensitive to pH with an optimum at pH 6.1. The oxidation of proline and Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid was inhibited by 10 micromolar rotenone. This indicates that electrons from these substrates enter the respiratory chain prior to at least one of the rotenone sensitive iron-sulfur proteins. Both substrates yielded ADP:O ratios of around 1.9 as compared to malate plus pyruvate (2.1), succinate (1.3), and exogenous NADH (1.2).

Journal Article↗

Analysis of the subcellular location of pullulanase produced by Escherichia coli carrying the pulA gene from Klebsiella pneumoniae strain UNF5023.

Three different techniques, protease accessibility, cell fractionation and in situ immunocytochemistry, were used to study the location of the lipoprotein pullulanase produced by Escherichia coli K12 carrying the cloned pullulanase structural gene (pulA) from Klebsiella pneumoniae, with or without the K. pneumoniae genes required to transport pullulanase to the cell surface (secretion-competent and secretion-incompetent, respectively). Pullulanase produced by secretion-competent strains could be slowly but quantitatively released into the medium by growing the cells in medium containing pronase. The released pullulanase lacked the N-terminal fatty-acylated cysteine residue (and probably also a short N-terminal segment of the pullulanase polypeptide), confirming that the N-terminus is the sole membrane anchor in the protein. Pullulanase produced by secretion-incompetent strains was not affected by proteases, confirming that it is not exposed on the cell surface. Pullulanase cofractionated with both outer and inner membrane vesicles upon isopycnic sucrose gradient centrifugation, irrespective of the secretion competence of the strain. Examination by electronmicroscopy of vesicles labelled with antipullulanase serum and protein A-gold confirmed that pullulanase was associated with both types of vesicles. When thin-sectioned cells were examined by the same technique, pullulanase was found to be located mainly on the cell surface of the secretion-competent cells and mainly in the proximity of the inner membrane in the secretion-incompetent cells. Thus, while the results from three independent techniques (substrate accessibility, protease accessibility and in situ immunocytochemistry) show that pullulanase is transported to the cell surface of secretion-competent cells, this could not be confirmed by cell-fractionation techniques. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Sulfide oxidation by spheroplasts of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans is an acidophilic organism important to metal leaching of low-grade ores. The aforementioned importance is related to the ability of the bacterium to oxidize reduced iron and sulfur, principally found in nature as pyrite (FeS2). The present study dealt with sulfide oxidation at low pH values and the involvement of the cell envelope in the process of the inorganic oxidations. Sulfide oxidation was noted in spheroplasts of T. ferrooxidans prepared by enzymatic and chemical treatments and partially purified by differential centrifugation. No enzyme activities were noted in membrane fractions containing enrichments of lipopolysaccharide symbolic of outer membrane material or in membrane vesicles containing (or associated with) higher levels of proteins. Results to date indicate that in an acid milieu the envelope structure containing both the outer membrane and the intact inner cytoplasmic membrane is required for sulfide oxidation.

Cell Membrane↗

Membrane vesicles: an overlooked component of the matrices of biofilms.

The matrix helps define the architecture and infrastructure of biofilms and also contributes to their resilient nature. Although many studies continue to define the properties of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial biofilms, there is still much to learn, especially about how structural characteristics help bridge the gap between the chemistry and physical aspects of the matrix. Here, we show that membrane vesicles (MVs), structures derived from the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, are a common particulate feature of the matrix of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Biofilms grown using different model systems and growth conditions were shown to contain MVs when thin sectioned for transmission electron microscopy, and mechanically disrupted biofilms revealed MVs in association with intercellular material. MVs were also isolated from biofilms by employing techniques for matrix isolation and a modified MV isolation protocol. Together these observations verified the presence and frequency of MVs and indicated that MVs were a definite component of the matrix. Characterization of planktonic and biofilm-derived MVs revealed quantitative and qualitative differences between the two and indicated functional roles, such as proteolytic activity and binding of antibiotics. The ubiquity of MVs was supported by observations of biofilms from a variety of natural environments outside the laboratory and established MVs as common biofilm constituents. MVs appear to be important and relatively unacknowledged particulate components of the matrix of gram-negative or mixed bacterial biofilms.

Biofilms↗

Ultrastructural demonstration of noradrenergic synapses in the rat central nervous system by dopamine-beta-hydroxylase immunocytochemistry.

Noradrenergic (NA) cell bodies and axonal processes were identified in the electron microscope by the immunocytochemical localization of the norepinephrine-synthesizing enzyme, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH). DBH immunoreactivity, visualized by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method, was observed in the somata and proximal processes of locus coeruleus neurons and in the distal axons of several NA terminal fields. DBH immunoreactivity is distributed throughout the cytoplasm of the NA neuron, but demonstrates a selective association with endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondrial outer membranes, large granular vesicles, and small, round synaptic vesicles. DBH-positive axonal profiles, typically interspersed between unlabeled dendrites, form two distinct populations: a) thin, unmyelinated intervaricose segments (ca. 0.28 micron) and b) spherical varicosities (ca. 1.00 micron). No DBH-positive varicosities were observed in contact with intracerebral capillaries. In order to determine whether or not NA axons typically form synaptic contacts, a quantitative analysis of selected areas of the diencephalon, cerebellum, and limbic cortex was carried out. More than half (58%) of all DBH-positive varicosities form axodendritic synapses characterized by specialized junctional appositions. The results suggest that NA neurons typically exert their influence on other neurons through highly restricted synaptic contacts.

Animals↗

Characterization of right-side-out membrane vesicles rich in (Na,K)-ATPase and isolated from dog kidney outer medulla.

When purified on a sucrose gradient, basolateral membranes from dog kidney outer medulla are found to be very rich in (Na,K)-ATPase; about 50% of the membrane protein is comprised of this enzyme. (Na,K)-ATPase activity is activated 3- to 5-fold by detergent treatment, and this has been previously attributed to the impermeable vesicular nature of the membranes. Porcine trypsin inactivates only that fraction of (Na,K)-ATPase activity seen without detergent, consistent with a right-side-out orientation of membrane vesicles; the trypsin sensitivity and detergent activation of [3H]ouabain binding in the presence of Na+ + Mg2+ + ATP or Mg2+ + Pi are also consistent with this hypothesis. Using nearly isosmotic Hypaque density gradient centrifugation a population of impermeable right-side-out membrane vesicles (H1) is separated from a leaky population (H2). (Na,K)-ATPase activity in the H1 population is 20-fold activated by detergent and insensitive to porcine trypsin. The vesicle volume is 2.4 microliters/mg, and monovalent cations passively equilibrate with the intravesicular volume on a time scale of 5-30 min. Very rapid ouabain sensitive 22Na efflux from the vesicles is observed when ATP is photolytically released from intravesicular caged ATP.

Animals↗

Subcellular and submitochondrial localization of phospholipid-synthesizing enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Using highly enriched membrane preparations from lactate-grown Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, the subcellular and submitochondrial location of eight enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of phospholipids was determined. Phosphatidylserine decarboxylase and phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase were localized exclusively in the inner mitochondrial membrane, while phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase activity was confined to microsomal fractions. The other five enzymes tested in this study were common both to the outer mitochondrial membrane and to microsomes. The transmembrane orientation of the mitochondrial enzymes was investigated by protease digestion of intact mitochondria and of outside-out sealed vesicles of the outer mitochondrial membrane. Glycerolphosphate acyltransferase, phosphatidylinositol synthase, and phosphatidylserine synthase were exposed at the cytosolic surface of the outer mitochondrial membrane. Cholinephosphotransferase was apparently located at the inner aspect or within the outer mitochondrial membrane. Phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase was localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, on the cytoplasmic side of the outer mitochondrial membrane, and in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Inner membrane activity of this enzyme constituted 80% of total mitochondrial activity; inactivation by trypsin digestion was observed only after preincubation of membranes with detergent (0.1% Triton X-100). Total activity of those enzymes that are common to mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum was about equally distributed between the two organelles. Data concerning susceptibility to various inhibitors, heat sensitivity, and the pH optima indicate that there is a close similarity of the mitochondrial and microsomal enzymes that catalyze the same reaction.

CDP-Diacylglycerol-Inositol 3-Phosphatidyltransfer↗

Surface distribution of the fatty acid side chains of phosphatidylethanolamine in mixed phospholipid vesicles.

A method has been developed for the selective determination of the fatty acid side chain distribution associated with the amino containing phospholipids located in the inner and outer surfaces of membranes. Using sonicated phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylcholine vesicles as a model, the analysis consists of selective labeling of the outer surface amino groups with the membrane impermeable reagent 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid. Outer and inner surface phosphatidylethanolamine fractions are separated by thin-layer chromatography. Analysis of methyl esters derived from these two fractions, by gas-liquid chromatography, yields the fatty acid side chain distribution. Our results show that there is no mol fraction dependence of the incorporation of any specific fatty acid side chains of egg yolk phosphatidylethanolamine into the vesicle or any preferential distribution of these side chains in the inner or outer vesicle surface. The surface distribution of the egg yolk phosphatidylethanolamine molecules in these vesicles appears to be determined by the head group packing requirements and not the fatty acid side chain composition.

Chromatography, Gas↗