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F-actin-myosin-subfragment-1 (S1) interactions. Identification of the refractory state of S1 with the S1 dimer.

Several conflicting experiments have been carried out concerning the existence of a refractory state for myosin subfragment 1 (S1; i.e. unable to bind to F-actin), in the presence of Mg-nucleotide compounds, at low temperature. Contradictory experiments have been published on the existence of a S1 dimer, under the same conditions. By taking into account some elementary, but crucially important, precautions in the preparation of myosin and S1, it is possible to maintain intact the head-to-head sites of dimerisation on both myosin and S1. Moreover, it has been shown that Mg2+ alone, at low temperature, is able to induce a reversible S1-S1 dimerisation [Morel, J. E. & Garrigos, M. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 2679-2686). Here, we have studied the intrinsic viscosity of S1, in the presence of 2 mM MgCl2, versus temperature, between 0.5-20 degrees C. At approximately 0.5-2.0 degrees C, the intrinsic viscosity of S1 was found to be 19.8 cm3/g. Above 2.5-3.0 degrees C, a steep decrease in the intrinsic viscosity was observed. Between 7 degrees C and 20 degrees C, a constant intrinsic viscosity of 6.7 cm3/g was measured. Therefore, there is a dramatic temperature transition between approximately 2.5-7.0 degrees C (width, 4.5 degrees C; midpoint, 5 degrees C): below 2.5 degrees C we observed the presence of a S1 dimer (confirmed by analytical ultracentrifugation performed at 1 degree C) and above 7-8 degrees C we observed the presence of a S1 monomer (confirmed by analytical ultracentrifugation performed at 8 degrees C). We have also studied the interactions of F-actin with S1, under the same conditions of temperature, and in the presence of 2 mM MgCl2, by using preparative ultracentrifugation. At 1-2 degrees C, S1, which is in the dimeric form, is unable to bind to F-actin. At 6-20 degrees C, F-actin and S1 bind stoichiometrically (1S1/1actin), with an equilibrium constant of 0.5 microM-1, under our experimental conditions. We also performed binding experiments at 3-5 degrees C. Although we were unable to clearly reach the asymptote corresponding to stoichiometry, by assuming a 1:1 ratio, we found a temperature transition in the equilibrium constants, between 3-5 degrees C (width, 2 degrees C; midpoint, 4 degrees C). These phenomena are comparable to those observed for the dimer. Thus, we have shown that there is also a temperature transition in the F-actin-S1 binding process. We conclude that the dimeric and the refractory states of S1 are identical.

Actins↗

Simulation of the effects of leaf senescence on membranes by treatment with paraquat.

Chloroplast and microsomal membranes from the primary leaf of bean acquired increasing proportions of gel phase lipid as the tissue senesced. The lipid-phase transition temperature for microsomes rose from about 25 to 43 C and that for chloroplasts rose from below -30 C to about 52 C within 5 weeks of planting. This was accompanied by large increases (2- to 4-fold) in the sterol to phospholipid ratio of the membranes, which reflected breakdown of phospholipid. Changes in fatty acid saturation were of insufficient magnitude to account for the rise in transition temperature. All of these senescence-related changes in chloroplast and microsomal membranes were also induced by treating young, 2-week-old-plants with 10 milligrams per liter paraquat. Within 48 hours of treatment, the transition temperature rose from 25 to 57 C for microsomes and from below -30 to 24 C for chloroplasts. The membranes sustained only small changes in fatty acid saturation, comparable to those incurred during natural senescence, and there was a selective loss of phospholipid, resulting in augmented sterol to phospholipid ratios. Malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation, rose by 2- to 3-fold in both senescing and paraquat-treated leaves. Paraquat is known to form cation redicals that react with O(2) to produce O(2) (-) and has been implicated as an agent of lipid peroxidation. Accordingly, these observations suggest that membrane deterioration during natural senescence may be due in part to free radical damage.

Journal Article↗

Water dynamics in glycosphingolipid aggregates studied by LAURDAN fluorescence.

We have characterized the fluorescence properties of 6-dodecanoyl-2-dimethylamine-naphthalene (LAURDAN) in pure interfaces formed by sphingomyelin and 10 chemically related glycosphingolipids (GSLs).1 The GSLs contain neutral and anionic carbohydrate residues in their oligosaccharide chain. These systems were studied at temperatures below, at, or above the main phase transition temperature of the pure lipid aggregates. The extent of solvent dipolar relaxation around the excited fluorescence probe in the GSLs series increases with the magnitude of the glycosphingolipid polar headgroup below the transition temperature. This conclusion is based on LAURDAN's excitation generalized polarization (GPex) and fluorescence lifetime values found in the different interfaces. A linear dependence between the LAURDAN GPex and the intermolecular spacing among the lipid molecules was found for both neutral and anionic lipids in the GSLs series. This relationship was also followed by phospholipids. We conclude that LAURDAN in these lipid aggregates resides in sites containing different amounts of water. The dimension of these sites increases with the size of the GSLs polar headgroup. The GP function reports on the concentration and dynamics of water molecules in these sites. Upon addition of cholesterol to Gg4Cer, the fluorescence behavior of LAURDAN was similar to that of pure cerebrosides and sphingomyelin vesicles. This observation was attributed to a change in the interfacial hydration as well as changes in the shape and size of the Gg4Cer aggregates in the presence of cholesterol. After the addition of cholesterol to gangliosides, the changes in the LAURDAN's spectral parameters decrease progressively as the polar headgroup of these lipids becomes more complex. This finding suggests that the dehydration effect of cholesterol depends strongly on the curvature radius and the extent of hydration of these lipid aggregates. In the gel phase of phrenosine, GalCer, Gg3Cer, sulfatide, and sphingomyelin, the excitation red band (410 nm) of LAURDAN was reduced with respect to that of LAURDAN in the gel phase of pure phospholipids. This observation indicates a local environment that interacts differently with the ground state of LAURDAN in GSLs when compared with LAURDAN in phospholipids.

2-Naphthylamine↗

High-temperature superconductivity in lattice-expanded C60.

C60 single crystals have been intercalated with CHCl3 and CHBr3 in order to expand the lattice. High densities of electrons and holes have been induced by gate doping in a field-effect transistor geometry. At low temperatures, the material turns superconducting with a maximum transition temperature of 117 K in hole-doped C60/CHBr3. The increasing spacing between the C60 molecules follows the general trend of alkali metal-doped C60 and suggests routes to even higher transition temperatures.

Journal Article↗

The molecular organization of lipids in the membrane of Escherichia coli: phase transitions.

X-ray diffraction techniques have been used to investigate the physical state of the lipids in the membrane of an unsaturated fatty acid auxotroph of Escherichia coli. Thermotropic phase transitions have been detected in membranes prepared from cells grown on various fatty acid supplements. Below the transition temperature, the X-ray diffraction pattern features a sharp ring at 420 pm (4.2 A) due to the close hexagonal packing of the apolar groups of the lipids; above the transition temperature the lipids are in a less organized liquid-crystalline state that gives rise to a diffuse band centered at a Bragg spacing of 460 pm (4.6 A). This transition occurs at or below the temperature at which the cells were grown. Disparities between this transition temperature and the temperature of discontinuities in the Arrhenius plots for proline transport and succinic dehydrogenase activity lead us to conclude that the distribution of lipids within the membrane is heterogeneous.

Cell Membrane↗

Temperature and pressure dependence of quercetin-3-O-palmitate interaction with a model phospholipid membrane: film balance and scanning probe microscopy study.

The molecular interaction of quercetin-3-O-palmitate (QP) with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) has been studied. Film balance measurements of the average molecular area vs QP molar fraction in DMPC/QP mixed monolayers showed that relevant positive deviations from ideality, i.e., a less dense monolayer packing, occurred for a temperature of 10 degrees C, below the critical melting transition temperature of DMPC monolayers T c m approximately equal 20 degrees C), while ideal behavior was observed at 37 degrees C, above this phase transition temperature. The positive deviation observed at low temperatures in the average molecular area increased with the surface pressure. Scanning probe microscopy measurements performed on mixed monolayers transferred on mica showed that the deviations from ideality were connected to the formation of nanometric-scale QP-rich domains. However, the formation of aggregates was observed only for relatively high-QP molar fractions X QP > or = 0.25 at 10 degrees C, while it was not observed at 37 degrees C, i.e., when the ideal mixing was found at the air/water interface. The observed effects are explained in terms of a temperature- and surface pressure-dependent phase-separation process based on the predominance at low temperature and low molecular mobility of QP-QP and DMPC-DMPC aggregation forces, prompting the formation of QP-rich domains embedded in a DMPC-rich matrix. High temperature prompts the QP/DMPC ideal mixing.

Algorithms↗

A study of structurally related binding properties of concanavalin A using differential scanning calorimetry.

Differential scanning calorimetry has been used to study the interactions between concanavalin A and different carbohydrates. It was found that the binding of carbohydrate to concanavalin A stabilizes the structure of the protein as judged by an increase in transition temperature of the lectin. Furthermore, the degree of stabilization is shown to be a function of the association constant for each sugar moiety. Interactions between concanavalin A and the glycoprotein horseradish peroxidase were also studied. On changing the molar ratio of peroxidase to concanavalin A from 0.1 to 16, an initial dramatic increase in the transition temperature for concanavalin A was observed, but at ratios above four the degree of stabilization decreased; no stabilization of peroxidase was found in molar ratios above one. Results are also presented on the importance of Mn2+ and Ca2+ for the stabilization of the concanavalin A structure and for its ability to bind carbohydrates. In the presence of Mn2+ ions alone, the lectin could not form the necessary conformation for binding the carbohydrate. However, with Ca2+ ions alone the lectin was able to bind the carbohydrate ligands, as judged by the shift in its transition temperature.

Calcium↗

Calorimetric studies of the effects of cholesterol on the phase transition of C(18):C(10) phosphatidylcholine.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been employed to study the effects of cholesterol on the phase transition of C(18):C(10) phosphatidylcholine (C(18):C(10)PC). C(18):C(10)PC is an asymmetric mixed-chain phosphatidylcholine known to form mixed-interdigitated structures below the transition temperature and form partially interdigitated lipid bilayers above the transition. Three types of samples were used. The treated sample is the lipid dispersion that had undergone three freeze-thaw cycles and stored at 4 degrees C for more than 48 h. The untreated sample was made by vortexing the dry lipid in 50 mM KCl, without the above-mentioned pretreatment. The cold-treated sample was prepared by incubating the treated sample at -20 degrees C for 15 d. There is no apparent difference in the DSC curves between the treated and cold-treated samples. The data derived from the treated samples seem to be more reproducible. The DSC curves between the cholesterol/C(18):C(10)PC and cholesterol/symmetric diacylphosphatidylcholine mixtures are different in three aspects: overall appearance, the cholesterol dependence of delta H, and the effect of cholesterol on the maximal transition temperature Tm, the onset temperature To, and the completion temperature Tc. for both the treated and untreated samples, the total enthalpy change delta H of the phase transition of C(18):C(10)PC decreases with increasing cholesterol content, approaching zero at approximately 25 mol%. This level is lower than the total enthalpy changes reported previously for the cholesterol/symmetric diacylphosphatidylcholine mixtures. Both the heating and cooling thermograms show that Tm, To, and Tc decrease with increasing cholesterol content. The decreasing rates of these temperatures with cholesterol are in the neighborhood of -0.24 degree per mol% of cholesterol. This value is greater than those reported previously for cholesterol/symmetric diacylphosphatidylcholine mixtures. The phase transition between interdigitated lipid bilayers appears to be more sensitive to cholesterol than that between noninterdigitated lipid structures. The formation of highly ordered interdigitated lipid bilayers requires stringent structural conditions such as specific chain length differences and high molecular order. Apparently, in the presence of cholesterol, these stringent structural conditions are no longer satisfied. It is likely that cholesterol causes a local disordering effect on the gel phase of C(18):C(10)PC and that as a consequence the physical state of the gel phase changes continuously with the cholesterol content. The implication of the present study is that cholesterol may have a function in preventing lipids from forming highly ordered interdigitated structures in natural membranes.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

Dispersions of polymer ionomers: I.

The principal subject discussed in the current paper is the effect of ionic functional groups in polymers on the formation of nontraditional polymer materials, polymer blends or polymer dispersions. Ionomers are polymers that have a small amount of ionic groups distributed along a nonionic hydrocarbon chain. Specific interactions between components in a polymer blend can induce miscibility of two or more otherwise immiscible polymers. Such interactions include hydrogen bonding, ion-dipole interactions, acid-base interactions or transition metal complexation. Ion-containing polymers provide a means of modifying properties of polymer dispersions by controlling molecular structure through the utilization of ionic interactions. Ionomers having a relatively small number of ionic groups distributed usually along nonionic organic backbone chains can agglomerate into the following structures: (1) multiplets, consisting of a small number of tightly packed ion pairs; and (2) ionic clusters, larger aggregates than multiplets. Ionomers exhibit unique solid-state properties as a result of strong associations among ionic groups attached to the polymer chains. An important potential application of ionomers is in the area of thermoplastic elastomers, where the associations constitute thermally reversible cross-links. The ionic (anionic, cationic or polar) groups are spaced more or less randomly along the polymer chain. Because in this type of ionomer an anionic group falls along the interior of the chain, it trails two hydrocarbon chain segments, and these must be accommodated sterically within any domain structure into which the ionic group enters. The primary effects of ionic functionalization of a polymer are to increase the glass transition temperature, the melt viscosity and the characteristic relaxation times. The polymer microstructure is also affected, and it is generally agreed that in most ionomers, microphase-separated, ion-rich aggregates form as a result of strong ion-dipole attractions. As a consequence of this new phase, additional relaxation processes are often observed in the viscoelastic behavior of ionomers. Light functionalization of polymers can increase the glass transition temperature and gives rise to two new features in viscoelastic behavior: (1) a rubbery plateau above T(g) and (2) a second loss process at elevated temperatures. The rubbery plateau was due to the formation of a physical network. The major effect of the ionic aggregate was to increase the longer time relaxation processes. This in turn increases the melt viscosity and is responsible for the network-like behavior of ionomers above the glass transition temperature. Ionomers rich in polar groups can fulfill the criteria for the self-assembly formation. The reported phenomenon of surface micelle formation has been found to be very general for these materials.

Journal Article↗

Effects of glycerol and moisture gradient on thermomechanical properties of white bread.

The thermomechanical properties of breadcrumb were investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The main transition (T(1), near 0 degrees C) shifted to lower temperature with added glycerol due to freezing point depression. The low-temperature transition (T(3), approximately -50 degrees C), found only in high-glycerol (8.8%) bread, suggested that of excess or phase-separated glycerol. The high-temperature transition (T(2), 60-85 degrees C) appeared only in aged breadcrumbs; its temperature range was correlated well with the amylopectin melting transition (DSC) but its tan delta amplitude did not correlate well with the amylopectin melting enthalpy (r(2) = 0.72). On the other hand, the change of E' ' (viscous behavior) suggested that T(2) might be related to the change in the amorphous region. Domain-to-domain (amorphous) and crumb-to-crust moisture migrations are two critical phenomenological changes associated with aging and could lead to significant local dehydration of some amorphous regions contributing to mechanical firming during storage.

Bread↗

Hydrophobic mismatch and long-range protein/lipid interactions in bacteriorhodopsin/phosphatidylcholine vesicles.

Mismatch between the hydrophobic thicknesses of transmembrane proteins and the supporting lipid bilayer and its consequences on the lateral organization of lipids have been investigated with bacteriorhodopsin and phosphatidylcholine species with a variety of acyl-chain lengths. The purple membrane, from the bacterium Halobacterium halobium, was used and reconstituted with dilauroyl-(Lau2GroPCho), dimyristoyl- (Myr2GroPCho), dipalmitoyl- (Pam2GroPCho) and distearoyl- (Ste2GroPCho) glycerophosphocholine. The phase behaviour of the lipids was investigated at different temperatures and different protein/lipid molar ratios, by analyzing the fluorescence excitation spectra of the 1-acyl-2-[8-(2-anthroyl)-octanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine probe, and by measuring the fluorescence depolarization of the 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene probe. Data obtained with 1-acyl-2-[8-(2-anthroyl)-octanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine shows that bacteriorhodopsin produced positive or negative shifts in the phase transition temperature of the host lipids depending on the strength and sign of the mismatch between the lipid and protein hydrophobic thicknesses and also on the protein concentration and aggregation state in the lipid bilayer. In the region of high protein concentration (bacteriorhodopsin/phosphatidylcholine molar ratios approximately 1:50) and despite the presence of the endogenous lipids, bacteriorhodopsin (hydrophobic length dP approximately 3.0-3.1 nm) brought about a large upward shift in the phase-transition temperature of Lau2GroPCho (delta T approximately 40 K, mean hydrophobic thickness d approximately 2.4 nm), and to a lesser extent of Myr2GroPCho (delta T approximately 23 K, d approximately 2.8 nm), accounting for a strong rigidifying effect of the protein on these short-chain lipids. Bacteriorhodopsin had no influence on the phase properties of Pam2GroPCho (delta T approximately 0 K, d approximately 3.2 nm), a lipid whose mean hydrophobic thickness is similar to that of the protein. In contrast, the transition temperature of Ste2GroPCho was decreased (delta T approximately -13 K, d approximately 3.7 nm), indicating a fluidifying effect of the protein on this long-chain lipid. Similar effects on the lipid acyl-chain order were observed in the region of high-protein dilution (bacteriorhodopsin/phosphatidylcholine molar ratios < 1:500). In this region and for Lau2GroPCho, both the spectroscopic data and circular-dichroism spectra indicated that the protein was in the monomeric form. Phase diagrams, in temperature versus bacteriorhodopsin concentration, were constructed for Lau2GroPCho and Ste2GroPCho. On account of microscopic theoretical models and of the relative values of dP and d, these diagrams indicate a preference of the protein for those lipid molecules which are in the gel-ordered state in Lau2GroPCho but in the liquid disordered state in Ste2GroPCho.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

Low-temperature phase transition in the three-state Potts glass.

The low-temperature instability of one-step replica symmetry breaking (1RSB) phase in three-state Potts spin glass is obtained explicitly. The temperature of the instability is higher than the temperature where the 1RSB entropy becomes negative. The conjecture of the possibility of the low-temperature full RSB is supported.

Journal Article↗

Interactions between volatile anesthetics and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes as studied by fluorometry with a thiacarbocyanine dye.

The effects of volatile anesthetics on the properties of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposome were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy with a thiacarbocyanine dye (3,3"-dioctadecyl-2,2"-thiacarbocyanine) which is sensitive to the viscosity and the dielectric constant of the environment. Seven volatile anesthetics, halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, sevoflurane, diethylether and chloroform were used. All anesthetics decreased the phase transition temperature of the liposome and increased the effective dielectric constant of the water-liposome interface. The increase of the effective dielectric constant was attributed to the release of the hydrated water molecules from the membrane surface. The increment of the effective dielectric constant depended on the thermodynamic activity of anesthetics in the solution, and was not affected seriously by the kind of anesthetics. On the other hand, the degree of the depression of the phase transition temperature depended on the molar concentrations of anesthetics. Considering from the Ferguson's report, which is dealt with the relationship between the physiological effect and the thermodynamic activity, the effect of anesthetics on the effective dielectric constant of the membrane surface is more correlated to the anesthetic action than the effect on the phase transition temperature.

Journal Article↗

Kinetics of the pectin methylesterase catalyzed de-esterification of pectin in frozen food model systems.

The pectin methylesterase (PME) catalyzed de-esterification of pectin was studied in four frozen food model systems based on sucrose, fructose, maltodextrin, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) in a temperature range from -24 to 20 degrees C, with the aim of elucidating the applicability of the theory of "food polymer science" on the kinetics. The rate substantially decreased around the glass transition temperature in the case of CMC, while very low rates were observed far above the glass transition temperature in the case of maltodextrin, fructose, and sucrose model systems. In general, the kinetics of this reaction was found to be influenced more by factors such as the characteristics of the component solutes, freeze concentration, the possible viscosity enhancement due to a particular combination of solutes, and the molecular size of the substrate molecule rather than the glass transition process. The Arrhenius equation described the temperature dependence of kinetics both in the liquid state of all the systems studied (r(2) > or = 0.97) and the glassy state of CMC (r(2) = 0.95). A clear break in the Arrhenius plot was observed as the temperature decreased to subfreezing temperatures. The Arrhenius equation could describe the kinetics reasonably well in the rubbery state for fructose and sucrose model systems (r(2) > 0.992). In the case of maltodextrin and CMC, the Arrhenius plots showed a slight curvature followed by a break at the glass transition temperature for CMC. The WLF equation with system-dependent coefficients better described the kinetics in the rubbery state of the CMC and part of the maltodextrin system. A linear relationship between the logarithm of the rate and T - Tg' described the kinetics in the sucrose as well as fructose model systems (r(2) = 0.9928 and 0.993, respectively).

Calorimetry↗

Study of the interaction between the antitumour protein alpha-sarcin and phospholipid vesicles.

alpha-Sarcin is a single polypeptide chain protein which exhibits antitumour activity by degrading the larger ribosomal RNA of tumour cells. We describe the interaction of a alpha-sarcin with lipid model systems. The protein specifically interacts with negatively-charged phospholipid vesicles, resulting in protein-lipid complexes which can be isolated by ultracentrifugation in a sucrose gradient. alpha-Sarcin causes aggregation of such vesicles. The extent of this interaction progressively decreases when the molar ratio of phosphatidylcholine increases in acidic vesicles. The kinetics of the vesicle aggregation induced by the protein have been measured. This process is dependent on the ratio of alpha-sarcin present in the protein-lipid system. A saturation plot is observed from phospholipid vesicles-protein titrations. The saturating protein/lipid molar ratio is 1:50. The effect produced by the antitumour protein on the lipid vesicles is dependent on neither the length nor the degree of unsaturation of the phospholipid acyl chain. However, the aggregation is dependent on temperature, being many times higher above the phase transition temperature of the corresponding phospholipid than below it. The effects of pH and ionic strength have also been considered. An increase in the ionic strength does not abolish the protein-lipid interaction. The effect of pH may be related to conformational changes of the protein. Binding experiments reveal a strong interaction between alpha-sarcin and acidic vesicles, with Kd = 0.06 microM. The peptide bonds of the protein are protected against trypsin hydrolysis upon binding to acidic vesicles. The interaction of the protein with phosphatidylglycerol vesicles does not modify the phase transition temperature of the lipid, although it decreases the amplitude of the change of fluorescence anisotropy associated to the co-operative melting of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH)-labelled vesicles. The results are interpreted in terms of the existence of both electrostatic and hydrophobic components for the interaction between phospholipid vesicles and the antitumour protein.

Animals↗

Use of spin labels to determine the percentage of interdigitated lipid in complexes with polymyxin B and polymyxin B nonapeptide.

Long chain spin labels with the nitroxide group located near the terminal methyl of the chain were used to determine the percentage interdigitated lipid in complexes of polymyxin B (PMB) and polymyxin B nonapeptide (PMBN) with the acidic lipids dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) and dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid (DPPA) at varying mole ratios of drug to lipid and at different pH values. These spin labels are more motionally restricted in the interdigitated than in the non-interdigitated gel phase bilayer. This allows determination of the percentage interdigitated lipid by resolution of the spectrum into motionally restricted and more mobile components. At nonsaturating concentrations of PMB, significantly more DPPG than that which can be maximally PMB-bound, becomes interdigitated. As the temperature approaches the gel to liquid crystalline phase transition temperature, the bilayer becomes progressively non-interdigitated. The ESR spectrum indicates that PMB also causes interdigitation of DPPA. However, in contrast to DPPG, the amount of DPPA which is interdigitated at pH 6, is less than the amount which is expected to be PMB-bound. This is attributed to the ability of DPPA to participate in lateral interlipid hydrogen bonding interactions. Such lateral interactions would be abolished in the interdigitated bilayer and thus they are expected to inhibit its formation. At pH 9, where the interlipid interactions of DPPA are weakened, PMB induces even more lipid than that which is PMB-bound to become interdigitated. Indeed, the percentage interdigitated lipid is even greater than found for DPPG. This may be partly a result of the greater negative charge of DPPA at this pH. A greater repulsive negative charge is expected to favor interdigitation. PMBN is less effective than PMB at inducing interdigitation of DPPG and causes little or no interdigitation of DPPA at pH 6, even at saturating concentrations. PMBN also does not lower the phase transition temperature of DPPA at pH 6 as much as PMB. At pH 9, the effect of PMBN on DPPA is more similar to the effect of PMB. However, even for DPPG, and DPPA at pH 9, PMBN does not maintain interdigitation of the lipids at higher temperatures as effectively as PMB. PMBN's smaller perturbing effect and greatly decreased ability to cause interdigitation of DPPA at pH values below 9 may be related to a decreased ability to cause lateral separation of the lipid molecules, which is necessary in order to weaken the interlipid interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗

Effect of vesicle size and lipid composition on the in vivo tumor selectivity and toxicity of the non-cross-resistant anthracycline annamycin incorporated in liposomes.

Annamycin (Ann) is a non-cross-resistant lipophilic anthracycline antiobiotic optimally suited for liposome delivery. We studied how vesicle size and presence of phospholipids with a high phase transition temperature and monosialoganglioside (GM I) in the liposome bilayers affect the pharmacokinetics, tumor selectivity and toxicity of Ann. Entrapment of Ann in multilamellar vesicles (L-Ann) resulted in a 20% lower heart AUC and a 30-40% higher tumor and liver AUC. Reduction of the liposome size from 1.6 to 0.03 microns increased Ann plasma circulation time and tumor AUC by 2-fold, enhanced Ann tumor selectivity and decreased Ann subacute toxicity by 2-fold. The presence of phospholipids with a high phase transition temperature and GMI in the liposome bilayers further prolonged Ann plasma circulation time by 2- to 4-fold, did not increase Ann tumor AUC and moderately increased Ann subacute toxicity. The anti-tumor activity of Ann correlated with the tumor AUC achieved with each particular formulation. Our results strongly suggest that vesicle size may be an important determinant of the therapeutic index of liposomal Ann, but they fail to demonstrate a beneficial tumor-targeting effect of liposomes composed of GMI and phospholipids with a high phase transition temperature, as has been reported for the hydrophilic parent compound doxorubicin.

Animals↗

The influence of poly-(L-lysine) and porin on the domain structure of mixed vesicles composed of lipopolysaccharide and phospholipid: an infrared spectroscopic study.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has been used to study the thermotropic phase behavior of binary lipid mixtures composed of deuterated phospholipids (PLs) and lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). Furthermore, the influence of an extrinsic high-molecular, polycationic polypeptide (poly-(L-lysine), PLL(500)) and an intrinsic membrane protein (outer membrane protein F, OmpF) on these binary mixtures was investigated by FTIR spectroscopy. "Deep rough" mutant LPS (ReLPS), isolated from Salmonella minnesota R595, and perdeuterated 1,2-dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPEd54) were used as model lipids. Deuteration of one of the lipids permitted the detection of lipid protein interaction with each lipid component separately. For this purpose, the symmetric >CH2 and >CD2 stretching bands were utilized as specific monitors to scrutinize the state of order of the membranes. From the individual phase transition temperatures Tm and the shape of the phase transition profiles, it is established that ReLPS and DMPEd54 are molecularly immiscible. In addition to the two domains of the pure lipid components, a third, domain-like structure is detected that may coexist with these pure domains. This domain-like structure undergoes a gel to liquid-crystalline L1 (beta <--> alpha) phase transition at temperatures distinctly different from that of the respective pure lipid domains. The nature of this type of domain is discussed in terms of a "border region" model that adequately explains the experimentally observed complex phase transition profiles. It is further demonstrated that the extrinsic polycationic polypeptide PLL(500) and the intrinsic, pore-forming protein OmpF isolated from Escherichia coli interact preferentially and highly specifically with the negatively charged ReLPS. Both the synthetic polypeptide and the pore-forming protein increased the tendency of ReLPS and DMPEd54 to segregate into distinct, well-separated domains. Whereas the transition profiles of the ternary system ReLPS/DMPEd54/PLL(500) showed the features of a phase segregation phenomenon not affecting the transition temperatures of the pure lipid components, the ternary system composed of ReLPS/DMPEd54 and OmpF exhibited phase transition curves that were characterized by an unspecific (DMPEd54/OmpF) and a strong and unique (ReLPS/OmpF) type of lipid-protein interaction. Furthermore, semiquantitative estimations supported the supposition that OmpF might be able to induce bilayer asymmetry in preformed symmetrical ReLPS/DMPEd54 vesicles.

Bacterial Proteins↗