Interaction of rhodopsin with two unsaturated phosphatidylcholines: a deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance study

Calcium/calmodulin-sensitive adenylyl cyclase as an example of a molecular associative integrator

Evidence suggests that the Ca2+/calmodulin-sensitive adenylyl cyclase may play a key role in neural plasticity and learning in Aplysia, Drosophila, and mammals. This dually-regulated enzyme has been proposed as a possible site of stimulus convergence during associative learning. This commentary discusses the evidence that is required to demonstrate that a protein in a second messenger cascade actually functions as a molecular site of associative integration. It also addresses the issue of how a dually-regulated protein could contribute to the temporal pairing requirements of classical conditioning: that relationship between stimuli display both temporal contiguity and predictability.

The key to rhodopsin function lies in the structure of its interface with transducin

Light activated rhodopsin functions by catalyzing the exchange of GTP for GDP on numerous copies of transducin. Peptide mapping has shown that at least six regions, three on rhodopsin and three on the transducin alpha subunit, are involved in the active interface between the two proteins. The most informative structural studies of rhodopsin should include focus on the transducin interaction.

2H nuclear magnetic resonance order parameter profiles suggest a change of molecular shape for phosphatidylcholines containing a polyunsaturated acyl chain

Solid-state 2H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to determine the orientational order parameter profiles for a series of phosphatidylcholines with perdeuterated stearic acid, 18:0d35, in position sn-1 and 18:1 omega 9, 18:2 omega 6, 18:3 omega 3, 20:4 omega 6, 20:5 omega 3, or 22:6 omega 3 in position sn-2. The main phase transition temperatures were derived from a first moment analysis, and order parameter profiles of sn-1 chains were calculated from dePaked nuclear magnetic resonance powder patterns. Comparison of the profiles at 37 degrees C showed that unsaturation causes an inhomogenous disordering along the sn-1 chain. Increasing sn-2 chain unsaturation from one to six double bonds resulted in a 1.6-kHz decrease in quadrupolar splittings of the sn-1 chain in the upper half of the chain (or plateau region) and maximum splitting difference of 4.4 kHz at methylene carbon 14. The change in chain order corresponds to a decrease in the 18:0 chain length of 0.4 +/- 0.2 A with 18:2 omega 6 versus 18:1 omega 9 in position sn-2. Fatty acids containing three or more double bonds in sn-2 showed a decrease in sn-1 chain length of 0.7 +/- 0.2 A compared with 18:1 omega 9. The chain length of all lipids decreased with increasing temperature. Highly unsaturated phosphatidylcholines (three or more double bonds in sn-2) had shorter sn-1 chains, but the chain length was somewhat less sensitive to temperature. The profiles reveal that the sn-1 chain exhibits a selective increase in motional freedom in a region located toward the bottom half of the chain as sn-2 unsaturation is increased. This corresponds to an area increase around carbon atom number 14 that is three to four times greater than the increase for the top part of the chain. A similar asymmetric decrease in order, largest toward the methyl end of the chain, was observed when 1 -palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylethanolamine goes from a lamellar to an inverse hexagonal (H,,) phase. This is consistent with a change to a more wedge-shaped space available for the acyl chain.

A calorimetric investigation of a series of mixed-chain polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholines: effect of sn-2 chain length and degree of unsaturation

Although mammalian tissues contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, our knowledge of the effects of the degree of unsaturation and double-bond location upon bilayer organization is limited. Therefore, a series of mixed-chain unsaturated phosphatidylcholines (PC) comprised of 18:0 at the sn-1 position and various unsaturates at the sn-2 position (18:1n9, 18:2n6, 18:3n6, 18:3n3, 20:2n6, 20:3n6, 20:4n6, 20:5n3, 22:4n6, 22:5n6, or 22:6n3) was studied with differential scanning calorimetry, and their gel to liquid-crystalline phase transitions yielded measurements of Tm, Tonset, delta H, and delta S. Minimal delta H values were obtained for the diene species, 1.7 and 2.9 kcal/mole for 18:2n6 and 20:2n6, respectively. These results are consistent with the dienes having an acyl chain conformation that results in perturbed chain packing. Increasing the degree of unsaturation to three or more double bonds resulted in higher delta H values, 3.7, 4.3, and 4.6 kcal/mole for 18:3n6, 20:3n6, and 20:4n6, respectively, consistent with the occurrence of a gel-state chain conformation(s), which is more tightly packed than the dienes. The 18:0,22:6n3-PC species yielded the highest delta H (6.1 kcal/mole) and delta S(22.7 cal/mol degree) of all the polyunsaturates studied. The distinctive packing properties of phospholipid bilayers containing 22:6n3 may underlie its essential role in the nervous system.

Heteroacid phosphatidylcholines with different amounts of unsaturation respond differently to cholesterol

The effectiveness of cholesterol in removing the gel to liquid crystal phase transition of dispersions of pure molecular species of phosphatidylcholines (PC) that is detectable by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been explored. The effect of cholesterol on 16:0-18:0 PC, 16:0-18:1 PC, 16:0-18:2 PC, 16:0-20:4 PC and 16:0-22:6 PC has been determined. Cholesterol caused a concentration-dependent removal of the detectable phase transitions in all cases. It required very little cholesterol to remove the phase transition 16:0-18:2 PC (< 17 mol% of cholesterol in PC). It required > or = 35 mol% cholesterol to remove delta H for 16:0-18:0 PC and 16:0-22:6 PC. About 20-25 mol% cholesterol caused disappearance of the transitional endotherm of 16:0-18:1 PC and 16:0-20:4 PC. The findings indicate that the magnitude of the influence of cholesterol on phospholipid is dependent on the degree of unsaturation in the lipid.

Use of merocyanine (MC540) in quantifying lipid domains and packing in phospholipid vesicles and tumor cells

The fluorescent probe merocyanine (MC540) reports qualitatively on several membrane events. Here we demonstrate that MC540 fluorescence can quantify the degree of coexisting liquid-crystalline and gel states in mixed monotectic phosphatidylcholine (PC) bilayers. The probe exhibits disparate fluorescence wavelength maximas and and intensities when incorporated into liquid-crystalline and gel state membranes. The fluorescence measurements partitioning of the EPR spin probe TEMPO between the aqueous environment and the membrane fluid phase. While both techniques can accurately assess the phase transition of synthetic PCs, only MC540 can distinguish between liquid-crystalline phases of different composition. MC540 fluorescence for single-component PC bilayers correlates quantitatively with estimates of the area/molecule determined from surface area/pressure isotherms of lipid monolayers, whereas partitioning of TEMPO fails to assess the relative degree of lipid packing in various fluid state membranes. Additionally, MC540 fluorescence characterizes the interaction of cholesterol with membranes made from condensable (18:0, 18:1-PC) and non-condensable (18:0, 22:6-PC) lipids. Finally MC540 distinguishes tumor cell membranes differing only in the amount of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Thus we conclude that MC540 can be used quantitatively to study phospholipid packing and membrane phases with lipid vesicles and to sense subtle differences in the arrangement of phospholipids in biological membranes.

Docosahexaenoic acid increases permeability of lipid vesicles and tumor cells

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a long-chain polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acid, is tested to determine its mode of action as an anti-cancer agent. We demonstrate that DHA can increase the permeability of phospholipid vesicles, as monitored by vesicle swelling in isosmolar erythritol and leakage of sequestered carboxyfluorescein, and T27A tumor cells, as monitored by swelling in isosmolar erythritol and release of sequestered 51Cr. DHA was incorporated into lipid vesicles as either the free fatty acid or as 1-stearoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. DHA was incorporated into the tumor cells by fusion with vesicles made from the mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines. DHA is demonstrated here to be much more effective in increasing permeability than is oleic acid, the major unsaturated fatty acid normally found in tumor plasma membranes. It is proposed that incorporation of DHA makes tumor plasma membranes substantially more permeable, which may explain, in part, its anti-tumor properties.

Omega-3 fatty acid modification of membrane structure and function. II. Alteration by docosahexaenoic acid of tumor cell sensitivity to immune cytolysis

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6) is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid abundant in cold water fish; it is the most unsaturated fatty acid found in biologic systems and is reported to alter membrane structure. To explore DHA's effect on membrane function, we have fused tumor cells with synthetic phosphatidylcholine (PC) containing stearic acid in the sn-1 position and DHA in the sn-2 position (18:0, 22:6 PC) and have found the lipid-modified tumor cells to be more sensitive to cytolysis by alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Cold target competition experiments suggested that fusion of tumor plasma membranes with 18:0, 22:6 PC produced a qualitative change in expression of surface antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We monitored the expression of various epitopes on tumor cells by complement-mediated lysis and radioimmunoassay with monoclonal antibodies against H-2 class I antigens. Our results suggest that membrane-bound DHA increases the expression of some epitopes while decreasing the expression of others and that different tumor lines vary in the magnitude of DHA's effect. Our findings are consistent with a model in which DHA-containing phospholipids segregate into membrane domains, in turn altering the expression of membrane proteins.

Omega-3 fatty acid modification of membrane structure and function. I. Dietary manipulation of tumor cell susceptibility to cell- and complement-mediated lysis

Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fish oil, are reported to alter membrane properties when incorporated into membrane phospholipids. We report that dietary omega-3 fatty acids, incorporated into tumor cell membranes, alter tumor recognition and cytolysis by the immune system. Mice were fed diets rich in corn oil, hydrogenated coconut oil, or menhaden (fish) oil. T27A leukemia cells were grown as an ascites tumor in these mice and harvested for biochemical and immunologic assays. The incorporation of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) into tumor plasma membranes correlated with an increased susceptibility to tumor cytolysis by alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes and decreased expression of a class I major histocompatibility complex epitope, monitored by complement-mediated lysis and radioimmunoassay. Thus the immunologic phenotype of this ascites tumor reflected the source of oil present in the diet during tumor growth.

Formation of non-bilayer structures induced by M13 coat protein depends on the conformation of the protein

A comparison is made of the interaction of the coat protein of bacteriophage M13 in a predominant alpha-helix conformation and in a predominant beta-sheet conformation. To perform a systematic study of the interaction between the protein in these two different forms of the surrounding lipid matrix, NMR spectra of 2H-nuclei of specific labelled phospholipid systems are measured. In addition 31P-NMR is employed to provide information about the morphological structure adopted by the reconstituted lipid/protein systems. From the 2H-NMR studies on specific headgroup and chain deuterium labelled phospholipids it is found that the protein in the predominant beta-sheet conformation causes a fraction of lipids to be trapped. By combining the results from the headgroup and acyl chains of the phospholipids, it is concluded that the trapped lipids are arranged in a non-bilayer structure, probably caused by a misfitting of the hydrophobic core of the protein and the membrane bilayer. The protein in the predominant alpha-helix conformation perfectly fits in the lipid bilayer and has only minor influences on the surrounding lipid matrix. A new model is proposed to explain the presence of the trapped lipids in the lipid/protein systems.

Effect of the unsaturation of phospholipid acyl chains on leucine transport of Lactococcus lactis and membrane permeability

The effect of the degree of unsaturation of the phospholipid acyl chains on the branched-chain amino acid transport system of Lactococcus lactis was investigated by the use of a membrane fusion technique. Transport activity was analyzed in hybrid membranes composed of equimolar mixtures of synthetic unsaturated phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in which the number of cis double bonds in the 18-carbon acyl chains was varied. The accumulation level and initial rate of both counterflow and protonmotive-force driven transport of leucine decreased with increasing number of double bonds. The reduction in transport activity with increasing number of double bonds correlated with an increase in the passive permeability of the membranes to leucine. The membrane fluidity was hardly affected by the double bond content. It is concluded that the degree of lipid acyl chain unsaturation is a minor determinant of the activity of the branched chain amino acid transport system, but effects strongly the passive permeability of the membrane.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum from rabbit and winter flounder: temperature-dependence of protein conformation and lipid motion

A comparative study of lipids and proteins in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) from rabbit and flounder has been undertaken. The protein/phospholipid ratio (w/w) was 3:1 in flounder SR (FSR) and 2.2:1 in rabbit SR (RSR). Both membranes had similar contents of PC (70%) and PI (6%). PE constituted 15% in RSR and 21% in FSR. PS and sphingomyelin were minor components of both SR (less than 4%). There were differences in the unsaturated chains of the total lipid extracts, PC, PE, and PI between FSR and RSR. RSR was high in linoleate and arachidonate while FSR contained substantial amounts of eicosapentaenoate and docosahexaenoate. FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the lipids of both membranes did not undergo a phase transition between 0 and 50 degrees C. The lipids were in the liquid-crystalline state at physiological temperatures and underwent monotonic increases in conformational disorder as the temperature was raised. CD spectra indicated higher content of alpha-helical structure of proteins in RSR than in FSR. Increasing temperature caused diminution of alpha-helix content. Relatively large decreases in ellipticity were observed between 20 degrees C and 40 degrees C for FSR and 30 degrees C and 60 degrees C for RSR. Measurements of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence as a function of temperature gave similar results for membrane proteins in both FSR and RSR. The rate of change of tryptophan fluorescence and fluorescence lifetimes was constant over the temperature ranges studied, and no abrupt shifts in fluorescence occurred in the temperature regions where ellipticity decreased rapidly.

On the conformational, physical properties and functions of polyunsaturated acyl chains

The conformational properties of the acyls of biological membranes--hydrocarbon chains with isolated cis double bonds--were studied by computer simulation. The Monte Carlo method was used, with continuous variation of bond rotation angles within the (0, 360 degree) range considered. It has been shown, that if all double bonds of molecules are separated only by one methylene group, and their number in the chain is maximum, the molecule is characterized by the highest equilibrium flexibility (at temperatures only encountered by biological systems) as compared to any similar molecules. It is such a structure which is inherent to docosahexaenoic acid. The above molecule coefficient that characterizes the temperature sensitivity of the molecule sizes is 10-times lower than that of a saturated chain. The polyunsaturated chain segment with high probability assumes the extended (in perfect crystal structures the 'angle iron-shaped') conformation when all the molecules are efficiently packed below the phase-transition temperatures. The annular lipid layer of embedded enzymes is assumed to be enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acid acyls. The above physical properties of polyunsaturated chains are bound to favour the maintenance of the proper conformational mobility of biomembrane enzymes, to relax the negative influence of environmental temperature changes on their activity. When freezing biological membranes they are bound to provide the molecule packing which is free of high tensions.

Effect of increasing the level of omega-3 fatty acids on rat skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum

The effect of dietary supplementation with fish oil as compared to corn oil on the lipid dynamics and calcium ATPase activity of rat skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum was examined. After four-week supplementation with fish oil, the levels of eicosapentaenoic (20:5 omega 3), docosapentaenoic (22:5 omega 3) and docosahexaenoic (22:6 omega 3) acids in the total lipids were 5.3, 5.5 and 28.1% of the total fatty acids, respectively. In contrast, with corn oil only 22:6 was found (8.9%). The level of these fatty acids in phosphatidylethanolamine from the membranes of animals fed fish oil was 4.2 (20:5), 5.4 (22:5) and 49.1% (22:6); and for phosphatidylcholine it was 5.4 (20:5), 4.6 (22:5) and 17.4% (22:6). Again, in corn oil fed animals, only 22:6 was found in appreciable amounts, namely 28.3% in phosphatidylethanolamine and 1.8% in phosphatidylcholine. The steady state fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) was used to assess lipid order and was found to be only slightly less for membranes from animals supplemented with fish oil (0.120) as compared to those supplemented with corn oil (0.124). The calcium ATPase was found to be unaffected by supplementation consistent with the observed modest changes in lipid order as well as with suggestions that the enzyme is relatively insensitive to the level of unsaturation. It could be argued that if large increases in fatty acyl polyunsaturation in mammalian cell membranes would lead to marked alterations in bulk membrane lipid motional properties, this may not be in the interest of preserving physiological function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Preparative high-performance liquid chromatography purification of polyunsaturated phospholipids and characterization using ultraviolet derivative spectroscopy

A preparative reversed-phase HPLC system utilizing an isocratic mobile phase to purify up to 10-mg quantities of phospholipids is described. The method was developed to separate oxidation products of polyunsaturated phospholipids from intact, parent lipids. The method is useful for phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine on a preparative scale and for phosphatidylserine and phosphatidic acid on an analytical scale. Both intact phospholipids and oxidized phospholipids were monitored by absorbance at 206 nm. The oxidation products were simultaneously monitored at 234 nm where the intact phospholipids have only a very slight end absorption. Second-derivative uv spectroscopy proved to be extremely useful to identify the presence or to verify the absence of oxidation products in phospholipid samples. For autoxidized docosahexaenoic acid containing phospholipids, the absorbance maximum of diene oxidation products is 237 nm for the trans,trans (t,t) isomer and 246 nm for the cis,trans (c,t) isomers. Similarly, five classes of triene oxidation product stereoisomers have distinct absorbance maxima detected by second-derivative spectroscopy ranging from 269 to 292 nm.

A comparison of the effects of linolenic (18:3 omega 3) and docosahexaenoic (22:6 omega 3) acids on phospholipid bilayers

The class of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids known as omega-3 are believed to be involved in prevention of a number of human afflictions. The mode of action for two of the most common omega-3 fatty acids, linolenic 18:3 delta 9,12,15 and docosahexaenoic 22:6 delta 4,7,10,13,16,19 (DHA), is not known. One suggestion is that they may be incorporated into membranes and there provide some specific function. Here we compare the effects of DHA and its metabolic precursor linolenic acid on the membrane properties of fluidity, fusion and permeability. The fatty acids were investigated as both free fatty acids and mixed chain 18:0, 18:3 and 18:0, 22:6 phosphatidylcholines (PCs). Fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and a series of anthracene stearic acid probes indicates 20 mol% incorporation of either fatty acid into dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers broadens and depresses the temperature of the phase transition, but has almost no effect on fluidity in the liquid crystalline state. Similar fluidity was also observed in the liquid crystalline bilayers of the mixed chain PCs using the same set of fluorescent fatty acid probes. In contrast, DHA as a free fatty acid or as part of a mixed chain PC, causes a much greater enhancement than linolenic acid of the rates of fusion and permeability as monitored by fluorescence resonance energy transfer and aqueous compartment mixing (fusion) and by lipid vesicle swelling in isotonic erythritol, (permeability). These experiments establish a clear distinction between the effects of linolenic acid and DHA in membranes.

Transverse nuclear spin relaxation in phosphatidylcholine bilayers containing gramicidin

Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance has been used to study transverse relaxation in samples of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, perdeuterated and specifically deuterated at the alpha position of the chains, containing the polypeptide gramicidin at concentrations of 0, 1, and 4 mol%. For 4 mol% gramicidin, the bilayer is thought to undergo a continuous phase change rather than a phase transition proceeding via two phase coexistence. Information is obtained regarding lipid dynamics in the continuous phase change region of the phase diagram. In the presence of gramicidin, the transverse relaxation time measured by the quadrupole echo technique, T2e, passes through a minimum in the gel phase. The gramicidin concentration dependence of T2e suggests that the polypeptide reduces the temperature sensitivity of the correlation time responsible for the minimum. The polypeptide also increases the sensitivity of the first spectral moment, M1, to the quadrupole echo pulse separation. This behavior is attributed to a polypeptide-induced enhancement of the spread in T2e along the acyl chains. Quadrupole Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill experiments are used to separate contributions to the observed behavior from fast and slow motions.

Distribution of charge on photoreceptor disc membranes and implications for charged lipid asymmetry

A novel spin labeling technique is used to determine both the inner and outer surface potentials of isolated rod outer segment disc membranes and of reconstituted membranes containing rhodopsin with defined lipid compositions. It is shown that these potentials can be accounted for in a consistent manner by the accepted model of rhodopsin, the known lipid composition, and the Gouy-Chapman theory, provided the charged lipid is asymmetric in the membrane, with approximately 75% on the external surface.

Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of bacteriophage M13 coat protein in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes using palmitic acid as a probe

The effect of incorporation of various amounts of M13 bacteriophage coat protein on the bilayer order and acyl chain motion in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes has been investigated using deuterium NMR of specifically deuterated palmitic acid as a bilayer probe, phosphorus NMR and additional spin-label electron spin resonance (ESR). The secondary structure of the M13 coat protein in these bilayers was determined from circular dichroism spectra. Phosphorus NMR spectra of the mixed liposomes are characteristic for DMPC organized in bilayers, also after incorporation of various levels of M13 protein. Circular dichroism spectra of the coat protein indicate that the protein conformation is predominantly a beta-structure (more than 75%). Various incorporation levels of M13 coat protein do not affect the order of the deuterium-labelled positions along the acyl chain at the carbon-2, 9 and 16 positions. In contrast, the spin-spin relaxation times decrease at higher protein levels, especially at the carbon-16 position. The spin-label ESR spectra of the same system using 14-doxylstearic acid as a label show a second, motionally restricted component, that is not observed by deuterium NMR. The NMR and ESR results are consistent with a model in which the fatty acid molecules are in a fast two-site exchange (at a rate of approx. 10(7) Hz) between the sites in the bulk of the lipid bilayer and the motionally restricted sites on the coat protein.

Equilibrium and dynamic structure of large, unilamellar, unsaturated acyl chain phosphatidylcholine vesicles. Higher order analysis of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene and 1-[4-(trimethylammonio)phenyl]- 6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene anisotropy decay

Equilibrium and dynamic structural properties of minimally to highly unsaturated acyl chain, large, unilamellar phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles have been characterized by the dynamic fluorescence properties of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and 1-[4-(trimethylammonio)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH). Fluorescence lifetimes and equilibrium and dynamic rotational properties of these probes were analyzed by limited-frequency phase-modulation fluorometry in egg PC, palmitoyloleoyl-PC (POPC), dioleoyl-PC (DOPC), palmitoylarachidonoyl-PC (PAPC), and palmitoyldocosahexaenoyl-PC (P-22:6-PC) vesicles over a temperature range from 5 to 37 degrees C. DPH equilibrium orientational distributions were derived according to a model permitting bimodal orientational distributions in which the parallel probability maximum was aligned parallel to the bilayer normal and the orthogonal probability maximum was oriented parallel to the plane of the bilayer. TMA-DPH orientational distributions were derived according to the same model except that all probability was constrained to the parallel orientation. TMA-DPH fluorescence lifetimes were much more sensitive than those of DPH to variations in acyl chain composition and temperature although the same qualitative behavior was generally observed with both probes. Greater acyl chain unsaturation and higher sample temperatures each gave rise to shorter lifetimes consistent with increased water penetrability into the bilayers. Equilibrium order of the hydrocarbon core (as probed by DPH) and of the interfacial and head group regions of the bilayers (as probed by TMA-DPH) was reduced by increasing levels of unsaturation and by higher sample temperatures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Differential scanning calorimetric studies of aqueous dispersions of phosphatidylcholines containing two polyenoic chains

The thermotropic behavior of aqueous dispersions of phosphatidylcholines (PC) that contain two identical unsaturated acyl chains, either linoleoyl, alpha-linolenoyl, or arachidonoyl chains, has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. These dipolyenoic PC displayed very broad thermal transitions, which occurred over a range of approximately 40 C deg, that started between -77 degrees C (20:4-20:4 PC) and -71 degrees C (18:2-18:2 PC). The enthalpy changes associated with the transitions were small (1 to 2 kcal/mol, 4 to 8 kJ/mol). The broad, low-enthalpy transitions suggest that these lipids might have a very disordered gel phase, or that the transitions from the gel to the liquid crystal might proceed through some intermediate states. The temperatures over which the transitions occurred were influenced only slightly by the number of double bonds between two and four per chain.

The influence of unsaturation on the phase transition temperatures of a series of heteroacid phosphatidylcholines containing twenty-carbon chains

A series of heteroacid sn-1,2 diacyl phosphatidylcholines (PC) with twenty-carbon fatty acyl chains has been synthesized. Each PC contained eicosanoate (20:0) in the sn-1 position and one of a group of eicosaenoic acids with increasing numbers of cis double bonds in the sn-2 position. The double bonds were at positions delta 11 (20:1), delta 11,14 (20:2), delta 11,14,17 (20:3), or delta 5,8,11,14 (20:4). The disaturated PC containing two eicosanoate chains was also studied. Aqueous dispersions of these PC were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry, and data for the gel to liquid-crystalline transitions (given as PC: Tc (degrees C), Tmax (degrees C), delta H (kcal/mol)) were as follows - 20:0-20:0 PC: 66.8, 68.4, 15; 20:0-20:1 PC: 19.8, 22.2, 8; 20:0-20:2 PC: -4.3, 1.8, 5; 20:0-20:3 PC: 1.2, 4.4, 7; 20:0-20:4 PC: -10.7, -6.8, 3. Double bonds in excess of two per chain did not substantially change the transition temperatures of these heteroacid PC. There was a small effect of the location of the multiple double bonds on the transition temperature. The data is consistent with the model that the transition temperatures are determined by a balance between a decrease in the packing density in the gel and a decrease in the rotational freedom of the chains in the liquid crystal, both caused by the double bonds ((1983) Biochemistry 22, 1466-1473).

The effects of dietary (n-3) fatty acid supplementation on lipid dynamics and composition in rat lymphocytes and liver microsomes

Rats were fed diets devoid of (n-3) fatty acids (olive oil supplementation) or high in (n-3) fatty acids (fish oil supplementation) for a period of 10 days. In spleen lymphocytes and liver microsomes derived from animals fed fish oil diets, relatively high levels of (n-3) eicosapentaenoic (20:5), docosapentaenoic (22:5) and docosahexaenoic acids (22:6) were obtained compared to minimal levels when fed the olive oil diet. When the average lipid motional properties were examined by measuring the fluorescence anisotropy of diphenylhexatriene, no significant different was found between intact liver microsomes from animals fed the two diets. However, when lipid motion was examined in vesicles of phosphatidylcholine, isolated from the microsomes from fish oil fed animals (21.4% (n-3) fatty acids), the fluorescence anisotropy was significantly less than the corresponding phosphatidylcholine from olive oil fed animals (5.6% (n-3) fatty acids), indicating a more disordered or fluid bilayer in the presence of higher levels of (n-3) fatty acids. Phosphatidylethanolamine (n-3) fatty acids were also elevated after fish oil supplementation (41.3% of total fatty acids), compared to the level after olive oil supplementation (21.4%). The major effect of the fish oil supplementation was a replacement of (n-6) arachidonic acid by the (n-3) fatty acids and when this was 'modeled', using liposomes of synthetic lipids, 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl(n-6) or docosahexaenoyl(n-3)-phosphatidylcholine, significant differences in lipid motional properties were found, with the docosahexaenoate conferring a more disordered or fluid lipid environment. Thus it appears that although lipid order/fluidity can be significantly decreased by increases in the highly unsaturated (n-3) fatty acid levels, alterations in membrane domain organization and/or phospholipid molecular species composition effectively compensated for the changes, at least as far as average lipid motional properties in the intact membranes was concerned.

The influence of membrane proteins on lipid dynamics

The application of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to the study of phospholipid dynamics in membranes is discussed. Using these complementary spectroscopic techniques it is possible to investigate the dynamics of lipids in membranes over a time scale range of from 10(-10) to 1 s. A rather detailed, quantitative description of phospholipid dynamics in pure lipid/water bilayer dispersions has emerged. For example, the correlation time for phosphate group reorientation has been shown to be of the order of 10(-9) s. Chain dynamics can be modelled in terms of three basic types of motion: reorientation about the long axis, fluctuation of the long axis with respect to the bilayer normal, and gauche-trans isomerization about C-C bonds. In the fluid phase, all of these chain motions are in the fast limit on the NMR time scale, but only the gauche-trans isomerization is fast on the EPR time scale. In the gel phase, all of these motions are in the intermediate time scale regime for NMR. While a similarly detailed description of the influence of protein on lipid dynamics has not yet been obtained, these techniques have demonstrated their capability to perform that task. The limited data available suggest that the major effect of protein on lipid dynamics is to increase the relative importance of motions at lower frequency. This is most clearly evident as a slight increase in the correlation time for phosphate group reorientation. The strongest evidence for slower motion of the hydrocarbon chains is from NMR relaxation time and line width measurements. The interpretation of changes in lipid dynamics in terms of protein/lipid interactions will require further studies of protein/lipid phase equilibria as well as molecular dynamics.

Simultaneous observation of order and dynamics at several defined positions in a single acyl chain using 2H NMR of single acyl chain perdeuterated phosphatidylcholines

Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance (2H NMR) spectra from aqueous dispersions of phosphatidylcholines in which perdeuterated palmitic acid is esterified at the sn-1 position have several very useful features. The powder spectra show six well-resolved 90 degree edges which correspond to the six positions closest to the methyl end of the acyl chain. The spectral overlap inherent in the multiple powder pattern line shape of these dispersions can be removed by using a "dePaking" procedure [Bloom, M., Davis, J.H., & Mackay, A. (1981) Chem. Phys. Lett. 80, 198-202] which calculates the spectra that would result if the lipid bilayers were oriented in the magnetic field. This procedure produces six well-resolved doublets whose NMR properties can be observed without interference from the resonances of other labeled positions. The presence of a single double bond in the sn-2 chain increases the order of the saturated 16:0 sn-1 chain at every position in the bilayer compared with a saturated sn-2 chain at the same reduced temperature. Surprisingly, addition of five more double bonds to the sn-2 chain only slightly reduces the order of the 16:0 sn-1 chain at many positions in the bilayer compared with the single double bond. Calculating oriented spectra from a spin-lattice (T1) relaxation series of powder spectra allows one to obtain the T1 relaxation times of six positions on the acyl chain simultaneously. As an example of the utility of these molecules, we demonstrate that the dependence of the spin-lattice (T1) relaxation rate as a function of orientational order for two unsaturated phospholipids differs significantly from the corresponding fully saturated analogue. Interpreting this difference using current models of acyl chain dynamics suggests that the bilayers containing either of the two unsaturated phospholipids are significantly more deformable than bilayers made from the fully saturated phospholipid.

2H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance studies of membranes containing bovine rhodopsin

Purified, delipidated rhodopsin is recombined with phospholipid using octyl-glucoside (OG) and preformed vesicles. Normal egg phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine in which the N-methyl groups are fully deuterated, and dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine labeled with deuterium at carbons 9 and 10 were used. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 2H NMR measurements were obtained of the pure phospholipids and of the recombined membranes containing rhodopsin. 31P NMR of the recombined membrane (containing the deuterated phospholipid) showed two overlapping resonances. One resembled a normal phospholipid bilayer, and the other was much broader, representing a motionally restricted phospholipid headgroup environment. The population of phospholipids in the motionally restricted environment can be modulated by conditions in the media. 2H NMR spectra of the same recombined membranes showed only one component. These experimental results agree with a theoretical analysis that predicts an insensitivity of 2H NMR to lipids bound to membrane proteins. A model containing at least three different phospholipid environments in the presence of the membrane protein rhodopsin is described.

Effects of lipid environment on the light-induced conformational changes of rhodopsin. 2. Roles of lipid chain length, unsaturation, and phase state

When rhodopsin is incorporated into the saturated short-chain phospholipid dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine, photolysis of the protein results in an abnormal sequence of spectral transitions, and the dominant product of metarhodopsin I decay is free retinal plus opsin [Baldwin, P. A., & Hubbell, W. L. (1985) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. By incorporation of rhodopsin into a series of phosphatidylcholines of defined composition, we have determined the properties of the lipid environment that are responsible for the altered spectral behavior. Metarhodopsin II is not found in appreciable amounts in bilayers containing acyl chains that are too short (14 or fewer carbon atoms in length), in the presence of only n-alkyl chains, or below the characteristic phase-transition temperature of recombinant membranes. Double bonds are not required for the formation of the metarhodopsin II intermediate, as it is observed in diphytanoylphosphatidylcholine recombinants.

Phospholipid exchange between restricted and nonrestricted domains in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles

Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of rabbit muscle light sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes consist of two overlapping resonances, one much broader than the other. The broad resonance arises from phospholipids motionally restricted, probably by association with the Ca2+-ATPase, while the narrow resonance arises from phospholipid only slightly perturbed by the presence of the protein. (Selinsky, B.S. and Yeagle, P.L. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 2281-2288). The rate of exchange between the two phospholipid domains represented by the resonances was determined by measuring the transfer of magnetization from the broad resonance to the narrow resonance. The rate of exchange of phospholipids from the restricted domain to the nonrestricted domain was determined to be 1 s-1.

Thermotropic behavior of retinal rod membranes and dispersions of extracted phospholipids

High sensitivity, differential scanning calorimetry studies of bovine retinal rod outer segment (ROS) disk membranes and aqueous dispersions of the extracted ROS phospholipids have been performed. ROS disk membranes were found to exhibit a broad peak of excess heat capacity with a maximum at less than about 3 degrees C, ascribable to a gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition of a fraction of the phospholipids. A similar thermotropic transition was observed for aqueous dispersions of the total extracted and purified ROS phospholipids. Comparison of the results obtained for the dispersion of total ROS phospholipids to those of the purified head group fractions suggests that the thermotropic behavior reflects a gel-to-liquid crystalline transition, leading to lateral phase separation, involving those phosphatidylcholine (PC) molecules containing saturated fatty acyl chains, possibly together with the highest melting ROS phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) components. The interpretation of the thermal behavior of the ROS disk membranes depends on whether the transition is assumed to derive from the ROS PC and/or PE/PS fractions, and whether the transbilayer arrangement of the ROS phospholipids is assumed to be symmetric or asymmetric. The calorimetric data can be simply explained in terms of an asymmetric distribution of the major ROS disk membrane phospholipids (G.P. Miljanich et al., J. Membrane Biol. 60:249-255, 1981). In this case, the transition would arise from the PE/PS fractions in the outer ROS disk membrane monolayer, and the anticipated transition from the PC in the inner monolayer would be broadened due to interaction with cholesterol. For the ROS membranes at higher temperatures, two additional, irreversible transitions are observed at 57 and 72 degrees C, corresponding to the thermal denaturation of opsin and rhodopsin, respectively.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for determination of phospholipid peroxides; II. Transesterification to form pentafluorobenzyl esters and detection with picogram sensitivity

The purpose of this study is to develop a higher sensitivity method to detect phospholipid peroxides in tissues to more effectively investigate the role of lipid peroxidation in pathology. We recently presented a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for identification and measurement of phospholipid peroxides at the 10 ng level (van Kuijk, et al. J. Free Rad. Biol. Med., 1:215-225, 1985) based on transesterification to form fatty acid methyl ester derivatives. While this method is quite useful under some circumstances, more sensitivity was desirable to analyse trace amounts of lipid peroxidation products in small samples of various tissues. We present a method to prepare pentafluorobenzyl esters of fatty acids and hydroxy fatty acids directly from phospholipids by transesterification at room temperature or from triglycerides at 60 degrees C. Oxidized lipids are extracted into dichloromethane and peroxide functions are reduced with sodium borohydride. Transesterification of phospholipids is carried out in dichloromethane with 20% (v/v) pentafluorobenzyl alcohol, 1% (w/v) potassium tert-butoxide and 0.2 N (m-trifluoromethyl phenyl) trimethyl ammonium hydroxide at room temperature for 30 min. Pentafluorobenzyl esters are purified on open silica columns, O-trimethyl silyl derivatives of the alcohol functions are formed, and GC-MS is carried out with negative ion chemical ionization detection. The single or double oxidation products of oleate, linoleate, arachidonate, and docosahexaenoate were detected with 10 pg sensitivity in oxidized rat retina phospholipids or synthetic phospholipids, by negative ion chemical ionization with specific ion monitoring of carboxylate anions.

Dynamic structure of membranes by deuterium NMR

Progress in our understanding of the dynamic structure of membrane lipids and proteins has recently been made possible by the advent of high-field "solid-state" nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies of specifically deuterium-labeled systems. Major features of lipid and protein dynamics have been deduced.

Lipid bilayer dynamics and rhodopsin-lipid interactions: new approach using high-resolution solid-state 13C NMR

High-resolution, solid-state 13C NMR spectra have been obtained for unsonicated multilamellar dispersions of 1,2-dilauryl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC), recombinant membranes containing DLPC and rhodopsin, and native retinal rod disk membranes. The roles of 1H dipolar decoupling, 1H-13C cross-polarization, and magic-angle sample spinning have been investigated. Rotating-frame 13C relaxation times have been measured and are discussed in terms of lipid bilayer dynamics and rhodopsin-lipid interactions.