Structural differences among phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and mixed phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine multilayers: an infrared absorption study

Understanding the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the physical properties of brain lipid membranes

A deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids (ω3 FAs) in the brain has been correlated with cognitive impairment, learning deficiencies, and behavioral changes. In this study, we provided ω3 FAs as a supplement to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR+ ω3). Our focus was on examining the impact of dietary supplementation on the physicochemical properties of the brain-cell membranes. Significant increases in ω3 levels in the cerebral cortex of SHR+ ω3 were observed, leading to alterations in brain lipid membranes molecular packing, elasticity, and lipid miscibility, resulting in an augmented phase disparity. Results from synthetic lipid mixtures confirmed the disordering effect introduced by ω3 lipids, showing its consequences on the hydration levels of the monolayers and the organization of the membrane domains. These findings suggest that dietary ω3 FAs influence the organization of brain membranes, providing insight into a potential mechanism for the broad effects of dietary fat on brain health and disease.

In Situ STM and Vibrational Study of Nanometer-Scale Reorganization of a Phospholipid Monolayer Accompanied by Potential-Driven Headgroup Digestion

In situ dynamic observation of model biological cell membranes, formed on a water/gold substrate interface, has been performed by the combination of electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy and reflection infrared absorption vibrational spectroscopy. Monolayers of 1,2-dihexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DHPC) were formed on alkanethiol-modified gold surfaces in a buffer solution, and the microscopic phase transitions driven by electrochemical potential control were observed more in detail than our previous study on the same system [Electrochem. Commun. 2007, 9, 645-650]. This time the transitions were associated with the chemistry of DHPC by the aid of vibrational spectroscopy and the utilization of deuterium-labeled DHPC molecules. A negative potential shift solidifies the fluidic lipid layers into static striped or grainy features without notable chemical reactions. The first positive potential shift over the virginal DHPC monolayer breaks DHPC into choline and the corresponding phosphatidic acid (DHPA). This is the first case of a phospholipid electrochemical reaction microscopically detected at the solid surface.

Preservation of membranes in anhydrobiotic organisms: the role of trehalose

Trehalose is a nonreducing disaccharide of glucose commonly found at high concentrations in anhydrobiotic organisms. In the presence of trehalose, dry dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) had a transition temperature similar to that of the fully hydrated lipid, whereas DPPC dried without trehalose had a transition temperature about 30 degrees Kelvin higher. Results obtained with infrared spectroscopy indicate that trehalose and DPPC interact by hydrogen bonding between the OH groups in the carbohydrate and the polar head groups of DPPC. These and previous results show that this hydrogen bonding alters the spacing of the polar head groups and may thereby decrease van der Waals interactions in the hydrocarbon chains of the DPPC. This interaction between trehalose and DPPC is specific to trehalose. Hence this specificity may be an important factor in the ability of this molecule to stabilize dry membranes in anhydrobiotic organisms.

FT-IR spectroscopy of lipoproteins--a comparative study

FT-IR spectra, in the frequency region 4000-600 cm(-1), of four major lipoprotein classes: very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and two subclasses of high density lipoproteins (HDL(2) and HDL(3)) were analyzed to obtain their detailed spectral characterization. Information about the protein domain of particle was obtained from the analysis of amide I band. The procedure of decomposition and curve fitting of this band confirms the data already known about the secondary structure of two different apolipoproteins: apo A-I in HDL(2) and HDL(3) and apo B-100 in LDL and VLDL. For information about the lipid composition and packing of the particular lipoprotein the well expressed lipid bands in the spectra were analyzed. Characterization of spectral details in the FT-IR spectrum of natural lipoprotein is necessary to study the influence of external compounds on its structure.

Electrochemical and photon polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy study of the electric field driven transformations of a phospholipid bilayer supported at a gold electrode surface

Electrochemistry and polarization modulation Fourier transform infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-FTIRRAS) was employed to investigate fusion of small unilamellar vesicles of 1,2dioyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidyl choline (DOPC) onto the Au(111) electrode. Electrochemical studies demonstrated that the DOPC vesicles fuse and spread onto the gold electrode surface at small charge densities -8 microC cm(-2)<sigmaM<0 microC cm(-2)(if the static electric field is <2 x 10(8) V/m) to form a bilayer. At sigmaM<-8 microC cm(-2), the film is detached from the electrode surface; however, the film remains in close proximity to the surface. The PM-FTIRRAS experiments demonstrated that the field-driven transformation of the film involves changes in hydration, orientation, and conformation in the polar headgroup region and that changes in the packing and tilt of the acyl chains are consequences of the headgroup rearrangements.

Studies of phospholipid hydration by high-resolution magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance

A sample preparation method using spherical glass ampoules has been used to achieve 1.5-Hz resolution in 1H magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of aqueous multilamellar dispersions of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), serving to differentiate between slowly exchanging interlamellar and bulk water and to reveal new molecular-level information about hydration phenomena in these model biological membranes. The average numbers of interlamellar water molecules in multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) of DOPC and POPC were found to be 37.5 +/- 1 and 37.2 +/- 1, respectively, at a spinning speed of 3 kHz. Even at speeds as high as 9 kHz, the number of interlamellar waters remained as high as 31, arguing against dehydration effects for DOPC and POPC. Both homonuclear and heteronuclear nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY and HOESY) were used to establish the location of water near the headgroup of a PC bilayer. 1H NMR comparisons of DOPC with a lipid that can hydrogen bond (monomethyldioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine, MeDOPE) showed the following trends: 1) the interlamellar water resonance was shifted to lower frequency for DOPC but to higher frequency for MeDOPE, 2) the chemical shift variation with temperature for interlamellar water was less than that of bulk water for MeDOPE MLVs, 3) water exchange between the two lipids was rapid on the NMR time scale if they were mixed in the same bilayer, 4) water exchange was slow if they were present in separate MLVs, and 5) exchange between bulk and interlamellar water was found by two-dimensional exchange experiments to be slow, and the exchange rate should be less than 157 Hz. These results illustrate the utility of ultra-high-resolution 1H MAS NMR for determining the nature and extent of lipid hydration as well as the arrangement of nuclei at the membrane/water interface.

Hydration of phospholipid bilayers in the presence and absence of cholesterol

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used for determining the number of unfreezable water molecules per molecule of phosphatidylserine from bovine spinal cord (PS) or dimyristoyl phosphatidylserine (DMPS) and dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC), alone or in mixtures with cholesterol. It was assumed that the unfreezable water molecules are tightly bound to the phospholipid. It was found that when the phospholipids are in the gel state and in the absence of cholesterol, PS binds 2.5 water molecules, DMPS 3.8 water molecules and DMPC 3.5 water molecules. In the presence of cholesterol the number of water molecules bound increases in the region where phase separation of cholesterol takes place [D. Bach, Chem. Phys. Lipids 35 (1984) 385-392; E.J. Wachtel, N. Borochov, D. Bach, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1066 (1991) 63-69; D. Bach, N. Borochov, E. Wacktel, Chem. Phys. Lipids, submitted].

Is the high propensity of ethanolamine plasmalogens to form non-lamellar lipid structures manifested in the properties of biomembranes?

Plasmalogens are glycerophospholipids characterized by an alk-1'-enylether bond in position sn-1 and an acyl bond in position sn-2. These ubiquitous etherlipids exhibit a different molecular structure as compared to diacyl phospholipids. The most peculiar change is a perpendicular orientation of the sn-2 acyl chain at all segments to the membrane surface. This extended conformation results in an effectively longer aliphatic chain in plasmalogen than in the diacyl analog. Moreover, the lack of the carbonyl oxygen in position sn-1 affects the hydrophilicity of the headgroup and allows stronger intermolecular hydrogen-bonding between the headgroups of the lipid. These properties favour the formation of non-lamellar structures which are expressed in the high affinity of ethanolamine plasmalogen to adopt the inverse hexagonal phase. Such structures may be involved in membrane processes, either temporarily, like in membrane fusion or locally, e.g. to affect the activity of membrane-bound proteins. The predominant distribution of ethanolamine plasmalogens in some cellular membranes like nerve tissues or plasma membranes and their distinctly different properties in model membranes as compared to diacyl phospholipids impose the question, whether these differences are also manifested in the heterogeneous environment of biological membranes. The integration of biophysical studies and biochemical findings clearly indicated that the high propensity of ethanolamine plasmalogen to form non-lamellar structures is reflected in several physiological functions. So far it seems to be evident that ethanolamine plasmalogens play an important role in maintaining the balance between bilayer and non-lamellar phases which is crucial for proper cell function. Furthermore, they are the major phospholipid component of inverse hexagonal phase inclusions in native retina and are able to mediate membrane fusion as demonstrated between neurotransmitter vesicles and presynaptic membranes.

Interactions and molecular structure of cardiolipin and beta 2-glycoprotein 1 (beta 2-GP1)

beta 2-GP1 is a serum protein which influences binding of anticardiolipin antibodies to cardiolipin, may influence induction of these antibodies in animals and may play a role in anticardiolipin-mediated thrombosis. Various investigators have proposed that when beta 2-GP1 binds cardiolipin, structural alterations occur in one or both molecules, resulting in exposure of new epitopes for anticardiolipin binding, but there has been no proof that such alterations occur. Utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, this study analysed the structure of cardiolipin and beta 2-GP1 alone, then mixed with each other. For pure cardiolipin, analysis of the CH2 stretching, scissoring and carbonyl bands suggested this molecule assumes a hexagonal crystal lattice packing structure in both anhydrous and aqueous samples. Based on the second derivative analysis of the amide 1 band from the beta 2-GP1 protein backbone, as well as Fourier self-deconvolution and curve fit algorithms, beta 2-GP1 was calculated to contain 18% turns, 37% alpha-helix, and 45% beta-sheet structure. beta 2-GP1 binding with cardiolipin results in a significant change in the conformation as well as geometry of the lipid and protein components. This is indicated by a broadening of the CH stretching band and a marked shift in intensity of the carbonyl band of cardiolipin, indicating less hydrogen bonding. There was a decrease in beta-sheet structure of beta 2-GP1 from 46% to 23% and appearance of 26% to 28% random structure. These findings indicate that mixing beta 2-GP1 with cardiolipin results in profound changes in both molecules which might explain the effect of beta 2-GP1 on anticardiolipin binding activity.

Anthrylvinyl-labeled phospholipids as membrane probes: the phosphatidylcholine-phosphatidylethanolamine system

The phase behavior of mixtures of phosphatidylcholine (PC) with phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) identical or differing in their fatty acid composition has been investigated by using the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of anthrylvinyl-labeled PC and PE (APC and APE) as well as of the non-lipid probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) to detect temperature-dependent changes in multilayer liposomes. APC, but not APE, was able to detect the pretransition of dimyristoyl-PC. The phospholipid probes APC and APE showed the main phase transition of their unlabeled disaturated analogues at temperatures almost identical with those revealed by differential scanning calorimetry, whereas the onset of the PE phase transition recorded by DPH was several degrees higher. In PC-PE mixtures with high content of PE the phase transitions shown by APC and APE were broader than those recorded by DPH. Comparison of phase diagrams constructed on the basis of fluorescence anisotropy and calorimetric data led to the conclusion that in biphasic PE and PC-PE systems DPH tends to partition into solid regions, whereas the anthrylvinyl-labeled phospholipids distribute more evenly between coexisting phases or prefer fluid domains. The use of anthrylvinyl phospholipid probes made it possible to demonstrate that PEs and PCs identical in their fatty acids are not miscible completely, not only below but also well above Tm of the higher melting component. Generally, APC and APE fluorescence anisotropy measurements correctly reflect headgroup-dependent phase segregations in mixtures of PC with PE, but may lead to ambiguous conclusions if demixing is caused by differences in the hydrocarbon chains.

Membrane dipole potentials, hydration forces, and the ordering of water at membrane surfaces

We have compared hydration forces, electrical dipole potentials, and structural parameters of dispersions of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dihexadecylphosphatidylcholine (DHPC) to evaluate the influence of fatty acid carbonyl groups on phospholipid bilayers. NMR and x-ray investigations performed over a wide range of water concentrations in the samples show, that in the liquid crystalline lamellar phase, the presence of carbonyl groups is not essential for lipid structure and hydration. Within experimental error, the two lipids have identical repulsive hydration forces between their bilayers. The higher transport rate of the negatively charged tetraphenylboron over the positively charged tetraphenylarsonium indicates that the dipole potential is positive inside the membranes of both lipids. However, the lack of fatty acid carbonyl groups in the ether lipid DHPC decreased the potential by (118 +/- 15) mV. By considering the sign of the potential and the orientation of carbonyl groups and headgroups, we conclude that the first layer of water molecules at the lipid water interface makes a major contribution to the dipole potential.

Cryoprotective activity of synthetic glycophospholipids and their interactions with trehalose

A series of glycophospholipids have been synthesized by conjugating mono-, di- and trisaccharides with dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) by reductive amination. These synthetic glycophospholipids were incorporated into egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles and tested for the release of vesicle-entrapped calcein after five cycles of freeze and thaw. N-isomaltotriosyl-DOPE and N-(N-acetylneuramin-lactosyl)-DOPE had approximately equal activity in cryoprotection; whereas N-lactosyl-DOPE and N-galactosyl-DOPE were without effect. However, the cryoprotective effect of trehalose was significantly reduced with the incorporation of N-lactosyl-DOPE and N-galactosyl-DOPE, but not with the trisaccharide-DOPE conjugates. FTIR studies of mixtures of trehalose and glycophospholipid revealed that trehalose forms H-bonding with the phosphodiester group of N-(N-acetylneuramin-lactosyl)-DOPE but not that of N-galactosyl-DOPE. The presence of interaction of trehalose with the trisaccharide-DOPE conjugate and the absence of interaction with the monosaccharide-DOPE conjugate were also demonstrated by the change of the HII phase transition temperature of dielaidoyl phosphatidylethanolamine as measured by the differential scanning calorimetry. The ability of trehalose to restore the membrane order of the rigid dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayer perturbed by the presence of glycophospholipids is also correlated with the ability of trehalose to interact with trisaccharide-DOPE conjugate but not with the monosaccharide-DOPE conjugate. These observations have shed some light on the mechanism of the cryoprotective activity of the membrane bound carbohydrates.

Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection spectroscopy of hydration of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine multibilayers

The effect of hydration on the structure and molecular orientation of multibilayers of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), cast on a germanium plate, was studied by means of polarized Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR)-attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. Compared with the dry state, the antisymmetric and symmetric CH2 stretching bands of fully hydrated DMPC in the liquid-crystalline state were shifted to the higher frequency side, indicating the increase in the number of the gauche conformers. However, the dichroism of these bands revealed that the hydrocarbon chains of DMPC were still ordered and titled. The absorption bands of the glycerol ester, phosphoryl, and choline groups were broadened upon hydration, suggesting the activation of the librational or torsional motion. Furthermore, the dichroism of the polar head group bands of DMPC indicated that these groups retained a slight orientation even in the fully hydrated and fluid multibilayers.

Trehalose and dry dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine revisited

Dry mixtures of sonicated vesicles of DPPC and trehalose which contained a maximum of 0.2 mol water/mol lipid were examined by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Samples of dry DPPC and trehalose prepared from aqueous solution had a minimum Tm of 24 degrees C for the gel to liquid-crystalline transition provided that the vesicles were dried with trehalose while the lipid was in liquid-crystalline phase. This low transition is compared to a transition of 105-112 degrees C for dry pure DPPC and of 42 degrees C for hydrated pure DPPC. The present work is an extension of earlier work from this laboratory using both other lipids and other methods of preparation.

Fourier transform infrared study of fully hydrated dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol. Effects of Na+ on the sn-1' and sn-3' headgroup stereoisomers

Molecular packing and the thermotropic phase behavior of fully hydrated ammonium salts of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidyl-sn-1'-glycerol (1'-DMPG) and the corresponding 3' stereoisomer (3'-DMPG) as well as the effects of 300 mM NaCl on these lipids were studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The ammonium salts of both stereoisomer show similar thermotropic phase behavior and have an order-disorder phase transition at approximately 21 degrees C. While complexing with Na+, however, an incubation of liposomes at +6 degrees C for 3 days results in significant structural differences between liposomes of 1'-DMPG and 3'-DMPG. In the presence of 300 mM NaCl the infrared spectra for 3'-DMPG reveal the appearance of a more solidified lipid nominated here as the highly crystalline phase with a transition into the liquid-crystalline state at a significantly higher temperature (approximately at 33 degrees C) than that for 1'-DMPG (approximately at 23 degrees C). Crystal field splitting resulting from interchain vibrational coupling is observed in the CH2 scissoring mode of the 3'-DMPG(Na+) complex in the highly crystalline phase (T less than 33 degrees C); i.e., the acyl chains are packed in a rigid orthorhombic- or monoclinic-like crystal lattice. At temperatures above the transition at 33 degrees C the acyl chains of 3'-DMPG(Na+) give rise to infrared spectra indicative of hexagonal packing. The latter type of hydrocarbon chain packing is also found for the ammonium salts of 1'-DMPG and 3'-DMPG without Na+ as well as for 1'-DMPG with Na+. In addition, the binding of Na+ to 3'-DMPG causes narrowing of the bands associated with the interfacial and polar headgroup regions of 3'-DMPG and thus reveals reduced motional freedom. This demonstrates that Na+ binds tightly to 3'-DMPG, leading to the immobilization of the entire phospholipid polar headgroup. Such effects by Na+ are not observed for 1'-DMPG.

Molecular interactions between sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine in phospholipid vesicles

The molecular interactions between DPPC and sphingomyelin have been examined using differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). It has been observed using DSC that the mixtures of DPPC and sphingomyelin show a single peak, which indicates that they are very miscible. It has been shown, by means of FT-IR, that the incorporation of sphingomyelin into DPPC does not modify the gauche/all-trans ratio at temperatures either above or below that of the phase transition. However, the librational motion of the fatty acyl chains was affected, although only above the phase transition. Mixing sphingomyelin and DPPC induced a conformational change in the polar region of DPPC, as deduced from the changes observed in the frequencies of the sn-1 and sn-2 C = O groups of DPPC with relation to pure DPPC and also in the polar region of sphingomyelin as deduced from the change in the frequency of the amide band. The phosphate group of sphingomyelin was observed to participate in hydrogen bonds between the molecules of sphingomyelin and, possibly, DPPC. Some possibilities of the interaction between the molecules of DPPC and sphingomyelin are discussed.

A Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic study of the polymorphic phase behavior of 1,2- bis(tricosa-10,12-diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine; a polymerizable lipid which forms novel microstructures

We have investigated the phase characteristics of 1,2-bis(tricosa-10,12-diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DC23PC), a phosphatidylcholine with diacetylenic groups in the acyl chains, and its saturated analog 1,2-ditricosanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DTPC), using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Previous studies on the phase behavior of DC23PC in H2O have shown that DC23PC exhibits: (1) formation of cylindrical structures ('tubules') by cooling fluid phase multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) through Tm (43 degrees C), and 2) metastability of small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) in the liquid-crystalline state some 40 degrees C below Tm, with subsequent formation of a gel phase comprised of multilamellar sheets at 2 degrees C. The sheets form tubules when heated and cooled through Tm. FTIR results presented here indicate that as metastable SUVs are cooled toward the transition to bilayer sheets, spectroscopic changes occur before the calorimetric transition as measured by a reduction in the CH2 symmetric stretch frequency and bandwidth. In spite of the vastly different morphologies, the sheet gel phase formed from SUVs is spectroscopically similar to the tubule gel phase. The C-H stretch region of DC23PC gel phase shows bands at 2937 and 2810 cm-1 not observed in the saturated analog of DC23PC, which may be related to perturbations in the acyl chains introduced by the diacetylenic moiety. The narrow CH2 scissoring mode at 1470 cm-1 and the prominent CH2 wagging progression indicate that DC23PC gel phase was highly ordered acyl chains with extended regions of all-trans methylene segments. In addition, the 13 cm-1 reduction in the C = O stretch frequency (1733-1720 cm-1) during the induction of DC23PC gel phase indicates that the interfacial region is dehydrated and rigid in the gel phase.

Investigations into the polymorphism of lipid A from lipopolysaccharides of Escherichia coli and Salmonella minnesota by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

The polymorphism of lipid A, the endotoxic principle of the lipopolysaccharides of gram-negative bacteria, has been investigated in the fully hydrated state at temperatures between 5 degrees and 58 degrees C via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. These measurements were supplemented by X-ray diffraction, fluorescence intensity techniques and differential thermal analysis. Up to three distinct phase transitions could be detected, with the main transition temperatures lying at approximately 41 degrees, 46 degrees, 44 degrees and 47 degrees C for Escherichia coli lipid A, Salmonella minnesota lipid A, and the synthetic lipid A compounds 506 and 516, respectively. 4'-Monophosphoryl-lipid A samples exhibited their main transition temperatures at considerably higher temperatures (about 52 degrees C for E. coli lipid A). The analysis of greater than CH2 stretching absorption bands as well as the wide-angle scattering behaviour of the lipid A samples showed that the main transition apparently involved the completion of hydrocarbon chain melting of lipid A, as typically observed for phospholipids. However, the phase transition behaviour was found to be much more complex than that usually observed for model phospholipid systems. Even below the main transition temperature, considerable amounts of the methylene segments of the acyl chains of lipid A were found to assume gauche conformations. These conformational changes might be related to the occurrence of up to two further transitions located at about 22 degrees, 30 degrees, 27 degrees and 25.5 degrees C (first transition) and at about 34 degrees, 42 degrees, 38.5 degrees and 40.5 degrees C (second transition) for E. coli lipid A, S. minnesota lipid A and the synthetic lipid A compounds 506 and 516, respectively. Furthermore, by the analysis of some characteristic infrared absorption bands related to the hydrophilic backbone, it could be demonstrated that the temperature-induced conformational changes occurring within the hydrocarbon chains were constantly and simultaneously accompanied by detectable rearrangements within the interfacial region and the polar head group of lipid A. The following conclusions were drawn: Up to about 30 degrees C the lipid A assemblies were supposed to adopt virtually bilayered, true lamellar arrangements, as revealed by the analysis of greater than CH2 scissoring vibrations and X-ray diffraction pattern. However, as indicated by fluorometric techniques, no stable closed vesicles seemed to be formed even under these conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Orientation of gramicidin D incorporated into phospholipid multibilayers: a Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection spectroscopic study

Polarized Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)-attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy was applied to study the orientation of the linear pentadecapeptide antibiotic gramicidin D incorporated into phospholipid multibilayers, which were cast on a germanium ATR plate from chloroform solution. In DMPC and DPPC multibilayers, the CH2 stretching bands of lipid hydrocarbon chains were slightly shifted to the higher frequency side and bandwidth was increased in the presence of gramicidin. However, in DPPE multibilayers, frequencies and bandwidths of these bands were unaltered. In each case, gramicidin produced little effect on the orientation of lipid hydrocarbon chains, suggesting that gramicidin penetrates into lipid layers without noticeable perturbations. Upon incubation of cast films in contact with water above the gel-liquid-crystalline transition temperature (Tc) of lipids, the reorientation of gramicidin in lipid multibilayers occurred, the degree thereof depending upon the fluidity of the lipid hydrocarbon chains and the amount of surrounding water. In DMPC multibilayers, the helix axis of gramicidin was oriented almost parallel to the lipid hydrocarbon chains after incubation. In DPPC multibilayers, on the other hand, the helix axis of gramicidin was tilted on average about 15 degrees from the lipid hydrocarbon chains after incubation. However, in DPPE multibilayers, which are known to have the most rigid bilayer structures, the reorientation of gramicidin could not be seen.

Infrared spectroscopic studies on interactions of water and carbohydrates with a biological membrane

Infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the changes in bands assigned to phospholipids and proteins in dehydrated and rehydrated sarcoplasmic reticulum. The changes in CH2 and CH3 stretching bands, amide bands, and phosphate stretching bands are similar to shifts in frequency seen for those bands in phospholipid and protein preparations during thermotropic phase transitions and hydration. IR studies on dry trehalose-sarcoplasmic reticulum mixtures show similar results; with increasing trehalose concentration in the dry mixtures, amide and phosphate bands shift to frequencies characteristic of hydrated samples. Changes in bands assigned to OH deformations in the trehalose suggest that the interaction between the carbohydrate and membrane is by means of hydrogen bonding between these -OH groups and membrane components.

Studies on the thermotropic behavior of aqueous phosphatidylethanolamines

The thermal response of aqueous dispersions of a series of synthetic saturated phosphatidylethanolamines was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and by infrared spectroscopy. Dispersions which had not been previously heated above tm, the temperature of the gel to liquid crystalline transition, showed transitions at a higher temperature, tm+h, having a considerably greater enthalpy change. It is demonstrated that the higher temperature transition is due to the simultaneous hydration and acyl chain melting of these saturated phosphatidylethanolamines. This transition has not been observed in the corresponding phosphatidylcholines.

Orientation of gramicidin A transmembrane channel. Infrared dichroism study of gramicidin in vesicles

Polarized infrared spectroscopy has been used to investigate the orientation of gramicidin A incorporated in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes. Dichroism measurements of the major lipid (C = O ester, PO2-, CH2) and peptide (amide A, I, II) bands were performed on liposomes (with or without gramicidin) oriented by air-drying. The mean orientation of the lipid groups and of the pi LD helix chain in the gramicidin has been determined. It can be inferred from infrared frequencies of gramicidin that the dominant conformation of the peptide in liposomes cannot be identified to the antiparallel double-helical dimer found in organic solution. No shift in lipid frequencies was observed upon incorporation of gramicidin in the liposomes. However, a slight reorganization of the lipid hydrocarbon chains which become oriented more closely to the normal to the bilayer is evidenced by a change in the dichroism of the CH2 vibrations. The infrared dichroism results of gramicidin imply a perpendicular orientation of the gramicidin transmembrane channel with the pi LD helix axis at less than 15 degrees with respect to the normal to the bilayer.

Metastability and polymorphism in the gel phase of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-SN-phosphatidylcholine. A Fourier transform infrared study of the subtransition

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to study the metastability of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) at temperatures near 0 degrees C. It was found that when DPPC is incubated at 2 degrees C for three days the two-dimensional acyl chain packing changes from one resulting in spectra typical of an orthorhombic subcell to one resembling that found in triclinically packed acyl systems. This transition proceeds in two stages. The first step, requiring less than one day, approximates first-order kinetics; the second stage proceeds with second- or higher-order kinetics. Comparison of spectra recorded at -36 degrees C with and without prior incubation at 2 degrees C shows that there are two stable low temperature forms of DPPC; that is, DPPC is metastable only within a narrow temperature range. A study of the thermotropic behavior in the range 0-45 degrees C shows that the subtransition near 15 degrees C is a transition from the alternate form to one with orthorhombic characteristics. Spectral changes at the pretransition and the main phase transition demonstrate that there are differences in behavior that are related to the thermal history of the sample.

31p-NMR investigations of phase separation in phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine mixtures

A phase diagram of DPPC-DPPE mixture is constructed by an analysis of the temperature dependence of the anisotropy of chemical shift of the 31P-NMR signals of the individual components. At each temperature the phase state of the individual phospholipids is described. Thus 31P-NMR is more informative than other methods such as ESR, DSC and fluorescence. The measurements confirm the conclusion of other authors that there is a phase separation in the gel state. In the temperature range of the phase transition the molecules are exchanged rapidly between liquid-crystalline and solid regions. In addition to the phase diagram a theoretical approach is applied to estimate the relative distribution of like and unlike molecules in the liquid-crystalline state and a nonrandom distribution is found.

The gel phase of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine. An infrared characterization of the acyl chain packing

It is shown, by infrared spectroscopy, that the packing in the gel phase of fully-hydrated dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine is not uniform over a large temperature range. With decreasing temperature, starting at that of the pretransition, there is a gradual change in the molecular packing of the acyl chains, from near hexagonal to orthorhombic of monoclinic.