An infrared spectroscopic study of the thermotropic phase behavior of phosphatidylcholines containing omega-cyclohexyl fatty acyl chains

Effect of Ring Size in ω-Alicyclic Fatty Acids on the Structural and Dynamical Properties Associated with Fluidity in Lipid Bilayers

Fatty acids containing a terminal cyclic group such as cyclohexyl and cycloheptyl are commonly found in prokaryotic membranes, especially in those of thermo-acidophilic bacteria. These so-called ω-alicyclic fatty acids have been proposed to stabilize the membranes of bacteria by reducing the fluidity in membranes and increasing lipid packing and lipid chain order. In this article, molecular dynamics simulations are used to examine the effect of 3- to 7-membered cycloalkyl saturated and unsaturated (cyclopent-2-enyl and phenyl) rings in ω-alicyclic fatty acyl chains on the structure (lipid packing, lipid chain order, and fraction of gauche defects in the chains) and dynamics (lateral lipid diffusion) of a model lipid bilayer. It was found that ω-alicyclic chains in which the ring was saturated reduced lipid condensation and lowered chain order which would be associated with enhanced fluidity. However, this effect was limited. The lateral diffusion of the lipids diminished as the ring size increased. In particular, ω-cyclohexyl and ω-cycloheptyl acyl tails led to a decrease in lipid diffusion. In contrast, ω-alicyclic acyl chains that contain an unsaturated ring promoted membrane fluidity both in terms of changes in membrane structure and lipid diffusion. This may indicate that saturated and unsaturated terminal rings in ω-alicyclic fatty acids fulfill alternative functions within membranes. Overall, the simulations suggest that ω-alicyclic fatty acids in which the terminal ring is saturated might protect the membrane of thermo-acidophilic bacteria from high-temperature and low-pH conditions through a "dynamical barrier" that would limit lipid diffusion and transmembrane diffusion of undesired ions and molecules.

Membrane lipid phase transitions and phase organization studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a powerful yet relatively inexpensive and convenient technique for studying the structure and organization of membrane lipids in their various polymorphic phases. This spectroscopic technique yields information about the conformation and dynamics of all regions of the lipid molecule simultaneously without the necessity of introducing extrinsic probes. In this review, we summarize some relatively recent FTIR spectroscopic studies of the structure and organization primarily of fully hydrated phospholipids in their biologically relevant lamellar crystalline, gel and liquid-crystalline phases, and show that interconversions between these bilayer phases can be accurately monitored by this technique. We also briefly discuss how the structure and organization of potentially biologically relevant nonlamellar micellar or reversed hexagonal lipid phases can be studied and how phase transitions between lamellar and nonlamellar phases, or between various nonlamellar phases, can be followed as well. In addition, we discuss the potential for FTIR spectroscopy to yield fairly high resolution structural information about phospholipid packing in lamellar crystalline or gel phases. Finally, we show that many, but not all of these FTIR approaches can also yield valuable information about lipid-protein interactions in membrane protein- or peptide-containing lipid membrane bilayer model or even in biological membranes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: FTIR in membrane proteins and peptide studies.

Phases and phase transitions of the phosphatidylcholines

LIPIDAT (http://www.lipidat.chemistry.ohio-state.edu) is an Internet accessible, computerized relational database providing access to the wealth of information scattered throughout the literature concerning synthetic and biologically derived polar lipid polymorphic and mesomorphic phase behavior and molecular structures. Here, a review of the data subset referring to phosphatidylcholines is presented together with an analysis of these data. This subset represents ca. 60% of all LIPIDAT records. It includes data collected over a 43-year period and consists of 12,208 records obtained from 1573 articles in 106 different journals. An analysis of the data in the subset identifies trends in phosphatidylcholine phase behavior reflecting changes in lipid chain length, unsaturation (number, isomeric type and position of double bonds), asymmetry and branching, type of chain-glycerol linkage (ester, ether, amide), position of chain attachment to the glycerol backbone (1,2- vs. 1,3-) and head group modification. Also included is a summary of the data concerning the effect of pressure, pH, stereochemical purity, and different additives such as salts, saccharides, amino acids and alcohols, on phosphatidylcholine phase behavior. Information on the phase behavior of biologically derived phosphatidylcholines is also presented. This review includes 651 references.

Biosynthetic Studies of omega-Cycloheptyl Fatty Acids in Alicyclobacillus cycloheptanicus. Formation of Cycloheptanecarboxylic Acid from Phenylacetic Acid

The formation of the structurally novel, mono-substituted cycloheptane ring in omega-cycloheptyl fatty acids in Alicyclobacillus cycloheptanicus (formerly Bacillus cycloheptanicus) has been examined. Feeding experiments with (13)C- and (2)H-labeled intermediates demonstrated that cycloheptanecarboxylic acid (3), probably as its CoA thioester, is the starter unit for omega-cycloheptyl fatty acid biosynthesis. Analysis of the resultant labeling pattern from a feeding experiment with [U-(13)C(6)]glucose suggested a shikimate pathway origin of 3 via aromatic amino acids. [1,2-(13)C(2)]Phenylacetic acid (6) was efficiently metabolized into the 3-derived moiety in a manner reminiscent of the seven-membered ring Pseudomonas metabolite thiotropocin. The fates of the aromatic and benzylic hydrogens of 6 were determined; these dictated various boundary conditions for the biosynthetic pathway from 6 to 3. Taken together with the results from feeding experiments with postulated cycloheptenylcarboxylate biosynthetic intermediates, the data lead us to propose a pathway which involves an oxidative ring-expansion of 6 to a hydroxynorcaradiene intermediate followed by a series of double bond reductions and dehydrations to the saturated 3.

Calorimetric and spectroscopic studies of the thermotropic phase behavior of the n-saturated 1,2-diacylphosphatidylglycerols

The polymorphic phase behavior of a homologous series of n-saturated 1,2-diacyl phosphatidylglycerols (PGs) was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared and 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. When dispersed in aqueous media under physiologically relevant conditions, these compounds exhibit two thermotropic phase transitions that are structurally equivalent to the well-characterized pretransitons and gel/liquid-crystalline phase transitions exhibited by bilayers of the corresponding 1,2-diacyl phosphatidylcholines. Furthermore, when incubated at low temperatures, their gel phases spontaneously transform into one or more solid-like phases that appear to be highly ordered, quasicrystalline bilayers that are probably partially dehydrated. The quasicrystalline structures, which form upon short-term, low-temperature annealing of these lipids, are meta-stable with respect to more stable structures, to which they eventually transform upon prolonged low-temperature incubation. The rates of formation of the quasicrystalline phases of the PGs generally tend to decrease as hydrocarbon chain length increases, and PGs whose hydrocarbon chains contain an odd number of carbon atoms tend to be slower than those of neighboring even-numbered homologs. The calorimetric data also indicate that the quasicrystalline phases of these compounds become progressively less stable relative to both their gel and liquid-crystalline phases as the length of the hydrocarbon chain increases and that they decompose either to the liquid-crystalline phase (short- and medium-chain compounds) or to the normal gel phase (long-chain compounds) upon heating. The spectroscopic data indicate that although there is odd-even alternation in the structures of the quasicrystalline phases formed upon short-term low-temperature incubation of these compounds, the structural features of the stable quasicrystalline phases eventually formed are all similar. Furthermore, the degree of hydration and the nature of hydrogen bonding interactions in the headgroup and interfacial regions of these PG bilayers differ significantly from that observed in all other phospholipid bilayers studied so far. We suggest that many of the properties of PG bilayers can be rationalized by postulating that the glycerol moiety of the polar headgroup is directly involved in shielding the negative charges at the surface of the bilayer by means of hydration-like hydrogen bonding interactions with the phosphate moiety.

Calorimetric and spectroscopic studies of the polymorphic phase behavior of a homologous series of n-saturated 1,2-diacyl phosphatidylethanolamines

The polymorphic phase behavior of a homologous series of n-saturated 1,2-diacyl phosphatidylethanolamines was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Upon heating, aqueous dispersions of dried samples of the short- and medium-chain homologues (n < or = 17) exhibit single, highly energetic transitions from a dry, crystalline form to the fully hydrated, liquid-crystalline bilayer at temperatures higher than the lamellar gel-liquid-crystalline phase transition exhibited by fully hydrated samples. In contrast, the longer chain homologues (n > or = 18) first exhibit a transition from a dehydrated solid form to the hydrated L beta gel phase followed by the gel-liquid-crystalline phase transition normally observed with fully hydrated samples. The fully hydrated, aqueous dispersions of these lipids all exhibit reversible, fairly energetic gel-liquid-crystalline transitions at temperatures that are significantly higher than those of the corresponding phosphatidylcholines. In addition, at still higher temperatures, the longer chain members of this series (n > or = 16) exhibit weakly energetic transitions from the lamellar phase to an inverted nonlamellar phase. Upon appropriate incubation at low temperatures, aqueous dispersions of the shorter chain members of this homologous series (n < or = 16) form a highly ordered crystal-like phase that, upon heating, converts directly to the liquid-crystalline phase at the same temperature as do the aqueous dispersions of the dried lipid. The spectroscopic data indicate that unlike the n-saturated diacyl phosphatidylcholines, the stable crystal-like phases of this series of phosphatidylethanolamines describe an isostructural series in which the hydrocarbon chains are packed in an orthorhombic subcell and the headgroup and polar/apolar interfacial regions of the bilayer are effectively immobilized and substantially dehydrated. Our results suggest that many of the differences between the properties of these phosphatidylethanolamine bilayers and their phosphatidylcholine counterparts can be rationalized on the basis of stronger intermolecular interactions in the headgroup and interfacial regions of the phosphatidylethanolamine bilayers. These are probably the result of differences in the hydration and hydrogen bonding interactions involving the phosphorylethanolamine headgroup and moieties in the polar/apolar interfacial regions of phosphatidylethanolamine bilayers.

Purification and characterization of liposomes encapsulating hemoglobin as potential blood substitutes

In view of the desirability to increase the survival time of the liposome-based artificial red blood cells in vivo, the variables influencing optimum hemoglobin capture and preservation for the bovine hemoglobin-loaded liposomes (LEHb) are investigated. In order to predict the in vivo response, the necessary experiments for the in vitro system characterization have been carried out. The liposomes are prepared by the Reverse Phase Evaporation technique and then purified using a Sepharose 4B column. The purified LEHbs display a unimodal size distribution in the submicron range with a volume average diameter of 0.115 microns and a particle count of 1.25* 10(15) per ml of suspension. Analysis of the lipi/Hb content of the liposomes reveals that the variations in the ratio of Hb encapsulated to lipid entrapped (Hb/L)f as a function of the initial Hb concentration ([Hb]o) is insignificant compared to the net augmentation of (Hb/L)f as a function of the increasing initial lipid to Hb loading ([L]o). Meanwhile high [Hb]o s are necessary for the preservation of oxyhemoglobin.

Physical properties of glycosyldiacylglycerols: an infrared spectroscopic study of the gel-phase polymorphism of 1,2-di-O-acyl-3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-sn-glycerols

The thermotropic and barotropic gel-phase polymorphism of a homologous series of saturated, straight-chain beta-D-glucosyldiacylglycerols was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Three spectroscopically distinct lamellar gel phases were detected thermotropically. Upon cooling to temperatures below the gel/liquid-crystalline phase transition temperature, all of these lipids form a metastable L beta gel phase characterized by orientationally disordered all-trans acyl chains. The transformation of the metastable L beta phase to a stable crystalline (Lc2) phase first involves the formation of an intermediate which itself is an ordered crystal-like (Lc1) phase. In the intermediate Lc1 phase, the zigzag planes of the polymethylene chains are nearly perpendicular to one another, and one of the ester carbonyl oxygens is engaged in a strong hydrogen bond, probably to the 2-hydroxyl of the sugar headgroup. The transformation of the Lc1 phase to the Lc2 phase involves a reorientation of the all-trans hydrocarbon chains and is probably driven by the strengthening of the hydrogen bond between the carbonyl ester oxygen and its proton donors. Since a "solid-state" reorganization of the acyl chains is an integral part of that process, it tends to become more sluggish as the chain length increases and is not observed with the longer chain homologues (N greater than 16). The spectroscopic characteristics of the most stable gel phases of the odd- and even-numbered members of this homologous series of compounds exhibit only minor differences, indicating that the structures of these phases are generally similar. The barotropic phase behavior of the shorter and longer chain beta-D-glucosyldiacylglycerols is also different. Compression of the L beta phase of the shorter chain compounds results in immediate conversion to their stable lc phases, whereas compression of the L beta phase of the longer chains does not. Furthermore, compression of the longer chain compounds may result in the formation of chain-interdigitated bilayers, whereas this is not the case for the shorter chain homologues. We suggest that the gel phase formed by any given homologue at a given temperature or pressure is that which maximizes the sometimes competing requirements for the optimal packing of the sugar headgroups and the hydrocarbon chains.

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the bilayer structure of phosphatidylcholines containing omega-cyclohexyl fatty acyl chains

The barotropic behavior of aqueous dispersions of two representative omega-cyclohexyl phosphatidylcholines was investigated by pressure-tuning Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In the even-numbered homologue, 1,2-di-14-cyclohexyltetradecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (14cyPC), the lipid molecules are orientationally disordered until the applied pressure reaches 2.1 kbar. This pressure marks the onset of correlation field splitting of the scissoring and rocking modes of the linear chain methylenes, as well as that of the cyclohexyl ring methylenes. It indicates immobilization of the entire acyl chains, whereby the zig-zag planes of the neighboring straight chain all-trans methylenes are oriented mainly perpendicular to each other. As judged from the magnitude of the correlation field splittings, the interchain interaction is weaker in 14cyPC than that in linear lipids (e.g., DMPC or DPPC). Upon an increase in pressure, up to 20 kbar, the zig-zag methylene planes in 14cyPC undergo a gradual transformation to a parallel orientation. In the odd-numbered homologue, 1,2-di-13-cyclohexyltridecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (13cyPC), there is no correlation field splitting originating from the straight chain methylenes (up to 21 kbar). The linear, nonbranched segments of the omega-cyclohexyl chains in 13cyPC are closely packed with the all-trans methylene zig-zag planes oriented parallel to each other. There is, however, correlation field splitting of the ring methylenes, indicating interring interactions between the bulky cyclohexyl rings in opposing bilayer leaflets. There are major structural differences between the even- and odd-numbered homologues in the interfacial region, which remain even at high pressures. The ester carbonyl C = O stretching band in 14cyPC is a composite of two discrete bands which do not change considerably in intensity or frequency in the pressure range 2-20 kbar. In contrast, 13cyPC possesses an additional, low-frequency C = O stretching component at low pressures. As the pressure increases, the three component bands coalesce into a single C = O stretching band. Our results suggest equally oriented, fully hydrogen-bonded carbonyl groups in 13cyPC at pressures above approx. 10 kbar.

High-pressure infrared study of phosphatidylserine bilayers and their interactions with the local anesthetic tetracaine

High-pressure Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to study the barotropic behavior of phosphatidylserine bilayers and their interactions with the local anesthetic tetracaine. The model membrane systems studied were multilamellar aqueous dispersions of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine (DMPS) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine (DOPS) in the absence and the presence of tetracaine at pH 5.5 and 9.5. The infrared spectra were measured at 28 degrees C in a diamond anvil cell as a function of pressure up to 25 kbar. The results show that the barotropic behavior of the negatively charged phosphatidylserine bilayers is very similar to that observed for zwitterionic phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, with corresponding acyl chains. The results also indicate that the local anesthetic partitions into phosphatidylserine bilayers in an environment close to the membrane-water interface and interacts electrostatically with the lipid head group. Application of high hydrostatic pressure on the lipid-anesthetic systems results in the pressure-induced expulsion of the anesthetic from a membrane to an aqueous environment. The pressures required for expulsion of anesthetic from bilayers are much higher for the unsaturated lipid (DOPS) than for the saturated lipid (DMPS) (approximately 6 kbar vs approximately 2 kbar, respectively). Whereas incorporation of the anesthetic into DOPS bilayers does not affect significantly the structural and dynamic properties of the disordered acyl chains in the liquid-crystalline phase, it orders the DMPS acyl chains in the gel phase.

Distribution of tumor promoters in lipid membranes and changes in membrane structure

The interaction of tumor promoters differing in molecular structure, namely, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and teleocidin, with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles was studied. Investigation by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy clarified the differences between the tumor promoters in the mode of interaction with lipid bilayer membranes. The temperature dependence of the bandwidth of the C-H or C = O stretching absorption of lipid molecules in the presence of tumor promoters relative to that in pure DPPC vesicles indicated that TPA is incorporated into the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer membrane whilst teleocidin binds predominantly to the membrane surface. However, both tumor promoters tend to restrict the motion of lipid molecules in membranes. The same conclusion was derived from measurements of steady-state fluorescence polarization, which showed that tumor promoters decreased the membrane fluidity. On the other hand, carboxyfluorescein (CF) leakage from vesicles was enhanced by the addition of TPA below the phase-transition temperature, whereas the effect of teleocidin on steady-state CF leakage was not as significant. It is considered that the difference in the profile of the TPA-induced increase in CF leakage compared to that of teleocidin might be ascribable to a different binding site for each tumor promoter in the membranes.

Thermotropic phase behavior of phosphatidylcholines with omega-tertiary-butyl fatty acyl chains

The thermotropic phase behavior of a homologous series of phosphatidylcholines containing acyl chains with omega-tertiary butyl groups was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-NMR). Upon heating, aqueous dispersions of these lipids exhibit single transitions which have been identified as direct conversions from Lc-like gel phases to the liquid-crystalline state by both infrared and 31P-NMR spectroscopy. The calorimetric data indicate that the thermodynamic properties of the observed transition are strongly dependent upon whether the acyl chains contain an odd- or an even-number of carbon atoms. This property is manifest by a pronounced odd/even alternation in the transition temperatures and transition enthalpies of this homologous series of lipids, attributable to the fact that the odd-numbered compounds form gel phases that are more stable than those of their even-numbered counterparts. The spectroscopic data also suggest that unlike other lipids which exhibit the so-called odd/even effect, major odd/even discontinuities in the packing of the polymethylene chains are probably not the dominant factors responsible for the odd/even discontinuities exhibited by these lipids, because only subtle differences in the appropriate spectroscopic parameters were detected. Instead, the odd/even alternation in the physical properties of these lipids may be attributable to significant differences in the organization of the carbonyl ester interfacial regions of the lipid bilayer and to differences in the intermolecular interactions between the terminal t-butyl groups of the odd- and even-numbered homologues. Our results also suggest that the presence of the bulky t-butyl groups in the center of the lipid bilayer reduces the conformational disorder of the liquid-crystalline polymethylene chains, and promotes the formation of Lc-like gel phases. However, these Lc-like gel phases are considerably less ordered than those formed by saturated, straight-chain lipids.