Pyrene-labeled lipids: versatile probes of membrane dynamics in vitro and in living cells

Development of pyrene-based fluorescent ether lipid as inhibitor of SK3 ion channels

We report the synthesis of three bioactive pyrene-based fluorescent analogues of Ohmline which is the most efficient and selective inhibitor of SK3 ion channel. The interaction of these Ohmline-pyrene (OP1-3) with liposomes of different composition reveals that only OP2 and OP3 are readily integrated into liposomes. Fluorescence measurements indicate that, depending on their concentration, OP2 and OP3 exist either as monomer or as a mixture of monomer and excimers within the liposome bilayer. Among the three Ohmline Pyrene compounds (OP1-3) only OP2 is able to reduce SK3 currents and is the first efficient fluorescent modulator of SK3 channel as revealed by patch clamp measurements (- 71.3 ± 13.3% at 10 μM) and by its inhibition of SK3-dependent cancer cell migration at (-32.5% ± 4.8% at 1 μM). We also report the first fluorescence study on living breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) showing that OP2 is rapidly integrated in bio-membranes followed by cell internalization.

Synthesis, in vitro β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity and in silico studies of novel (E)-4-Aryl-2-(2-(pyren-1-ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)thiazoles

Current research is based on the synthesis of novel (E)-4-aryl-2-(2-(pyren-1-ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)thiazole derivatives (3-15) by adopting two steps route. First step was the condensation between the pyrene-1-carbaldehyde (1) with the thiosemicarbazide to afford pyrene-1-thiosemicarbazone intermediate (2). While in second step, cyclization between the intermediate (2) and phenacyl bromide derivatives or 2-bromo ethyl acetate was carried out. Synthetic derivatives were structurally characterized by spectroscopic techniques such as EI-MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. Stereochemistry of the iminic double bond was confirmed by NOESY analysis. All pure compounds 2-15 were subjected for in vitro β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity. All molecules were exhibited excellent inhibition in the range of IC₅₀=3.10±0.10-40.10±0.90μM and found to be even more potent than the standard d-saccharic acid 1,4-lactone (IC₅₀=48.38±1.05μM). Molecular docking studies were carried out to verify the structure-activity relationship. A good correlation was perceived between the docking study and biological evaluation of active compounds.

Kinetic Analysis of the Methyl-β-cyclodextrin-Mediated Intervesicular Transfer of Pyrene-Labeled Phospholipids

Methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) can transfer phospholipids between vesicles, and its transfer ability has been utilized for the preparation of asymmetric vesicle and lipid incorporation into culture cells. Nevertheless, a detailed kinetic analysis of the MβCD-mediated phospholipid transfer has not yet been carried out. We performed real-time monitoring of intervesicular lipid transfer by means of the fluorescence of pyrene-labeled phospholipids. Intermolecular excimer formation of the pyrene-labeled lipids in a membrane strongly depends on the local concentration of the fluorophore and decreases when the pyrene-labeled lipids are transferred from donor (fluorophore-containing) vesicles to acceptor (fluorophore-free) vesicles. We monitored the fluorescence intensity of the pyrene monomer and excimer simultaneously and found that the excimer/monomer ratio decreased in the presence of MβCD, pointing to MβCD-mediated lipid transfer. The transfer rate depended on the MβCD concentration but not on the lipid concentration, suggesting that dissociation from the membrane via extraction by MβCD is the rate-limiting step of the lipid transfer. Calibration of the excimer/monomer ratio to the molar fraction of the pyrene-labeled lipids enabled us to evaluate the dissociation rate constant correctly. From the temperature dependence of the transfer, we obtained the thermodynamic activation parameters, which revealed that the extraction of phosphatidylcholine by MβCD from membranes is less enthalpically unfavorable than that of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol.

Design, synthesis and photochemical properties of the first examples of iminosugar clusters based on fluorescent cores

The synthesis and photophysical properties of the first examples of iminosugar clusters based on a BODIPY or a pyrene core are reported. The tri- and tetravalent systems designed as molecular probes and synthesized by way of Cu(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloadditions are fluorescent analogues of potent pharmacological chaperones/correctors recently reported in the field of Gaucher disease and cystic fibrosis, two rare genetic diseases caused by protein misfolding.

Pyrene: a probe to study protein conformation and conformational changes

The review focuses on the unique spectral features of pyrene that can be utilized to investigate protein structure and conformation. Pyrene is a fluorescent probe that can be attached covalently to protein side chains, such as sulfhydryl groups. The spectral features of pyrene are exquisitely sensitive to the microenvironment of the probe: it exhibits an ensemble of monomer fluorescence emission peaks that report on the polarity of the probe microenvironment, and an additional band at longer wavelengths, the appearance of which reflects the presence of another pyrene molecule in spatial proximity (~10 Å). Its high extinction coefficient allows us to study labeled proteins in solution at physiologically relevant concentrations. The environmentally- and spatially-sensitive features of pyrene allow monitoring protein conformation, conformational changes, protein folding and unfolding, protein-protein, protein-lipid and protein-membrane interactions.

The molecular shape of poly(propylenimine) dendrimer amphiphiles has a profound effect on their self assembly

The shape of dendrimer amphiphiles has an unexpected effect on their self-assembly. A series of diaminobutane poly(propylenimine) generation 3 dendrimer (DAB-dendr-(NH(2))(16)) amphiphiles has been synthesized, bearing an average of five (PD5), three (PD3) and one (PD1) palmitoyl group(s) per dendrimer molecule. Additionally DAB-dendr-(NH(2))(16) was derivatized with a layer of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, degree of polymerization = 12) groups and conjugated to an average of 1 palmitoyl group at the PEG end (PPD1). A final amphiphile resulted from the conjugation of DAB-dendr-(NH(2))(16) with 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-succinimidylpropionate (DSPE-PEG(3400)-SPA), i.e.: DPD5 (with 4 DSPE-PEG arms). The critical micellar concentration in aqueous media followed the trend: DPD5 < PD5 = PD3 < PD1 < PPD1 and amphiphiles eventually formed 10-20 nm monomolecular or multimolecular micelles and/or 200 nm spheres or tubules. Aggregation was entropy driven, as expected, for DPD5, PD5 and PD1 and enthalpy driven with the most hydrophilic compound PPD1, but was unexpectedly enthalpy driven for PD3. PD3 aggregates formed low capacity hydrophobic domains with a limited capacity for encapsulation of cyclosporine A; encapsulation levels (mole drug per mole polymer) were 0.099, 0.014, 0.099, and 0.735 for PD1, PD3, PD5, and DPD5 and, respectively. We conclude that star shaped amphiphiles such as PD3 are sterically hindered from self-assembling into high capacity hydrophobic domains in aqueous media. Amphiphile-membrane interactions were promoted by hydrophobic groups, but diminished by PEG moieties. DPD5 is the most suitable amphiphile for biomedical applications.

Rapid modification of retroviruses using lipid conjugates

Methods are needed to manipulate natural nanoparticles. Viruses are particularly interesting because they can act as therapeutic cellular delivery agents. Here we examine a new method for rapidly modifying retroviruses that uses lipid conjugates composed of a lipid anchor (1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine), a polyethylene glycol chain, and biotin. The conjugates rapidly and stably modified retroviruses and enabled them to bind streptavidin. The implication of this work for modifying viruses for gene therapy and vaccination protocols is discussed.

Mechanism of cytotoxic action of perfluorinated acids. I. alteration in plasma membrane potential and intracellular pH level

Perfluorinated (aliphatic) acids (PFAs) and congeners have many applications in various industrial fields and household for decades. Years later they have been detected in wildlife and this has spurred interest in environmental occurrence as well as influencing living organisms. PFAs were established as peroxisome proliferators and hepatocarcinogens. Amphipatic structure suggests that they may alter cell membrane potential (mbDeltaPsi) and/or induce changes in cytosolic pH (pHi). The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between changes of above parameters and PFAs structure (CF(6)-CF(12)) in human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells. mbDeltaPsi and pHi were measured by flow cytometry using fluorescence polarization of the plasma membrane probe 3,3'-dipentyloxacarbocyanine (DiOC(5)(3)) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA), respectively. Dose- and time-dependent manner analysis revealed relatively fast depolarization of plasma membrane and acidification of cytosol both positively correlated with fluorocarbon chain length. mbDeltaPsi depletion after 4 h of incubation reached 8.01% and 30.08% for 50 muM PFOA and 50 muM PFDoDA, respectively. Prolonged treatment (72 h) led to dramatic dissipation of membrane potential up to 21.65% and 51.29% and strong acidification to pHi level at 6.92 and 6.03 at the presence of above compounds, respectively. The data demonstrate that PFAs can alter plasma membrane protonotrophy with the mode dependent on the compound hydrophobicity.

Modulation of Fluorescence through Coassembly of Molecules in Organic Nanostructures

This paper describes the fluorescence of bimolecular coassemblies that form one-dimensional nanostructures. One molecule is a fluorescent peptide amphiphile containing its branched stilbene chromophore covalently linked to the hydrophilic end of the amphiphile, and the second molecule is a shorter, nonfluorescent peptide amphiphile of complementary charge. Using circular dichroism we observe that mixing both molecules results in coassemblies that exhibit a beta-sheet signature in the peptide region indicative of these types of nanostructures. The nature of the coassembly is dependent on the molar ratio of each component, and the changing CD spectra suggest the formation of domains along the length of the nanofibers with decreasing concentrations of the fluorescent component. In coassemblies with dilute concentrations of the fluorophore, we observe an increase in fluorescence intensity and quantum yield, as well as chiral transfer to the achiral segment of the fluorescent peptide amphiphile. The coassemblies studied containing a fluorescent component at a low molar ratio exhibit fluorescence resonance energy transfer to fluorescent acceptors in solution. When the nonfluorescent peptide amphiphile component is designed to bind the important bioactive polysaccharide heparin, a selective transfer of energy is observed between fluorescein-tagged heparin and the coassemblies in both dilute solution and in macroscopic gels.

Probing the Interior of Peptide Amphiphile Supramolecular Aggregates

We present a study of the aqueous solvation within self-assembled structures formed from peptide amphiphiles. We have placed tryptophan and pyrene chromophores onto the peptide backbone to enable spectroscopic examinations of the interior of the resulting supramolecular objects. Self-assembly constrains the chromophores to a defined location within an aggregate, and they experience differing degrees of quencher penetration reflective of their depth within the nanostructure. Tryptophan fluorescence indicates that the interiors remain well-solvated, suggesting that the supramolecular aggregates maintain high degrees of free volume. The Stern-Volmer quenching constants and the fractional accessibility (of covalently bound pyrene) progressively increase as the chromophore is placed closer to the aggregate exterior. Furthermore, these aggregates encourage chromophore uptake from aqueous solution as evidenced by the solubilization of free pyrene chromophores. Our findings demonstrate that covalently bound fluorophores within an aggregate can interact with the external environment. Studies with small molecular probes indicate that these self-assembled architectures may represent viable vehicles to sequester hydrophobic, insoluble organic molecules (within the interior) and to present signaling protein epitopes to cells (on the periphery).

Partitioning of pyrene-labeled phospho- and sphingolipids between ordered and disordered bilayer domains

Here we have studied how the length of the pyrene-labeled acyl chain (n) of a phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, or galactosylceramide affects the partitioning of these lipids between 1), gel and fluid domains coexisting in bovine brain sphingomyelin (BB-SM) or BB-SM/spin-labeled phosphatidylcholine (PC) bilayers or 2), between liquid-disordered and liquid-ordered domains in BB-SM/spin-labeled PC/cholesterol bilayers. The partitioning behavior was deduced either from modeling of pyrene excimer/monomer ratio versus temperature plots, or from quenching of the pyrene monomer fluorescence by spin-labeled PC. New methods were developed to model excimer formation and pyrene lipid quenching in segregated bilayers. The main result is that partition to either gel or liquid-ordered domains increased significantly with increasing length of the labeled acyl chain, probably because the pyrene moiety attached to a long chain perturbs these ordered domains less. Differences in partitioning were also observed between phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and galactosylceramide, thus indicating that the lipid backbone and headgroup-specific properties are not severely masked by the pyrene moiety. We conclude that pyrene-labeled lipids could be valuable tools when monitoring domain formation in model and biological membranes as well as when assessing the role of membrane domains in lipid trafficking and sorting.

Alterations in cell membrane properties caused by perfluorinated compounds

The recent detection of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in wildlife from even remote locations has spurred interest in the environmental occurrence and effects of these chemicals. While the global distribution of PFCs is increasingly understood, there is still little information available on their effects on wildlife. The amphiphillic nature of PFCs suggests that their effects could be primarily on cell membranes. In this study we measured the effects of PFCs on membrane fluidity and mitochondrial membrane potential using flow cytometry and effects on membrane permeability using cell bioassay procedures (H4IIE, MCF-7, PLHC-1). Of the PFCs tested, only perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) increased the permeability of cell membranes to the hydrophobic ligands used. Three PFCs were tested in the membrane fluidity assay: PFOS, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). PFOS increased membrane fluidity in fish leukocytes in a dose-dependent fashion, while PFHS and PFBS had no effect in the concentration range tested. The lowest effective concentrations for the membrane fluidity effects of PFOS were 5-15 mg/l. Effects on mitochondrial membrane potential occurred in the same concentration range as effects on membrane fluidity. This suggests that PFOS effects membrane properties at concentrations below those associated with other adverse effects.

Pyrene-labeled lipids as tools in membrane biophysics and cell biology

Pyrene is one of the most frequently used lipid-linked fluorophores. Its most characteristic features are a long excited state lifetime and (local) concentration-dependent formation of excimers. Pyrene is also hydrophobic and thus does not significantly distort the conformation of the labeled lipid molecule. These characteristics make pyrene lipids well-suited for studies on a variety of biophysical phenomena like lateral diffusion, inter- or transbilayer movement of lipids and lateral organization of membranes. Pyrene lipids have also been widely employed to determine protein binding to membranes, lipid conformation and the activity of lipolytic enzymes. In cell biology, pyrene lipids are promising tools for studies on lipid trafficking and metabolism, as well as for microscopic mapping of membrane properties. The main disadvantage of pyrene lipids is the relatively large size of the fluorophore. Another disadvantage is that they require UV-excitation, which is not feasible with all microscopes.

Characteristics of pyrene phospholipid/gamma-cyclodextrin complex

Recently, it was demonstrated that gamma-cyclodextrins (gamma-CDs) greatly accelerates transfer of hydrophobic pyrene-labeled and other fluorescent phospholipid derivatives from vesicles to cells in culture (). To understand better the characteristics of this process, we studied the interaction of gamma-CD with pyrene-labeled phosphatidylcholines (PyrPCs) using a variety of physical methods. Either one or both of the acyl chains of PC was labeled with a pyrene moiety (monoPyrPCs and diPyrPCs, respectively), and the length of the labeled chain(s) varied from 4 to 14 carbons. Fluorescent binding assays showed that the association constant decreases strongly with increasing acyl chain length. PyrPC/gamma-CD stoichiometry was 1:2 for the shorter chain species, but changed to 1:3 when the acyl chain length exceeded 8 (diPyrPCs) or 10 (monoPyrPCs) carbons. The activation energy for the formation of diPyr(10)PC/gamma-CD complex was high, i.e., +92 kJ/mol, indicating that the phospholipid molecule has to fully emerge from the bilayer before complex formation can take place. The free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of transfer of monoPyrPC from bilayer to gamma-CD complex were close to zero. The absorption, Fourier transform infrared, and fluorescence spectral measurements and lifetime analysis indicated that the pyrene moiety lies inside the CD cavity and is conformationally restricted, particularly when the labeled chain is short. The acyl chains of a PyrPC molecule seem to share a CD cavity rather than occupy different ones. The present data provide strong evidence that the ability of gamma-CD to enhance intermembrane transfer of pyrene-labeled phospholipids is based on the formation of stoichiometric complexes in the aqueous phase. This information should help in designing CD derivatives that are more efficient lipid carriers then those available at present.

Fluorescence properties of pyrylretinol

A fluorescent analog of retinol, 3,7-dimethyl-9-(1-pyryl)-2E,4E,6E,8E-nonatetr aene-1-ol (referred to as pyrylretinol, or 1) has been synthesized. The fluorescence properties (e.g. quantum yield, lifetime, steady-state anisotropy, and excitation/emission spectra) of this compound in various organic solvents and in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes have been studied, and the results are compared with those obtained from 3-methyl-5-(1-pyryl)-2E,4E-pentadiene-1-ol (2), which has the same fused aromatic ring system but a much shorter acyclic chain. 1 and 2 form excimer in aqueous media and fluorescence anisotropies of both 1 and 2 in DMPC liposomes exhibit an abrupt decrease at approximately 21-23 degrees C, which coincides with the main phase transition temperature of DMPC liposomes, indicating that both compounds may be a useful membrane probe. In addition, the binding and quenching capability of pyrylretinol (1) to bovine serum albumin has been investigated. Pyrylretinol (1) binds with BSA with a binding constant of 3.6 x 10(4) M-1, although the value is somewhat lower than that obtained for retinol (3.06 x 10(5) M-1). Pyrylretinol (1) also quenches the BSA intrinsic fluorescence with the quenching rate constant of 1.67 x 10(13) M-1 s-1 and the value is lower than that obtained for retinol (4.06 x 10(13) M-1 s-1). The binding and quenching studies suggest that pyrylretinol (1) may serve as a useful fluorescence probe for structure/function studies of different retinoid binding proteins.

Continuous measurement of rapid transbilayer movement of a pyrene-labeled phospholipid analogue

The excimer forming capacity of the fluorescent moiety pyrene is employed to measure continuously the transbilayer (re)distribution of a pyrene-labeled phosphatidylcholine analogue (pyPC) in liposomal membranes. pyPC with a lauroyl residue (sn-1 position) and a short (butyroyl) fatty acid chain (sn-2 position) bearing the pyrene moiety incorporates rapidly into the outer leaflet of liposomes. The fluorescence intensities of excimers (I(E)) and of monomers (I(M)) of pyPC depend on the concentration of the analogue in a membrane leaflet. Therefore, the redistribution of pyPC from the outer to the inner leaflet can be followed by changes of the ratio I(E)/I(M). The transbilayer movement of pyPC in pure phospholipid vesicles is very slow indicated by a constant I(E)/I(M). However, addition of membrane active peptides (melittin, magainin 2 amide or a mutant of magainin 2 amide) induced a rapid translocation of pyPC from the outer to the inner leaflet. An approach is presented which allows estimating the transbilayer distribution of pyPC from the measured ratio I(E)/I(M).

Liposomes encapsulating polymeric chitosan based vesicles--a vesicle in vesicle system for drug delivery

Drug delivery systems comprising vesicles prepared from one amphiphile encapsulating vesicles prepared from a second amphiphile have not been prepared previously due to a tendency of the bilayer components of the different vesicles to mix during preparation. Recently we have developed polymeric vesicles using the new polymer-palmitoyl glycol chitosan and cholesterol in a 2:1 weight ratio. These polymeric vesicles have now been encapsulated within egg phosphatidylcholine (egg PC), cholesterol (2:1 weight ratio) liposomes yielding a vesicle in vesicle system. The vesicle in vesicle system was visualised by freeze fracture electron microscopy. The mixing of the different bilayer components was studied by monitoring the excimer fluorescence of pyrene-labelled polymeric vesicles after their encapsulation within egg PC liposomes or hexadecyl diglycerol ether niosomes. A minimum degree of lipid mixing was observed with the polymeric vesicle-egg PC liposome system when compared to the polymeric vesicle-hexadecyl diglycerol ether niosome system. The polymeric vesicle-egg PC vesicle in vesicle system was shown to retard the release of encapsulated solutes. 28% of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF) encapsulated in the polymeric vesicle compartment of the vesicle in vesicle system was released after 4 h compared to the release of 62% of encapsulated CF from plain polymeric vesicles within the same time period.

gamma-cyclodextrins greatly enhance translocation of hydrophobic fluorescent phospholipids from vesicles to cells in culture. Importance of molecular hydrophobicity in phospholipid trafficking studies

Short-chain, fluorescent derivatives are commonly used to investigate intracellular phospholipid trafficking. However, their use can yield misleading results because they, unlike the native species, can rapidly distribute between organelles due to their low hydrophobicity. On the other hand, hydrophobic derivatives are very difficult to introduce to cells and thus have hardly been used. Here we show that carboxyethylated gamma-cyclodextrin (CE-gamma-CD) greatly enhances transfer of a variety of hydrophobic fluorescent phospholipid derivatives from vesicles to cultured cells. Several lines of evidence indicate that CE-gamma-CD enhances transfer of lipid molecules by increasing their effective concentration in the aqueous phase, rather than by inducing membrane fusion or hemifusion. Incubation with CE-gamma-CD and donor lipid vesicles does not extract cholesterol or phospholipids from the cells or compromise plasma membrane intactness or long term cell viability. Using CE-gamma-CD-mediated transfer, we introduced hydrophobic pyrene-labeled phosphatidylserine to the plasma membrane of fibroblast cells and followed their distribution with time. In contrast to what has been previously observed for other, less hydrophobic species, transport of this lipid to the Golgi apparatus or mitochondria was not detected. Rather, much of this fluorescent PS remained in the plasma membrane or was incorporated to various endocytotic compartments. These findings indicate that the native, typically hydrophobic phosphatidylserine molecules efflux only very slowly via the cytoplasm to intracellular organelles. This helps to explain how cells can maintain a very high concentration of phosphatidylserine in the inner leaflet of their plasma membrane. Furthermore, the present results underline the importance of using hydrophobic analogues when studying intracellular trafficking of many phospholipid classes.

Spontaneous transfer of monoacyl amphiphiles between lipid and protein surfaces

The kinetics of transfer of natural and fluorescent nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and lysolecithins (lysoPC) from phospholipid and protein surfaces were measured. The kinetics of transfer of 12-(1-pyrenyl)dodecanoic acid, from liquid crystalline and gel phase single unilamellar phospholipid vesicles, very low, low, and high density lipoproteins, human serum albumin, and rat liver fatty acid-binding protein, were first-order and characterized by similar rate constants. The halftimes (t1/2) of NEFA transfer from lipids and proteins were dependent on the acyl chain structure according to log t1/2 = -0.62n + 0.59m + 12.0, where n and m, respectively, are the numbers of carbon atoms and double bonds. The structure of the donor surface had a measurable but smaller effect on transfer rates. The kinetics of NEFA and lysoPC transfer are slow relative to the lipolytic processes that liberate them. Therefore, one would predict a transient accumulation of NEFA and lysoPC during lipolysis and an attendant modulation of many metabolic processes within living cells and within the plasma compartment of blood. These data will be useful in the refinement of current models of membrane and lipoprotein function and in the selection of fluorescent NEFA analogs for studying transport in living cells.

Transfer of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin from low- and high-density lipoprotein to human platelets

Following a 1 h incubation of human platelets with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) labelled in the apoprotein fraction (125I-apoB) or in phospholipid fractions [14C-labelled phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) or sphingomyelin (SM)], the percentage of total 14C associated with the cells was about 3-fold higher than the percentage of 125I. Differences in temperature sensitivity also indicated differential interactions of phospholipids and apoprotein with platelets. In order to assess the amount of [14C]phospholipid transferred from LDL or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to the cells, the quantity of bound lipoproteins was estimated by adding an excess of unlabelled lipoprotein, or by selectively degrading LDL- and HDL-associated [14C]PC and [14C]PE with phospholipase C. Incubation of platelets with LDL or HDL containing pyrenedecanoic acid-labelled PC or SM (py-PC, py-SM) increased pyrene monomer fluorescence, indicating incorporation of the phospholipids into platelets. With HDl as donor, incorporation of py-SM was greater than uptake of py-PC. Pretreating platelets with elastase dose-dependently inhibited uptake of py-SM and py-PC. Treatment of cells with phospholipase C indicated that the uptake of [14C]PC by platelets, and not the binding of lipoproteins to the cells, was partially inhibited by elastase. In conclusion, LDL and HDL rapidly deliver SM, PC and PE to platelets. Incorporation of LDL-derived phospholipids into platelets is unlikely to be mediated by endocytosis of lipoprotein particles. The uptake of the two choline-containing phospholipids appears to require the presence of specialized platelet membrane protein(s).

Degradation of pyrene-labelled phospholipids by lysosomal phospholipases in vitro. Dependence of degradation on the length and position of the labelled and unlabelled acyl chains

The hydrolysis of pyrenylacyl phosphatidylcholines (PyrnPCs)(n indicates the number of aliphatic carbons in the pyrene-chain) by crude lysosomal phospholipases in vitro was investigated. PyrnPCs consist of several sets in which the length of the pyrene-labelled or the unlabelled acyl chain, linked to the sn-1 or sn-2 position, was systematically varied. Lysophosphatidylcholine and fatty acid were the only fluorescent breakdown products detected, thus indicating that PyrnPCs were degraded by A-type phospholipases and lysophospholipases. Of these, mainly A1-type phospholipases appear to be involved, as determined from the relative amounts of labelled fatty acid and lysolipid released from the positional isomers. Based on the effects of the length and position of the pyrene-labelled and unlabelled chains it is suggested that (1) the lysosomal A-type phospholipases acting on PyrnPCs recognize the carboxy-terminal part of the lipid acyl chains and (2) the relevant part of the binding site is relatively narrow. Thus phospholipids with added bulk in the corresponding region, such as those that are peroxidized and polymerized, may not be good substrates for the lysosomal phospholipases mentioned. The impaired hydrolysis of the most hydrophobic PyrnPCs indicates that lysosomal phospholipases may not be able to penetrate significantly into the substrate interphase, but upward movement of the lipid may be required for efficient hydrolysis. Finally, the rate of hydrolysis of many pyrenyl derivatives was found to be comparable to that of a natural phosphatidylcholine species, both in micelles and in lipoprotein particles, indicating that these derivatives can be used as faithful reporters of lysosomal degradation of natural lipids in vivo and in vitro.

Response of cardiac myocytes to a ramp increase of diacylglycerol generated by photolysis of a novel caged diacylglycerol

To test the responsiveness of living cells to the intracellular messenger diacylglycerol, we developed a prototype caged diacylglycerol compound, 3-O-(alpha-carboxyl-2,4-dinitrobenzyl)-1 ,2-dioctanoyl-rac-glycerol (designated alpha-carboxyl caged diC(8)), that produces dioctanoylglycerol (diC(8)) on photolysis. Alpha-Carboxyl caged diC(8) is biologically inert toward diacylglycerol kinase and protein kinase C in vitro and is readily incorporated into cardiac myocyte membranes, where it has no effect before irradiation. Exposure to near-UV light releases biologically active diC8 in good yield (quantum efficiency = 0.2). Here we examine a cellular response to controlled elevation of diC8 within single cardiac myocytes. Twitch amplitude was monitored in electrically stimulated myocytes, and a ramp increase in the concentration of diC(8) was generated by continuous irradiation of cells loaded with the caged compound. The myocyte response was biphasic with a positive inotropic phase (39% increase in twitch amplitude), followed by a large negative inotropic phase (>80% decrease). The time to peak inotropy for both phases depended on the light intensity, decreasing from 376 +/- 51 S to 44 +/- 5 s (positive phase) and 422 +/- 118 S to 51 +/- 9 S (negative phase) as the light intensity was increased eightfold. Both phases were inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitor chelethyrine chloride. An increase in extracellular K+ from 5 mM to 20 mM to partially depolarize the cell membrane eliminated the positive inotropic phase, but the negative inotropic response was largely unaltered. The results reveal new features in the response of cardiac muscle to diacylglycerol, including a positive inotropic phase and a complex responsiveness to a simple linear increase in diacylglycerol. The effects of photoreleased diC(8) were similar to the effects of opiate agonists selective for kappa receptors, consistent with a major role for diacylglycerol in these responses.

The turnover of cytoplasmic triacylglycerols in human fibroblasts involves two separate acyl chain length-dependent degradation pathways

Cultured fibroblasts from patients affected with the genetic metabolic disorder named neutral lipid storage disease (NLSD) exhibit a dramatic accumulation of cytoplasmic triacylglycerols (Radom, J., Salvayre, R., Nègre, A., Maret, A., and Douste-Blazy, L. (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 164, 703-708). We compared here the metabolism of radiolabeled short-, medium- and long-chain fatty acids in these cells. Short/medium-chain fatty acids (C4-C10) were incorporated into polar lipids (60-80%) and triacylglycerols (20-40%) at a lower rate (5-10 times lower) than long-chain fatty acids. Pulse-chase experiments allowed to evaluate the degradation rate of cytoplasmic triacylglycerols in normal and NLSD fibroblasts and to discriminate between two catabolic pathways of cytoplasmic triacylglycerols. Short/medium-chain (C4-C10) triacylglycerols were degraded at a normal rate in NLSD fibroblasts, whereas long-chain (C12 and longer) triacylglycerols remained undegraded. These data are confirmed by mass analysis. The use of diethylparanitrophenyl phosphate (E600) and parachloromercuribenzoate (PCMB) inhibitors allows to discriminate between the two triacylglycerol degradation pathways. E600 inhibited selectively the in situ degradation of short/medium-chain triacylglycerols without inhibition of the degradation of long-chain triacylglycerols, whereas PCMB inhibited selectively the in situ hydrolysis of long-chain triacylglycerols without affecting the degradation of long-chain triacylglycerols. This was correlated with the in vitro properties of cellular triacylglycerol-hydrolyzing enzymes characterized by their substrate specificity and their susceptibility to inhibitors; the neutral lipase specific to long-chain triacylglycerols is inhibited by PCMB, but not by E600, in contrast to short/medium-chain lipase, which is inhibited by E600 but not by PCMB. The data of in vitro and in situ experiments suggest the existence in fibroblasts of two separate acyl chain length-dependent pathways involved in the degradation of cytoplasmic triacylglycerols, one mediated by a neutral long-chain lipase and another one mediated by a short/medium-chain lipase.

Modulation of substrate selectivity in plasma lipid transfer protein reaction over structural variation of lipid particle

The modulation of substrate selectivity of human plasma LTP reaction is the subject of the present investigation. The moderate selectivity by a factor of 5 to 6 was observed in the LTP-catalyzed transfer of cholesteryl ester over triacylglycerol between plasma lipoproteins. On the other hand, the transfer of cholesteryl ester by LTP was highly selective over the negligible transfer of triacylglycerol, by a factor of 60 to 500, between the microemulsions with LDL size, regardless of the activators such as human and pig apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, human apo C-III and apo E that bound to the surface of the emulsion in equilibrium. The presence of free cholesterol in these microemulsions reduced slightly the rate of cholesteryl ester transfer but had no effect on triacylglycerol transfer. Other surface-active reagents such as cholic acid, Triton X-100 and Tween-20, did not have an effect on the triacylglycerol transfer either. Triacylglycerol transfer by LTP became measurable between such lipid particles as prepared by co-sonication of lipid with pig apo A-I and isolated as the mixed-microemulsions in the density of LDL and HDL. In these conditions, the substrate selectivity for cholesteryl ester over triacylglycerol was a factor of 6 to 16 mimicking the ratio in plasma lipoproteins. The conformation of pig apo A-I estimated by circular dichroism showed that its apparent helical content was further more induced when apo A-I was integrated into the mixed-microemulsion by co-sonication than the lipid-bound apo A-I in equilibrium. Apo A-I, thus integrated into lipid particles, was highly resistant to the denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride while the lipid-bound apo A-I in equilibrium was denatured as readily as the lipid-free protein. Thus, triacylglycerol transfer by LTP was induced by structural modulation of substrate-carrying lipid particles such as higher integration of apolipoproteins.

Selective transfer of cholesteryl ester over triglyceride by human plasma lipid transfer protein between apolipoprotein-activated lipid microemulsions

The substrate-specific rate of the human plasma lipid transfer protein (LTP) reaction was studied using pyrene-labeled substrate lipid analogues as probes for various lipids, by monitoring the ratio of the fluorescence intensities of their excimers to those of their monomers as an indicator of pyrene concentration in the microenvironment. Transfer of cholesteryl ester (CE) and triglyceride (TG) was demonstrated between human high-density lipoproteins, between low-density lipoproteins, and between these two lipoprotein, and the specific fractional transfer rate of CE was always higher than that of TG by a factor of 2.4-7.9. On the other hand, the transfer by LTP of CE, TG, and phosphatidylcholine (PC) was also demonstrated between lipid microemulsions having an average diameter of 25-26 nm using the same probes, but only when the emulsions were activated by apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, E, or C-III. The maximally activated rates of the transfer of CE and TG were the same when measured between the emulsions with cores composed exclusively of either lipid. The specific fractional transfer rate of pyrene-CE, however, was inversely proportional to the percentage of CE in the TG core of the emulsions, and the initial transfer of TG was almost completely inhibited by the presence of small percentages of CE in the TG core. Thus, the transfer of CE between the emulsions is highly selective over that of TG by orders of magnitude, much more selective than the reaction between any natural plasma lipoproteins, but this selectivity is not a rate-limiting step of the overall LTP reaction. The maximally activated LTP-catalyzed transfer rate of PC between the emulsions was somewhat higher than that of CE or TG and was not affected by the composition of the core lipids of the emulsion, TG or CE. When an excess amount of LTP was incubated with emulsion containing a small percentage of pyrene-CE in the TG core in the absence of the acceptor particles, excimer fluorescence rapidly decreased to the base line, and this change was suppressed when pyrene-CE was diluted with CE in the core. This result may indicate that LTP selectively disrupts pyrene-CE excimer formation on the basis of its selective interaction with the CE molecule over TG in the emulsion system as a putative background mechanism for the selective transfer of CE.

Transfer of pyrene-labelled diacyl-, alkylacyl-, and alkenylacyl-glycerophospholipids from vesicles to human blood platelets

The present study was aimed at investigating the spontaneous transfer of fluorescently labelled serine- and choline-glycerophospholipids from unilamellar vesicles to resting human blood platelets. The most effectively transferred phospholipids were pyrene-phosphatidylserine (PS) and the ether analogues of choline-glycerophospholipids, e.g., pyrene-alkylacyl- and pyrene-1'-alkenylacyl-glycerophosphocholines (plasmalogens). Transfer of pyrene-diacyl-glycerophosphocholine and pyrene-phosphatidic acid was almost not detectable under the same experimental conditions. The fast intermembrane PS-transfer could be explained by the very high degree of adsorption of PS donor vesicles to the platelet plasma membrane. The short halftime of transfer rate (12-14 min) and the high incorporation (1.08-2.16% of total platelet glycerophosphocholines) observed for ether choline-phospholipids in contrast to pyrene-PS (20 min, 0.8% of total platelet PS), could be interpreted in terms of their bulk membrane properties.

Apoprotein-phospholipid interactions in Lp(a)

Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are structurally related to each other. Both exhibit identical phospholipid compositions and possess one molecule of apoprotein B-100 (apoB). Lp(a) contains, in addition, apoprotein (a) (apo(a)), which localizes to the particle surface and interacts with the apoB component by non-covalent and covalent forces. Protein-protein interaction is probably interrelated with protein-lipid interaction. Fluorescent analogs of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin were inserted into the surface layer of LDL and Lp(a). The obtained fluorescence data reflecting mobility and distributional heterogeneity of the labeled lipids provided evidence that apo-proteins discriminate between choline phospholipids and preferentially associate with phosphatidylcholine. This effect is enhanced in Lp(a) because of the presence of apolipoprotein (a). Higher affinity for Lp(a) as compared with LDL was also observed with a fluorescent diether analog of phosphatidylcholine in native serum. In contrast, the time-dependent transfer of the same lipid into Lp(a) was slower compared with LDL, probably as a consequence of the more rigid surface of the former lipoprotein.

Influence of the length of the spacer on the partitioning properties of amphiphilic fluorescent membrane probes

Four fluorescent diphenylhexatriene derivatives were considered as membrane probes, namely two ammonium compounds, 3-(diphenylhexatrienyl)propyltrimethylammonium (TMAP-DPH) and 22-(diphenylhexatrienyl)docosyltrimethylammonium (LcTMA-DPH), and two phospholipids, 1-palmitoyl-2-[3-(diphenylhexatrienyl)propanoyl]-sn-glyc ero-3-phosphocholine (DPHpPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-[21-(diphenylhexatrienyl)henicosanoyl]-sn-phos phocholine (LcDPHpPC). For each pair, the molecules differ by the length of the polymethylenic spacer between the fluorescent moiety and the polar head, so one pair comprises two short chain molecules (C3 spacer) and the other two long chain molecules (C21 or C22 spacer). The partitioning of these probes between gel and liquid crystalline phases of multilamellar vesicles with binary composition (DEPC and DSPC) was measured by a method based on fluorescence anisotropy. The partitioning was shown to depend strongly on the length of the spacer. Short chain probes preferably partition into fluid phases (Kf/s = 1.7 +/- 0.3 for TMAP-DPH; 2.6 +/- 0.11 for DPHpPC), whereas long chain probes show a strong preferential partitioning for gel phases of the vesicles (Kf/s = 0.12 +/- 0.06 for LcTMA-DPH; 0.22 +/- 0.11 for LcDPHpPC). This strong partitioning may be explained by the interdigitation of the long polymethylenic chains across the mid-point of the lipid bilayer (I.E. Mehlhorn et al. (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 939, 151-159), which is enhanced by the better packing provided by a gel phase.

Activation of human plasma lipid transfer protein by apolipoproteins

Activation of human plasma lipid transfer protein (LTP) by apolipoproteins was studied. Pyrenelabeled cholesteryl ester was used as a probe substrate for the transfer reaction between lipid microemulsions, with a diameter of 26 nm, of triglyceride and phosphatidylcholine, and the reaction was monitored as a change in the ratio of the peaks of monomer and excimer in the fluorescence spectrum of pyrene. The transfer of pyrene-cholesteryl ester was hardly catalyzed by highly isolated LTP in the absence of apolipoprotein unless extreme overdose of LTP was given, regardless of the presence of bovine serum albumin. Human apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and apoA-II activated the LTP reaction in a dose-dependent manner. The activation was directly proportional to the titration of the surface of the substrate lipid emulsions by the apolipoproteins when the rate was plotted against the apolipoproteins bound to the surface. Human apoE also activated the LTP reaction in the same manner. The activation by human apoC-III was also proportional to the surface-bound protein, but the rate of the transfer was lower than those with other apolipoproteins. Displacement of apoA-I by apoC-III from the lipid emulsion surface, therefore, resulted in apparent deactivation of the LTP reaction. Thus, LTP requires apolipoproteins for its activation, and the activation seems proportional to the area of the surface of the lipid substrate particles modified by apolipoproteins. ApoA-I, -A-II, and -E are more potent activators than apoC-III for cholesteryl ester transfer.

Alcohols produce reversible and irreversible acceleration of phospholipid flip-flop in the human erythrocyte membrane

The slow, non-mediated transmembrane movement of the lipid probes lysophosphatidylcholine, NBD-phosphatidylcholine and NBD-phosphatidylserine in human erythrocytes becomes highly enhanced in the presence of 1-alkanols (C2-C8) and 1,2-alkane diols (C4-C8). Above a threshold concentration characteristic for each alcohol, flip rates increase exponentially with the alcohol concentration. The equieffective concentrations of the alcohols decrease about 3-fold per methylene added. All 1-alkanols studied are equieffective at comparable calculated membrane concentrations. This is also observed or the 1,2-alkane diols, albeit at a 5-fold lower membrane concentration. At low alcohol concentrations, flip enhancement is reversible to a major extent upon removal of the alcohol. In contrast, a residual irreversible flip acceleration is observed following removal of the alcohol after a treatment at higher concentrations. The threshold concentrations to produce irreversible flip acceleration by 1-alkanols and 1,2-alkane diols are 1.5- and 3-fold higher than those for flip acceleration in the presence of the corresponding alcohols. A causal role in reversible flip-acceleration of a global increase of membrane fluidity or membrane polarity seems to be unlikely. Alcohols may act by increasing the probability of formation of transient structural defects in the hydrophobic barrier that already occur in the native membrane. Membrane defects responsible for irreversible flip-acceleration may result from alterations of membrane skeletal proteins by alcohols.

A novel fluorescent fatty acid, 5-methyl-BDY-3-dodecanoic acid, is a potential probe in lipid transport studies by incorporating selectively to lipid classes of BHK cells

The 5-methyl-BDY-3-dodecanoic acid (B12FA) labelling of BHK cell lipids was analyzed by thin layer and reverse phase column chromatography. Incorporation to phospholipids was selective: over 90% of B12FA label was enriched in phosphatidylcholine. The major molecular species of PC was that containing palmitate as the unlabelled fatty acid. Small amounts of label was also found in other phosphoglycerides, but not in sphingomyelin. Triglycerides and diglycerides constituted the main B12FA-labelled neutral lipid classes; however, no label was found in cholesterol esters. B12FA was degraded to shorter homologues, which had significantly slower lipid incorporation rates. B12FA-labelled cells displayed in a microscope initially green reticular type fluorescence, but later red spherical structures, representing neutral lipid droplets, could also be seen. It is concluded that B12FA does not incorporate indiscriminately to all lipid classes of BHK cells, but is enriched to PC, diglycerides and triglycerides, which could be utilized in studies on lipid transport as well as metabolism.

Relationship between membrane lipid mobility and spectrin distribution in lymphocytes

We have previously established that T and B lymphocytes in situ are remarkably heterogeneous with respect to the cytoskeletal protein spectrin. Since in erythrocytes spectrin is known to play an important role in the regulation of membrane fluidity, lipid organization and lateral mobility of membrane proteins, we have sought to determine if the heterogeneous patterns of spectrin distribution that we have observed are related to possible differences in membrane lipid organization in these various subsets. To this end, we have utilized a fluorescent pyrene-labelled phospholipid as a probe of the lipid lateral mobility and have examined two related T cell systems maintained in vitro, DO.11.10 cells and a spontaneously arising variant, DO.11.10V. In these (and other cloned in vitro systems) we have previously observed that the cells homogeneously express one of the kinds of spectrin distribution patterns observed in situ. Thus the uniformity of staining of these systems permits us to address whether the various patterns of spectrin distribution may be predictive of differences in membrane lipid properties. Here we show that in cells in which there is little or nor spectrin at the plasma membrane (DO.11.10) that the lipids in the plasma membrane are considerably less mobile than in its related variant in which spectrin is diffusely distributed within the cell and at the plasma membrane. From this and previous results, we conclude that differences in the distribution of the cytoskeletal protein spectrin among lymphocytes may be a useful parameter in helping to predict the status of membrane lipid organization.

Aggregation of lasalocid A in membranes: a fluorescence study

The aggregation behavior of the carboxylic ionophore, lasalocid A, has been studied in egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles by monitoring the intrinsic fluorescence of lasalocid A. Self quenching of lasalocid A fluorescence in vesicles of egg phosphatidylcholine suggests aggregation of lasalocid A. When aggregated lasalocid A is treated with increasing concentrations of lipid, there is an increase in fluorescence due to gradual reduction of self quenching on lateral dilution. This confirms the presence of loosely held non-covalent aggregates of lasalocid A in the membrane. This result is relevant in elucidating the molecular mechanism of cation transport by lasalocid A across membranes.

Uptake of a fluorescent-labeled fatty acid by spiroplasma floricola cells

12-(1-pyrene)dodecanoic fatty acid (P12) uptake by Spiroplasma floricola BNR-1 cells was characterized with regard to its kinetics, specificity, metabolism and susceptibility to protein and lipid inhibitors. The uptake process depended on temperature and pH, and exhibited biphasic saturation kinetics with a very low (2.7 microM) and a high (37 microM) apparent Km value. Lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic and oleic fatty acids did not compete with P12 for transport. The fluorescence of P12 was exclusively recovered in the neutral lipid fraction, suggesting that this fatty acid is not further utilized for phospholipid biosynthesis. Valinomycin, carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenyldrazone (CCCP), dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), and pronase strongly reduced P12 uptake by cells, but not by membrane vesicles, affecting the high affinity (low Km) component of the uptake system. Uptake of P12 by cells, as well as by membrane vesicles, was very sensitive to glutaraldehyde, chlorpromazine, phospholipase A21 and ascorbate with FeCl3, which affected the low affinity (high Km) component of a transport system. Digitonin stimulated P12 uptake. We suggest that the incorporation of P12 into spiroplasma cell membrane is a two-step process: a high specificity energy-dependent and protease-sensitive binding to the outer surface of membrane, and a low specificity and energy-independent diffusion and partition into the membrane lipid environment.

The low-affinity lipid binding site of the non-specific lipid transfer protein. Implications for its mode of action

The non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsL-TP) from bovine liver was studied by using the following fluorescent lipid analogs: phosphatidylcholine species with a sn-2-pyrenylacyl-chain of different length [Pyr(x)PC], sn-2-pyrenyldecanoyl-labelled phosphatidylinositol [Pyr(10)PI], -phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate [Pyr(10)PIP], -phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [Pyr(10)PIP2] and dehydroergosterol. These analogs provided information on the effect of hydrophobicity and charge on lipid binding and transfer by nsL-TP. Binding of the Pyr(x)PC species decreased with increasing sn-2 acyl-chain length. Under equilibrium conditions, the fraction of nsL-TP that carried a PC molecule did not exceed 8%, which is consistent with a low affinity binding site. Also nsL-TP-mediated transfer of the Pyr(x)PC species decreased with increasing sn-2 acyl-chain length and was highly correlated with spontaneous transfer. Binding of the phosphoinositides increased in the order Pyr(10)PI less than Pyr(10)PIP less than Pyr(10)PIP2, indicating that an increase in lipid negative charge stimulates binding. The transfer of the phosphoinositides, however, decreased in the same order, which suggests that a high negative charge impairs the dissociation of the phospholipid from nsL-TP. Cholesterol, at concentrations up to 50 mol% in the donor membrane, hardly affected binding and transfer of Pyr(6)PC, strongly suggesting that nsL-TP has no high binding affinity for cholesterol. In agreement with this, binding of dehydroergosterol to nsL-TP was not detectable. Despite this apparently negligible affinity, nsL-TP-mediated transfer of dehydroergosterol was in the same order as that of Pyr(6)PC. The results are interpreted to indicate that transfer of lipids by nsL-TP involves the formation of a putative low-affinity lipid-protein complex. This formation is enhanced when lipid hydrophobicity decreases or lipid negative charge increases. Based on the binding and transfer data, the mode of action of nsL-TP is discussed in terms of change in free energy.

Organization and dynamics of pyrene and pyrene lipids in intact lipid bilayers. Photo-induced charge transfer processes

The dynamics of fluorescence quenching and the organization of a series of pyrene derivatives anchored in various depths in bilayers of phosphatidylcholine small unilamellar vesicles was studied and compared with their behavior in homogeneous solvent systems. The studies include characterization of the environmental polarity of the pyrene fluorophore based on its vibronic peaks, as well as the interaction with three collisional quenchers: the two membrane-soluble quenchers, diethylaniline and bromobenzene, and the water soluble quencher potassium iodide. The system of diethylaniline-pyrene derivatives in the membrane of phosphatidylcholine vesicles was characterized in detail. The diethylaniline partition coefficient between the lipid bilayers and the buffer is approximately 5,800. Up to a diethylaniline/phospholipid mole ratio of 1:3 the perturbation to membrane structure is minimal so that all photophysical studies were performed below this mole ratio. The quenching reaction, in all cases, was shown to take place in the lipid bilayer interior and the relative quenching efficiencies of the various probe molecules was used to provide information on the distribution of both fluorescent probes and quencher molecules in the lipid bilayer. The quenching efficiency by diethylaniline in the lipid bilayer was found to be essentially independent on the length of the methylene chain of the pyrene moiety. These findings suggest that the quenching process, being a diffusion controlled reaction, is determined by the mobility of the diethylaniline quencher (with an effective diffusion coefficient D approximately 10(-7) cm2 s-1) which appears to be homogeneously distributed throughout the lipid bilayer. The pulsed laser photolysis products of the charge-transfer quenching reaction were examined. No exciplex (excited-complex) formation was observed and the yield of the separated radical ions was shown to be tenfold smaller than in homogenous polar solutions. The decay of the radical ions is considerably faster than the corresponding process in homogenous solutions. Relatively high intersystem crossing yields are observed. The results are explained on the basis of the intrinsic properties of a lipid bilayer, primarily, its rigid spatial organization. It is suggested that such properties favor ion-pair formation over exciplex generation. They also enhance primary geminate recombination of initially formed (solvent-shared) ion pairs. Triplet states are generated via secondary geminate recombination of ion pairs in the membrane interior. The results bear on the general mechanism of electron transfer processes in biomembranes.

Effects of fluorophore structure and hydrophobicity on the uptake and metabolism of fluorescent lipid analogs

Cellular transport and metabolism of fatty acids are integral components of lipid metabolism, but the mechanisms and regulation involved are poorly understood. A variety of commercially available fluorescent analogs of fatty acids, are potentially useful probes for the study of lipid metabolism by such techniques as cell sorting and fluorescence microscopy. We have screened a series of fluorescent fatty acids to identify analogs that would reliably simulate the metabolic behavior of natural fatty acids; i.e., similar kinetics of transport, of intracellular movement, and of metabolic fate. The metabolic behavior of these analogs was compared with those of some naturally occurring fatty acids in HepG2 cells, which are a good model of some aspects of hepatic function. Fluorescent analogs containing polar fluorophores yielded the lowest rates of cellular uptake and conversion to acylated lipid products. Similarly, fluorescent analogs with the fluorophore located near the carboxylic acid group were poorly metabolized. Fatty acid analogs containing anthracene or pyrene at the n-terminus of the acyl chain were the most extensively incorporated into cellular lipids. The types and amounts of labeled lipid products formed from these analogs and from natural fatty acids were similar. Pyrene-labeled analogs have spectral properties that can be measured fluorometrically at very low concentrations. Therefore, we compared the cellular metabolism of 12-(1-pyrenyl)dodecanoic acid with those of palmitic and oleic acids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Enhancement of the human plasma lipid transfer protein reaction by apolipoproteins

Transfer of cholesteryl ester between triacylglycerol/phospholipid microemulsions catalyzed by human plasma lipid transfer protein was investigated with a pyrene-containing analogue of which fluorescent properties depend on its concentration in the core of the microemulsions. The transfer of pyrene-cholesteryl ester between the emulsions was increased by the transfer protein linearly with its concentration, but maximally only to the extent of twice as much as spontaneous transfer in the given experimental conditions. When human apolipoproteins A-I or A-II are present in the reaction mixture enough to saturate the surface of the emulsion, the enhancement of the pyrene-cholesteryl ester transfer reaction by the transfer protein was 7.5-times more than in the absence of the apolipoproteins while the rate of spontaneous transfer was not affected significantly by the apolipoproteins. Bovine serum albumin did not have such an effect. Furthermore, the enhancement of the lipid transfer protein reaction by apolipoprotein A-I was linearly proportional to the percent saturation of the surface of the microemulsion with the apolipoprotein.

Influence of chain length of pyrene fatty acids on their uptake and metabolism by Epstein-Barr-virus-transformed lymphoid cell lines from a patient with multisystemic lipid storage myopathy and from control subjects

The uptake and intracellular metabolism of 4-(1-pyrene)butanoic acid (P4), 10-(1-pyrene)decanoic acid (P10) and 12-(1-pyrene)dodecanoic acid (P12) were investigated in cultured lymphoid cell lines from normal individuals and from a patient with multisystemic lipid storage myopathy (MLSM). The cellular uptake was shown to be dependent on the fatty-acid chain length, but no significant difference in the uptake of pyrene fatty acids was observed between MLSM and control lymphoid cells. After incubation for 1 h the distribution of fluorescent fatty acids taken up by the lymphoid cell lines also differed with the chain length, most of the fluorescence being associated with phospholipid and triacylglycerols. In contrast with P10 and P12, P4 was not incorporated into neutral lipids. When the cells were incubated for 24 h with the pyrene fatty acids, the amount of fluorescent lipids synthesized by the cells was proportional to the fatty acid concentration in the culture medium. After a 24 h incubation in the presence of P10 or P12, at any concentration, the fluorescent triacylglycerol content of MLSM cells was 2-5-fold higher than that of control cells. Concentrations of pyrene fatty acids higher than 40 microM seemed to be more toxic for mutant cells than for control cells. This cytotoxicity was dependent on the fluorescent-fatty-acid chain length (P12 greater than P10 greater than P4). Pulse-chase experiments permitted one to demonstrate the defect in the degradation of endogenously biosynthesized triacylglycerols in MLSM cells (residual activity was around 10-25% of controls on the basis of half-lives and initial rates of P10- or P12-labelled-triacylglycerol catabolism); MLSM lymphoid cells exhibited a mild phenotypic expression of the lipid storage (less severe than that observed in fibroblasts). P4 was not utilized in the synthesis of triacylglycerols, and thus did not accumulate in MLSM cells: this suggests that natural short-chain fatty acids might induce a lesser lipid storage in this disease.