An analysis of the interaction of protein with lipid monolayers at the air-water interface

Interaction of cyclotide Kalata B1 protein with model cellular membranes of varied electrostatics

A uni-molecular layer of lipids at air-water interface mimicking one of the leaflets of the cellular membrane provides a simple model to understand the interaction of any foreign molecules with the membrane. Here, the interactions of protein Kalata B1 (KB1) of cyclotide family with the phospholipids 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) sodium salt (DPPG), and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphosphocholine chloride salt (DSEPC) have been investigated. The addition of KB1 induces a change in pressure of the lipid monolayers. The characteristic time of the change in pressure is found to be dependent on the electrostatic nature of the lipid. Even though the protein is weakly surface active, it is capable of modifying the phase behavior and elastic properties of lipid monolayers with differences in their strength and nature making the layers more floppy. The KB1-lipid interaction has been quantified by calculating the excess Gibb's free energy of interaction and the 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) binding studies. The interaction with zwitterionic DPPC and negatively charged DPPG lipids are found to be thermodynamically favorable whereas the protein shows a weaker response to positively charged DSEPC lipid. Therefore, the long ranged electrostatic is the initial driving force for the KB1 to recognize and subsequently attach to a cellular membrane. Thereafter, the hydrophobic region of the protein may penetrate into the hydrophobic core of the membrane via specific amino acid residues.

Effect of charge on protein preferred orientation at the air-water interface in cryo-electron microscopy

The air-water interface (AWI) tends to adsorb proteins and frequently causes preferred orientation problems in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Here, we examined cryo-EM data from protein samples frozen with different detergents and found that both anionic and cationic detergents promoted binding of proteins to the AWI. By contrast, some of the nonionic and zwitterionic detergents tended to prevent proteins from attaching to the AWI. The protein orientation distributions with different anionic detergents were similar and resembled that obtained without detergent. By contrast, cationic detergents gave distinct orientation distributions. Our results indicate that proteins adsorb to charged interface and the negative charge of the AWI plays an important role in adsorbing proteins in the conventional cryo-EM sample preparation. According to these findings, a new method was developed by adding anionic detergent at a concentration between 0.002% and 0.005%. Using this method, the protein particles exhibited a more evenly distributed orientations and still adsorbed to the AWI enabling them embedding in a thin layer of ice with high concentration, which will benefit the cryo-EM structural determination.

Opinion: hazards faced by macromolecules when confined to thin aqueous films

Samples prepared for single-particle electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) necessarily have a very high surface-to-volume ratio during the short period of time between thinning and vitrification. During this time, there is an obvious risk that macromolecules of interest may adsorb to the air–water interface with a preferred orientation, or that they may even become partially or fully unfolded at the interface. In addition, adsorption of macromolecules to an air–water interface may occur even before thinning. This paper addresses the question whether currently used methods of sample preparation might be improved if one could avoid such interfacial interactions. One possible way to do so might be to preemptively form a surfactant monolayer over the air–water interfaces, to serve as a structure-friendly slide and coverslip. An alternative is to immobilize particles of interest by binding them to some type of support film, which—to continue using the analogy—thus serves as a slide. In this case, the goal is not only to prevent the particles of interest from diffusing into contact with the air–water interface but also to increase the number of particles seen in each image. In this direction, it is natural to think of developing various types of affinity grids as structure-friendly alternatives to thin carbon films. Perhaps ironically, if precautions are not taken against adsorption of particles to air–water interfaces, sacrificial monolayers of denatured protein may take the roles of slide, coverslip, or even both.

Cytochrome c Complexes with Cardiolipin Monolayer Formed under Different Surface Pressure

The formation of the complex of cytochrome c (Cytc) with a phospholipid cardiolipin (CL) in mitochondria is a crucial event in apoptosis development. There are two viewpoints on the structure of the complex. (1) Cytc is bound on the surface of the lipid bilayer. (2) The complex is a hydrophobic nanoparticle Cytc-CL formed by Cytc molten globule, covered by CL monolayer.1 In the present work, we attempted to bridge the gap between these two structures. We investigated the interaction between Cytc and Langmuir monolayers of CL. The surface pressure increase during incorporation of Cytc into CL monolayer obeys the equation: π = π0 + Δπ∞[1 - exp(-βt)], where β is pseudo-first-order rate constant of Cytc binding, directly proportional to the initial Cytc concentration c0. Parameters Δπ∞ and the rate β measured in different conditions were virtually equal for natural bovine CL and peroxidation-resistant tetraoleoyl CL in all experiments. Surface area-surface pressure isotherms of Cytc alone and in combination with a CL monolayer were similar in shape. Apparently, the protein exposes hydrophilic groups to the water phase and hydrophobic to the air or to the hydrocarbon chains of CL. The 30% ethanol dramatically accelerated the adsorption of Cytc on the water surface. The protein-lipid surface films showed, in compression-expansion cycles, that hysteresis loops were observed always when Cytc present, reproducible in repeating cycles. Taken together, our data show that when incorporated in a lipid monolayer or after adsorption on the water-air interface, Cytc undergoes conformational transition. In that, one part of the globule sphere becomes predominantly hydrophobic and the other, hydrophilic and charged ("stratified" Cytc). We hypothesize that in CL-containing bilayer membranes, Cytc incorporation into the lipid monolayer would result in membrane folding with subsequent formation of either catalytically reactive "bubbles" inside the bilayer, formed by Cytc-CL, or the appearance of hydrophilic pores. The role of lipid peroxidation catalyzed by Cytc-CL in the appearance of pores and apoptosis is also discussed.

Interactions of adriamycin, cytochrome c, and serum albumin with lipid monolayers containing poly(ethylene glycol)-ceramide

Poly(ethylene glycol)(2000)C(20)ceramide (PEG-Cer) containing monolayers at an air/water interface were characterized by measuring their surface pressure versus area/molecule (pi-A) and surface potential versus area/molecule (Delta V-A) isotherms. The behavior of pi-A as well as Delta V versus lipid density (Delta V-n) and Delta V-pi isotherms for PEG-Cer are in keeping with two transitions of the lipopolymer, starting at pi approximately equal to 9 and 21 mN/m. We also investigated the effects of PEG-Cer on the binding of adriamycin, cytochrome c and bovine serum albumin to monolayers containing varying mole fractions X of PEG-Cer. PEG-Cer impedes the penetration of these ligands into lipid monolayers with similar effects at both X = 0.04 and 0.08. This effect of PEG-Cer depends on the conformation of the lipopolymer and the interactions between the lipid surface and the surface-interacting molecule as well as the size of the latter.

Penetration of Glucose Oxidase and of the Hydrophobically Modified Enzyme into Phospholipid and Cholesterol Monolayers

The penetrant ability of the native glucose oxidase, GOx, and of the hydrophobically modified enzyme GO(mod) realized by grafting to its lysine residues alkyl C16 chains, into phosphatidylcholine dibehenoyl (DBPC), phosphatidylcholine dipalmitoyl (DPPC), phosphatidyl-ethanolamine dipalmitoyl (DPPE), phosphatidyl-serine dipalmitoyl (DPPS), and cholesterol (CHOL) monolayers was assessed by surface pressure measurements at constant area by enzyme injection to the aqueous phase beneath spread monolayers. As revealed by the magnitude of surface pressure increments (DeltaPi), both the quantities and the rates of penetration of the enzymes into these monolayers were lipid chemical nature and enzyme concentration dependent. When compared with GOx, GO(mod) displayed an enhanced penetrant ability into all the studied monolayers that resulted in rapidly attained DeltaPi plateau values, characteristic of stable systems. The influence of lipid hydrocarbon chain length and of the polar headgroup charge on the efficiency and effectiveness of GOx and GO(mod) penetration into these monolayers is discussed. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Association of alpha-phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C with phospholipid vesicles

The alpha isoform of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (alpha-PI-PLC, Mr 62,000) was purified from bovine brain. Enzyme activity was dependent on calcium, sodium cholate and showed the anticipated specificity for the phosphatidylinositols. Calcium interaction with this protein, investigated by gel filtration chromatography, showed no detectable binding at calcium concentrations adequate to activate the enzyme. Association of alpha-PI-PLC with phospholipid vesicles was studied by light scattering, fluorescence energy transfer and gel-filtration chromatography. The enzyme readily associated with vesicles of high charge density, with vesicles of crude acidic phospholipids and with PIP2. Interaction was characterized by a rapid association followed by slower addition of more protein to the phospholipid. Complexes containing 20-30 percent protein (by weight) were readily obtained. Calcium had only a small effect on this interaction. The protein-phospholipid complexes appeared to bind less calcium than a similar amount of phospholipid alone. Thus, alpha-PI-PLC did not appear to be a calcium-binding protein in either its free or membrane-associated states. Although alpha-PI-PLC showed the highest propensity to bind to phospholipids, a number of other proteins also associated with phospholipids under the conditions used. Thus, whether or not the observed interaction of alpha-PI-PLC with membranes was specific and biologically important or whether it was a process common to many proteins, was not known. Knowledge of this interaction may enhance our understanding of possible mechanisms for protein-membrane interactions in general.

Interactions of lipases with lipid monolayers. Facts and questions

Among the proteins, lipolytic enzymes provide a valuable model for studying protein-lipid interactions. Lipases having a catalytic action which is strictly dependent upon the presence of a lipid interface were used in the present study in order to gain better insight into protein-lipid interactions. Most of the data presented here were obtained using the monolayer technique, by recording (either independently or simultaneously) the lipolytic activity, the amount of protein adsorbed to the lipid monolayer, and the surface pressure variations following protein adsorption. Several non-enzymatic proteins were used as controls in order to determine how lipase behaviour differs from that of other proteins. At all initial surface pressures tested, with zwitterionic monolayers, a good correlation was observed between the amount of lipase bound to the monolayer and the surface pressure increase, in agreement with previous studies. Conversely, with neutral lipid monolayers the amount of lipase bound to the monolayer was not found to be surface pressure dependent. This latter behaviour observed with lipases on neutral films is not specific to lipases, since it was also observed with bovine serum albumin and beta-lactoglobulin A. Lipase activity in the presence of various proteins was investigated with monomolecular films of glycerol didecanoate, either at constant surface area or at constant surface pressure. Depending upon the nature of the lipase and the protein, inhibition of lipase activity was either observed or not. Inhibition was correlated with a decrease in lipase surface concentration. The ability of the various proteins to inhibit lipolysis is: (i) a function of their excess versus lipase in the bulk phase, and: (ii) correlated with their penetration capacity (i.e., the initial rate of surface pressure increase of a glycerol didecanoate monolayer having an initial surface pressure of 20 dyn/cm, after the injection-of the protein). Since lipase inhibition was observed with low surface densities of inhibitory proteins, a long-range effect is probably involved in the mechanism of interfacial lipase inhibition. The nature of the ionic charge added to the monolayer by the protein is not critical for determining lipase adsorption or desorption. It is hypothesized that the lack of lipase adsorption to, or desorption from, the lipid monolayer results from a change in the organization of the hydrocarbon moiety of the lipid.

Role of a sulfhydryl group in gastric lipases. A binding study using the monomolecular-film technique

Native human and rabbit gastric lipases (HGL and RGL, respectively) were inactivated after modification of one sulfhydryl group/enzyme molecule. HGL and RGL were covalently labeled using 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitro-[14C]benzoic acid) and the interaction of 2-nitro-5-thio-[14C]benzoic-acid-labeled lipases ([14C]Nbs-lipases) with monomolecular lipid films was investigated. Our results show that [14C]Nbs-lipases bind to lipid films as efficiently as native HGL or RGL. The critical surface pressure pi c and the maximal surface pressure (delta pi max) of [14C]Nbs-lipases were enhanced in comparison with those of native RGL and HGL. These changes in behavior were probably due to an increase in hydrophobicity brought about, directly or indirectly, by the binding of the Nbs radical. This chemical modification thus blocks the hydrolysis site and reinforces the hydrophobic character of the gastric lipases.

Adsorption of cytochrome c to phospholipid monolayers studied by reflection spectroscopy

The uptake of cytochrome c by charged and neutral lipid monolayers was studied by using reflection spectroscopy. The method was shown to be a very sensitive and useful technique in studies of lipid-protein interactions. It was found that cytochrome c is preferentially bound to monolayers of negatively charged monolayers in the solid phase. Polarized light under oblique incidence was used to determine the average orientation of chromophores in cytochrome c bound to lipid monolayer. The transition moments of chromophore are oriented parallel to the monolayer plane.

Interaction of cytochrome c with liposomes: covalent labeling of externally bound protein by the fluorescent probe, azidonaphthalenedisulfonic acid, enclosed in the inner aqueous compartment of unilamellar vesicles

The photoreactive fluorescent probe, 3-azidonaphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid (ANDS) was encapsulated in the inner aqueous compartment of small unilamellar liposomes, prepared from egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) +/- 20 mol% dihexadecylphosphate (DHP). After adding cytochrome c externally to a suspension of these vesicles, the probe was activated by ultraviolet irradiation, and the protein was separated from the lipids. When negatively charged (egg PC/DHP) vesicles at low ionic strength were used, which form an electrostatic complex with cytochrome c, the protein was labeled by ANDS. This process depended on irradiation time, and was inhibited by increasing the ionic strength of the medium. Labeling was not observed with isoelectric (egg PC) vesicles. These observations suggest that electrostatic binding of cytochrome c to the bilayer is accompanied by intramembrane penetration to such a depth that the protein can communicate with the inner membrane-water interface.

Interaction of C-phycocyanin with lipid monolayers under nitrogen and in the presence of air

The surface interaction of C-phycocyanin with lipids was studied using the monolayer technique. The surface activity of the protein was found to be higher at the lipid-water interface than at the nitrogen-water interface, particularly at high surface pressures of the lipid monolayer. The maximum initial surface pressures beyond which phycocyanin could not penetrate the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and monogalactosyldiglycerol monolayers were 27 and 30 mN m-1, respectively. Below these values the protein demonstrated preferential interaction with the monogalactosyldiglycerol monolayer. The surface properties of the unfolded protein at pH 2.5 at the lipid-water interface were compared with those of the protein at pH 7.0. Higher affinity of the three-dimensional structure of the protein to lipid monolayers was observed, in particular by high subphase protein concentration. When the lipid films were subjected to oxidation stress by exposure to air, the surface properties of C-phycocyanin and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine were not greatly affected but the surface activity of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol was reduced dramatically by autoxidation. The oxidation of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol could not be prevented by the introduction of C-phycocyanin molecules at the lipid-water interface.

Interaction of proteins with lipid monolayers at the air-solution interface studied by reflection spectroscopy

The interaction of a fluorescein-labelled insulin and of cytochrome C with the air-solution interface and with lipid monolayers at the air-solution interface has been studied by measuring the change in surface pressure at constant area and by reflection spectroscopy. Chromophores at the interface only give rise to enhanced light reflection without contribution to the signal from chromophores in the bulk. The accumulation of labelled insulin at the solution surface is very weak as concluded from the shape of the spectrum and reflection intensity. No interaction with a monolayer of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine at initial surface pressure of 5 mN/m was detected. In contrast, the interaction with monolayers of dioctadecyldimethyl-ammonium bromide at initial surface pressures between 5 and 40 mN/m is much stronger, leading to a remarkable increase of surface pressure at constant area and strong reflection signal. The technique was also used to detect cytochrome C at the air-solution interface.

The interaction of liposomes containing intrinsic erythrocyte membrane proteins with lipid monolayers at air/water and oil/water interfaces

The main intrinsic membrane proteins of the human erythrocyte membrane, glycophorin and the anion transporter, were isolated by extraction with Triton X-100 and ion-exchange chromatography. After removal of detergent the extract consisted of proteolipid vesicles with a lipid:protein molar ratio in the range 50-60 and a diameter of the order of 200 nm. The interaction between these vesicles and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), cholesterol and cholesterol:DPPC (2:1 molar ratio) monolayers at air/water and n-decane/water interfaces has been studied. The vesicles interact with the monolayers, rapidly causing large increases in surface pressure. Limiting values of surface pressure, 39.4-43 mN . m-1 at air/water and 31.5-33.4 mN . m-1 at the n-decane/water interface, were reached at protein levels above 1 microgram . ml-1. At the air/water interface, and probably at the n-decane/water, surface pressure increases were limited by monolayer collapse. Compression isotherms and surface potential measurements indicated that material from the proteolipid vesicles entered the monolayer phase. In contrast to proteolipid vesicles, injection of protein-free liposomes beneath the monolayer resulted in smaller, slower increases in surface pressure. Thus, the presence of intrinsic membrane proteins in vesicles greatly facilitated the transfer of material into the lipid monolayer.

Inhibition of lipases by proteins: a binding study using dicaprin monolayers

We previously reported that the inhibition of pancreatic and Rhizopus delemar lipases by proteins is due to the protein associated with lipid and is not caused by direct protein-enzyme interaction in the aqueous phase [Gargouri, Y., Piéroni, G., Rivière, C., Sugihara, A., Sarda, L., & Verger, R. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 2268-2273]. In this study, using radiolabeled lipases, serum albumin, and beta-lactoglobulin A, we investigated their respective binding with respect to lipolysis of dicaprin monolayers. Lipase inhibition was found to be correlated with a lack of lipase binding to mixed protein-dicaprin films or to a desorption of lipase from the interface when inhibitory protein was added later. Since a large proportion of the lipid film remained potentially accessible to the enzyme in the presence of inhibitory protein, it was concluded that the observed decrease in lipase binding to the interface was due to a variation of the physiochemical properties of the lipid-water interface following binding of inhibitory protein. On the basis of the results presented here, it is proposed that mixed protein-glyceride films could be used to characterize the interaction of various lipases with lipid substrates and to classify these enzymes according to their penetration power.

Monolayer studies of insulin-lipid interactions

The interactions between insulin and various lipids were studied by monolayer penetration experiments at constant surface area. The increase in surface pressure, delta II, of a lipid film depended upon the particular lipid used and the concentration of insulin in the subphase. For all lipids studied, delta II was dependent on the initial surface pressure of the lipid film. Evidence of the interaction between insulin and the lipids was found in the ability of insulin to penetrate lipid films with initial pressures greater than 16 dynes/cm, the maximum surface pressure obtained by insulin alone. For phospholipids, both the nonpolar and polar regions influenced the degree of interaction with insulin. Saturated chain lecithins exhibited less penetration than phospholipids with unsaturated hydrocarbon chains. The net charge of the lipid was not found to be an important determinant of penetration; however, the structure of the polar group can have a dramatic effect. Insulin penetration of mixed lipid films cannot be predicted by the penetration characteristics of the pure components. The possible role of these interactions in determining the geography of the insulin molecule within the liposome and its resultant effects on the stability is discussed.

Interaction of cytochrome c with phospholipid monolayers. Orientation and penetration of protein as functions of the packing density of film, nature of the phospholipids, and ionic content of the aqueous phase

Energy-transfer fluorescence quenching has been used to observe the binding of cytochrome c to a lipid assembly. The probe (donor), dansylphosphatidylethanolamine, was dispersed either in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, in phosphatidic acid, or in a mixture of the two lipids. The heme of the protein was the acceptor. When the phospholipids were spread in monolayer at the air-water interface, orientation and penetration parameters of the protein relative to the membrane were obtained. The cytochrome is bound with an orientation such that its heme crevice is fully accessible to the aqueous space. It penetration in the lipid layer is dependent on the ionic content of the subphase and the initial packing of the film. The perturbation induced in the lipid matrix by the binding appear very localized. The same results were obtained with lipid microvesicles. The type of binding of cytochrome c to phospholipids observed here implies that there are specific areas on the protein which appear to be different from those involved in its interaction with cytochrome oxidase and other cytochromes. These conclusions are relevant to the existence of different classes of binding sites for cytochrome c in the mitochondrial membrane.

The hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol monolayers at an air/water interface by the calcium-ion-dependent phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase of pig brain

1. The activity of Ca2+-dependent phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.10) of pig brain against [32P]phosphatidylinositol monolayers at an air/water interface has been measured. As the monolayer pressure was increased a sharp cut-off of enzymic hydrolysis occurred at 33 X 10(-3) N/m. 2. The addition of either phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylglycerol or oleyl alcohol increased the film pressure at which cut off occurred, as well as increasing the rate of hydrolysis at lower pressures. 3. The rate of hydrolysis, but not the cut-off pressure, was markedly increased by oleic acid and slightly increased by phosphatidylethanolamine. 4. Phosphatidylcholine, palmitoylcholine and octadecylamine decreased the cut-off pressure, as well as the enzymic activity below this pressure. 5. Stearic acid and stearyl alcohol had no effect on either the cut-off pressure or the activity. 6. All activators decreased the length of the lag phase before enzyme activity began, and phosphatidylcholine increased it. 7. These results are compared with the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of various amphiphiles observed previously with phosphatidylinositol dispersions [Irvine, Hemington & Dawson (1979) Eur. J. Biochem. 99, 525-530], and their possible relevance to the control of the phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase in vivo are discussed.

Spectrin-phospholipid interaction. A monolayer study

(1) The interaction of synthetic and natural phospholipids with spectrin, purified from human erythrocyte membranes, was studied using the monolayer technique at constant surface pressure. Spectrin penetration into the lipid monolayer was recorded as the rate of surface area increase on a two-compartment trough. (2) High spectrin penetration rates were observed with negatively charged phospholipids while zwitterionic or neutral lipids showed only poor spectrin affinity. This penetration rate was strongly affected by the subphase pH. At pH 5.5, maximal pentration rates wre obsreved for phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylserine but not for phosphatidylcholine. (3) In comparing the penetration rates for phospholipids with a natural fatty acid composition and the dimyristoyl species of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine, the lipid fatty acid composition proved to be an important parameter. The differences are collelated with the area per lipid molecule. (4) Other parameters affecting the area per lipid molecule such as surface pressure, pH and salt concentration also strongly influenced spectrin penetration rates for negatively charged phospholipids. Spectrin penetration into phosphatidylcholine monolayers is only slightly affected by variation of these conditions. (5) The effect of Ca2+ on spectrin-lipid interactions was studied for several phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylserine species. Both lipids condensed upon the addition of Ca2+, but only in the case of the phosphatidyleserine was this accompanied by extrusion of the spectrin from the interface, which is in agreement with earlier calorimetric experiments with bilayer systems of analogous composition (Mombers, C., Verkleij, A.J., de Gier, J. and van Deenen, L.L.M. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 551, 271-281). For this phenomenon a model is presented.

The dynamics of membrane structure

The membranes of living organisms are involved in many aspects of the life, growth and development of all cells. The predominant structural elements of these membranes are lipids and proteins and the basic strucvture of these molecules has been reviewed. The physical properties of the lipid constituents particularly their behavior in aqueous systems has led to the concepts of thermotropic and lyotropic mesomorphism; the interaction between different types of lipid molecules modulate this behavior. Interaction of phospholipids in aqueous systems with cholesterol, ions and drugs have been examined in this context. In addition a variety of model lipid-protein systems have been investigated and the implications of interactions between lipids and different proteins in biological membranes has been evaluated. This leads to a detailed consideration of the way lipids and proteins ae organized in cell membranes and contains an appraisal of the evidence supporting contemporary views of membrane structure. Particular attention has been devoted to the question of how mobile the components are within the structure. Particular attention has been devoted to the question of how mobile the components are within the structure. Finally the biosynthesis, turnover and modulation of the properties of interacting membrane constituents is critically reviewed and possible ways of controlling the behavior of cells and organisms by altering the structural parameters of different membranes has been considered.

A study of the surface-active properties of the Mg2+-activated ATPase from cytoplasmic membranes of Streptococcus faecalis

The surface activity and enzymic properties of the factor F1, the catalytic moiety of Streptococcus faecalis H+-ATPase, has been studied at the air-water and phospholipid-water interfaces. F1 does not interact with the monolayer phospholipids, hence its adsorption on a biological membrane must be due mainly to its recognition of proteins of the hydrophobic complex. The dimensions of the F1 molecule at the air-water interface have been estimated. In the presence of Mg2+, base area is S = 1.8 . 10(4) A2, height h = 27 A. Bearing in mind the size of a globular subunit, it follows from the measurements that the major F1 subunits should all lie in the same plane. The ATPase activity of F1 at the interface is inversely proportional to the monolayer density. With low density monolayer, the specific ATPase activity is higher at the interface than in the bulk of the solution. Adsorption of F1 at the interface shifts the isoelectric point of tiscussed relative to the proton-active transport mechanism.

Interactions of acetylcholine receptor and acetylcholinesterase with lipid monolayers

The interaction of acetylcholine receptor and acetylcholinesterase with lipid monolayers was followed by measuring changes in surface pressure. When injected into the subphase of a lipid monolayer, the proteins caused increases in surface pressure from 5 to 10 dynes/cm, indicating a penetration of protein into the monolayer. At pH values below the isoelectric point of the proteins the incorporation was improved. The same was observed when Ca2+ (2mM) was added. The presence of the enzyme in the mixed film could be demonstrated by using diiso [3H] propyl fluorophosphate-labelled acetylcholinesterase as well as by measuring enzyme activity. Acetylcholine receptor was shown to be present in the mixed film by using a complex made of the receptor and alpha-[3H]neurotoxin.

Adsorption of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase on condensed monolayers of phospholipid

The adsorption of [14C] alkylated glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase from rabbit muscle to condensed monolayers of phosphatidic acid was investigated under a variety of conditions. 2. The rate constant for association at 20 degrees C depended on ionic strength. At I/2=60mM the rate constant was 0.39min-1. At I/2=260mM it decreased to 0.27min-1. 3. The apparent association constant (Kass.) for adsorption at I/2=60mM was 1.06 X 10(6)M-1 and was strongly influenced by subphase changes in pH and ionic strength. Measurements of Kass. at 20 degrees and 5 degrees C gave a value for the apparent enthalpy change on adsorption of -33kJ-mol-1. Calculations of the apparent change in free energy and apparent entropy change for the adsorption process gave values of -34kJ-mol-1 and +2J-K-1-mol-1 respectively. 4. Decreasing the amount of phosphatidic acid in the monolayer by replacement with phosphatidylcholine caused the shape of the adsorption isotherm to change from apparent hyperbolic to sigmoid. Subphase changes in pH or ionic strength did not affect the shape of the adsorption isotherm. However, adsorption of enzyme on monolayers of 100% phosphatidic acid in the presence of 1mM-CaCl2 was sigmoid in nature. 5. It is concluded that glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase binds to condensed charged monolayers by multiple electrostatic interactions. At low concentrations of phosphatidic acid in the monolayer or in the presence of Ca2+, this occurs in a two-step process and depends on lateral diffusion of phosphatidic acid for strong binding to take place.

Interaction of electrically charged lipid monolayers with malate dehydrogenase

Malate dehydrogenase was adsorbed onto monomolecular lipid films, using a multicompartment trough. The quantity of adsorbed protein and its enzymatic activity were studied with monolayers of various electrical charge densities and subphases of various electrolyte compositions. A closely packed layer of enzyme molecules was adsorbed onto negatively charged films, whereas considerably less protein was adsorbed onto neutral and positively charged monolayers. Electrolytes reduce the quantity of adsorbed protein. The adsorption was found to be irreversible even at high ionic strength. When adsorbed to uncharged lipid films the enzyme is nearly inactive, whereas negatively charged lipid headgroups enhance the specific activity of the enzyme.