The interdigitated gel phase in mixtures of cationic and zwitterionic phospholipids.

To examine the phase behavior of mixtures of zwitterionic and cationic lipids we used three derivatives of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC). All three lipids are uniquely capable of spontaneously forming the interdigitated gel phase (LβI) under typical hydration conditions. The P-O-ethyl derivative, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphosphocholine (EDPPC), was chosen as the cationic lipid.

Effects of cis- and trans-unsaturated lipids on an interdigitated membrane.

The effects of adding cis- and trans-unsaturated lipid to a fully interdigitated membrane were examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction. A monofluorinated analog of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) was used as the interdigitated lipid. The single fluorine atom on the end of the sn-2 chain allows 1-palmitoyl-2-(16-fluoropalmitoyl)sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (F-DPPC) to spontaneously form the interdigitated gel phase (LβI) below the main transition temperature (Tm).

Influence of the interdigitated gel phase in mixtures of ether-linked and monofluorinated ester-linked phospholipids.

To evaluate the influence of the hydrocarbon chain linkage on the thermodynamic phase behavior of spontaneously interdigitating lipids, mixtures of ether-linked 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-phosphocholine (DHPC) and ester-linked 1-palmitoyl-2-[16-fluoropalmitoyl]sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (F-DPPC) were studied. A combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence spectroscopy, and transmittance spectrophotometry was used. Small amounts of F-DPPC increase the pretransition temperature (T(p)) between the interdigitated gel phase (L(β)I) and the ripple gel phase (P(β)').

Effects of cholesterol on phospholipid membranes: inhibition of the interdigitated gel phase of F-DPPC and F-DPPC/DPPC.

Unlike the parent phospholipid, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), the monofluorinated analog, 1-palmitoyl-2-(16-fluoropalmitoyl)sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (F-DPPC), spontaneously forms an interdigitated gel phase (L(β)I) below the main transition temperature (T(m)). We have examined the effects of introducing cholesterol to F-DPPC and 1:1 F-DPPC/DPPC membranes using a combination of DSC, optical density, fluorescence intensity and polarization, (31)P NMR, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Cholesterol increases the fluidity of the gel phase, broadens the main transition, and decreases the main transition enthalpy.

Effects of pentanol isomers on the phase behavior of phospholipid bilayer membranes.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to analyze the thermotropic phase behavior of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers in the presence of pentanol isomers. The concentration of each pentanol isomer needed to induce the interdigitated phase was determined by the appearance of a biphasic effect in the main transition temperatures, the onset of a hysteresis associated with the main transition from the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase, and the disappearance of the pretransition. Lower threshold concentrations were found to correlate with isomers of greater alkyl chain length while branching of the alkyl chain was found to increase biphasic behavior.

Properties of phosphatidylcholine in the presence of its monofluorinated analogue.

In aqueous solution, the monofluorinated phospholipid 1-palmitoyl-2-[16-fluoropalmitoyl]sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (F-DPPC) interdigitates without the use of inducing agents. To understand the thermal and physical properties of this unique lipid, F-DPPC was combined with the non-fluorinated 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), and 1,2-diarachidoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DAPC). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the miscibility and thermotropic phase behavior of these binary lipid mixtures.

Effects of butanol isomers on dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer membranes.

Differential scanning calorimetry and (31)P-NMR were used to study the effects of butanol isomers on the thermotropic phase behavior of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers. The threshold concentration for the onset of interdigitation for each isomer was determined by the disappearance of the pretransition and the onset of a large hysteresis between the heating and cooling scans of the gel-to-liquid main transition. The threshold concentration was found to correlate with increased solubility of the isomers in the aqueous phase, led by tert-butanol.

Subgel studies of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers.

It is known that when bilayers of some saturated phosphatidylcholines are stored for 3 or more days at approximately 0 degrees C, a lamellar subgel (Lc) phase is detected at temperatures below the pretransition by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). However, the subgel (Lc) phase and the corresponding subtransition (Lc--> Lbeta') for dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) has not been clearly characterized. In this study, using the temperature jump protocol first developed by Tristram-Nagle et al.

Effects of ethanol on lipid bilayers with and without cholesterol: the distearoylphosphatidylcholine system.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fluorescence spectroscopy are useful techniques for investigating the phase transitions of phospholipid bilayers. In this study, these methods have been extended to determine the effects of ethanol on DSPC and DSPC/2 mol.% cholesterol bilayers.