1-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine and 1-2-pentadecanoylphosphatidylcholine

Three novel polymerizable amphiphiles with a sorbyl-substituted head group were synthesized and systematically characterized. These amphiphiles are neutral in charge. None of these molecules forms vesicles by itself, presumably due to lack of amphiphilicity and/or extensive head group interaction. Therefore, mixed vesicles were formed with other fluid lipids such as DPenPC, eggPC, or DOPC. We investigated the properties of these mixtures in both vesicles and Langmuir films. The Langmuir isotherms show formation of monolayers by all three molecules. However, the isotherms for mixed monolayers suggest that two components are largely immiscible to the mixing lipid. Under polymerization conditions, mixed vesicles of these amphiphiles form oligomers, suggesting that in spite of a larger head group, they form mesophases.

Topics: Diglycerides; Liposomes; Phase Transition; Phosphatidylcholines; Polymerization; Propanolamines; Transition Temperature; Ultraviolet Rays

Current fluctuations in pure lipid membranes have been shown to occur under the influence of transmembrane electric fields (electroporation) as well as a result from structural rearrangements of the lipid bilayer during phase transition (soft perforation). We demonstrate that the ion permeability during lipid phase transition exhibits the same qualitative temperature dependence as the macroscopic heat capacity of a D15PC/DOPC vesicle suspension. Microscopic current fluctuations show distinct characteristics for each individual phase state. Although current fluctuations in the fluid phase show spikelike behavior of short timescales (approximately 2 ms) with a narrow amplitude distribution, the current fluctuations during lipid phase transition appear in distinct steps with timescales of approximately 20 ms. We propose a theoretical explanation for the origin of timescales and permeability based on a linear relationship between lipid membrane susceptibilities and relaxation times near the phase transition.

Topics: Cell Membrane Permeability; Ions; Lipid Bilayers; Membrane Potentials; Models, Chemical; Phase Transition; Phosphatidylcholines; Temperature; Thermodynamics; Time Factors