concanavalin-a and stearic-acid

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was used to study the adhesion behavior of supramolecular aggregates at supported planar bilayers (SPBs). The QCM technique is a suitable method to detect the adsorption of biomolecules at the quartz surface owing to its sensitivity for changes in mass and viscoelastic properties. To simulate biomembranes, the quartz plates were coated with highly ordered lipid films. Therefore, a combination of self-assembled monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett films was used. Firstly, the adsorption of liposomes coupled with the lectin concanavalin A was investigated at glycolipid-containing model membranes. Using different carbohydrates, it was possible to determine specific and nonspecific parts of the interactions. The adhesion occurred owing to specific lectin-carbohydrate interactions (about 20%) and to nonspecific interactions (about 80%). The composition of the liposomes was changed to simulate the structure of a native biomembrane consisting of the glycocalix, the lipid-protein bilayer, and the cytoskeleton. An artificial glycocalix was created by incorporating poly(ethylene glycol) into the liposomes. Liposomes which were intravesicular polymerized with polyacrylamide or polyacrylcholate simulated the cytoskeleton. It was determined that the modified liposomes had significant lower interactions with SPBs. The adsorption was reduced by approximately 80% compared to unmodified liposomes. Secondly, a model was developed for the detection of interactions between simple or mixed bile salt micelles and model membranes. It was found that simple bile salts did not adsorb at model membranes. Binary systems consisting of bile salt and phospholipid induced only small interactions. On the other hand, ternary systems consisting of bile salt, phospholipid, and fatty acid showed strong interactions. A dependence on the chain length of the fatty acid was observed. Thirdly, the interaction between ganglioside-containing model membranes and cholera toxin (beta-subunit) was investigated. Different ganglioside fractions showed varying adsorption in the following sequence: GM1 > GD1a > GD1b > GT1b.

Topics: 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; Biophysics; Carbohydrate Conformation; Carbohydrate Sequence; Cholera Toxin; Concanavalin A; G(M1) Ganglioside; Gangliosides; Indicators and Reagents; Lauric Acids; Lipid Bilayers; Models, Biological; Models, Molecular; Molecular Conformation; Molecular Sequence Data; Phosphatidylcholines; Stearic Acids; Weights and Measures

The conversion of stearic acid to oleic acid (delta 9-desaturase) was followed in mouse thymocytes stimulated by either concanavalin A or concanavalin A + interleukin-2 resulting in different rates of cell proliferation. To estimate the plasma membrane turnover of oleic acid as compared to that of a saturated fatty acid, double-label experiments ([14C]oleic acid, [3H]palmitic acid) were performed. Following an inhibition delta 9-desaturase was found to be activated from the fourth hour of stimulation. In the early period of cell activation this process proved to be independent of protein synthesis, whereas in the stage of proliferation it was dependent on it. Increased membrane fluidity in the first 30 min of activation is not likely due to enrichment of oleic acid. Cell proliferation and microsomal desaturation seem to be coupled and an increasing amount of oleic acid is at least one of the factors resulting in increased fluidity of the surface membrane of proliferating cells.

Topics: Animals; Cell Membrane; Concanavalin A; Cycloheximide; Enzyme Activation; Fatty Acid Desaturases; In Vitro Techniques; Interleukin-2; Lymphocyte Activation; Membrane Fluidity; Membrane Lipids; Mice; Mice, Inbred AKR; Microsomes; Oleic Acid; Oleic Acids; Palmitic Acid; Palmitic Acids; Stearic Acids; Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase; T-Lymphocytes; Time Factors