Abstract
The structures formed by precipitating acidic phospholipids, particularly cardiolipin, with divalent ions are described, with their structural dimensions. Ca 2+, Mg 2+ and Ba 2+ form hexagonal phases with cardiolipin, the phase being of the H 11 type with water cylinders packed hexagonally in a hydrocarbon matrix. At 40° the distance between cylinder axes for Ca 2+, Mg 2+ and Ba 2+ is 50, 60 and 60 Å, respectively. The tendency for the transition from hexagonal to lamellar phase, by lowering the temperature of the precipitate for example, is in the order Ba 2+ > Mg 2 > > Ca 2+. The Ca 2+/cardiolipin 2− mole ratio is 1 and this and the dimensions of the phase are practically independent of the concentration of the precipitating solution of CaCl 2 from 0.001 to 1.0 M. Ca 2+ precipitates of two other acidic phospholipids, phosphatidyl-ionistol and phosphatidylserine are lamellar structures. Ca 2+ precipitates of various mixtures of lecithin and cardiolipin display a complex polymorphism between the hexagonal and lamellar phases. The potential relevance of these studies to those membranes that contain cardiolipin, particularly inner mitochondrial membranes, is briefly outlined.
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Schedule a callMore From: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes
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