5-doxylstearic Acid Research Articles

Effect of Cholesterol Depletion and Temperature on the Isolation of Detergent-Resistant Membranes from Human Erythrocytes

Transient lateral microdomains or lipid rafts play important roles in many physiological membrane-mediated cell processes. Detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) are good models for the study of lipid rafts. Here we report that DRMs can be obtained by treating human erythrocytes with the nonionic detergents Triton X-100 or octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C(12)E(8)) at 37 degrees C, and by treatment at 4 degrees C of cholesterol-depleted erythrocytes. Electron paramagnetic resonance with spin labels inserted at different membrane depths (5- and 16-doxyl stearic acids, 5-SASL and 16-SASL) were used to measure the order parameter (S) of the cell membranes and DRMs. We previously reported significantly higher S values in DRMs with respect to intact erythrocyte membranes. Here we show that higher S values were still measurable in DRMs prepared from intact erythrocytes at 37 degrees C, or from cholesterol-depleted cells at 4 degrees C, for both detergents. For 5-SASL only, increased S values were measured in 4 degrees C DRMs obtained from cholesterol-depleted versus intact erythrocytes. Flotillin-2, a protein marker of lipid rafts, was found in DRMs from intact cells in trace amounts but it was sensitively increased in C(12)E(8) DRMs prepared at 4 degrees C from cholesterol-depleted erythrocytes, while the membrane-skeletal proteins spectrin and actin were excluded from both Triton X-100 and C(12)E(8) DRMs. However, contrary to the 4 degrees C treatment results, flotillin-2 and stomatin were not resistant to Triton X-100 and C(12)E(8) treatment at physiological temperature. The role of cholesterol in DRMs formation is discussed and the results presented provide further support for the use of C(12)E(8) to the study of DRMs.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Investigation of Stratum Corneum Lipid Structure

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in conjunction with a slow-tumbling simulation was utilized for defining stratum corneum (SC) lipid structure. We found that ordering calculated from the simulation is an appropriate index for evaluating SC lipids structure. The SC from two sites (mid-volar forearm and lower-leg) of human volunteers was stripped consecutively from one to three times using a glass plate coated with a cyanoacrylate resin. Aliphatic spin probes, 5-doxylstearic acid (5-DSA) and 3beta-doxyl-5alpha-cholestane (CHL), were used to monitor SC ordering. EPR spectrum of 5-DSA incorporated in the SC demonstrated a characteristic peak for the first strip. However, EPR spectra of CHL in the SC did not show a clear difference for each strip, except for the peak intensity. The results imply that CHL is not incorporated into the lipid phase as easily as 5-DSA is. A slow-tumbling simulation of the EPR spectrum was performed to analyze the detailed lipid structure. The simulation results for 5-DSA show differences in values of the SC ordering as a function of depth. Thus, these results along with the simulation analysis provide a detailed SC layer structure.

Quantification of Randomly-methylated-β-cyclodextrin effect on liposome: An ESR study

In the present work, the effect of Randomly-methylated-β-cyclodextrin (Rameb) on the microviscosity of dimyristoyl- l-α phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayer was investigated using the electron spin resonance (ESR) technique. The ability of Rameb to extract membrane cholesterol was demonstrated. For the first time, the percentage of cholesterol extracted by Rameb from cholesterol doped DMPC bilayer was monitored and quantified throughout a wide Rameb concentration range. The effect of cholesterol on the inner part of the membrane was also investigated using 16-doxyl stearic acid spin label (16-DSA). 16-DSA seems to explore two different membrane domains and report their respective microviscosities. ESR experiments also establish that the presence of 30% of cholesterol in DMPC liposomes suppresses the jump in membrane fluidity at lipids phase-transition temperature (23.9 °C).

Fatty acid binding sites of human and bovine albumins: Differences observed by spin probe ESR

Bovine and human serum albumins and recombinant human albumin, all non-covalently complexed with 5- and 16-doxyl stearic acids, were investigated by ESR spectroscopy in solution over a range of pH values (5.5–8.0) and temperatures (25–50 °C), with respect to the allocation and mobility of fatty acid (FA) molecules bound to the proteins and conformation of the binding sites. In all proteins bound FA undergo a permanent intra-albumin migration between the binding sites and inter-domain residence. Nature identity of the recombinant human albumin to its serum-derived analog was observed. However, the binding sites of bovine albumin appeared shorter in length and wider in diameter than those of human albumin. Presumably, less tightly folded domains in bovine albumin allow better penetration of water molecules in the interior of the globule that resulted in higher activation energy of FA dissociation from the binding site. Thus, the sensitive technique based on ESR non-covalent spin labeling allowed quantitative analysis and reliable comparison of the fine features of binding proteins.

Human serum albumin

Human serum albumin

Biocompatible microemulsions of dicephalic aldonamide-type surfactants: Formulation, structure and temperature influence

The temperature effects upon microemulsion systems composed of dicephalic N-dodecyl- N, N-bis[(3- d-aldonylamido)propyl]amines C 12-DX (gluconyl GA or lactobionyl LA)/ iso-butanol/hydrophilic (diethylene glycol monoethyl ether) or hydrophobic ( iso-octane) oils/water were investigated by evaluating isotropic area magnitudes in the pseudoternary phase diagrams, as well as droplet characteristics by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) spectroscopies at 25, 40 and 55 °C. We concluded that in the examined systems a cosurfactant, such as middle-chain alcohol, was needed to obtain large mesophase isotropic areas. The phase behavior and structure of the examined systems were temperature insensitive but they were intimately determined by the nature of the C 12-DX and the polarity of the oil phase. By adjusting the nature of the oil, as well as the surfactant hydrophilicity, the performed isotropic systems containing low amounts of nonaggressive surfactant could be formulated successfully. Interfacial properties and the dynamic structure of the surfactant/cosurfactant monolayer were studied by the spin probe technique using the 16-doxylstearic acid methyl ester (16-DSE) as the appropriate probe. The polarity of the interface was not affected by temperature but the interface rigidity was dependent upon the nature of the surfactant and oil as well as on temperature. The size of the dispersed domains, evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), was found to be a function of temperature, surfactant content and type of additives. The investigated o/w microemulsions (i.e., ranging from 3.0 to 8.8 nm) constituted promising templates for a variety of syntheses of nanostructures with small size and high-capacity solubilizing media.

Structural aspects in saccharide-derived micelles studied by a spin probe technique

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) was used in this study to monitor micellization behavior of selected saccharide-derived surfactants in aqueous solutions by measuring the spin probe parameters of nitroxide labeled entities (5- and 16-doxylstearic acid methyl esters) as a function of temperature and surfactant concentration. A group of aldonamide-type surfactants of the following architecture was selected: a single-head single-tail structure (i.e., N-dodecyl- N-methylgluconamide—C 12MGA), a dicephalic representative (i.e., N-dodecyl- N, N-bis[3- d-gluconyl-amido)propyl]amine—C 12DGA and N-dodecyl- N, N-bis[3- d-lactobionylamido)propyl]amine—C 12DLA) and gemini one (i.e., N, N′-bisdodecyl- N, N′-bis[(3- d-gluconyl-amide)propyl]ethylenediamine—bis(C 12GA)). The anisotropy effect in the EPR spectra proved that molecules of the used spin probes penetrate effectively the studied micelles. Taking into account that the rotational correlation time magnitude correlated well with the probe mobility, the structure of formed aggregates and their microviscosity were achieved. It was found that the calculated values of rotational correlation times were relatively high and indicated large inhibition of rotations of the studied nitroxide probe molecules. The microviscosity of micelles increased slightly with the increase in surfactant concentration. Slope coefficients of the obtained temperature dependences under the studied concentration range were almost the same for both spin probes indicating the spherical shape of the aggregates. Our results show effectiveness of EPR technique for investigations of micelle formation and their molecular microenvironment.

Multifrequency ESR study of spin-labeled molecules in inclusion compounds with cyclodextrins

The molecular dynamics of spin-labeled compounds included into the solid phase of cyclodextrins (CDs) has been studied using conventional (X-band) ESR at 9 GHz and high-field high-frequency (HFHF) ESR at 240 and 170 GHz. The patterns of axial rotation at these higher frequencies are clear just by inspection of the spectrum, unlike the case for 9 GHz spectra. That is HFHF ESR is sensitive to molecular motion about the diffusion axis collinear with the X, Y or Z-direction of the magnetic g- and A-tensors of the nitroxide moiety (referred to, respectively, as X, Y or Z-rotation). For doxyl stearic acids (Z-rotation) and TEMPOyl caprylate (X-rotation) included in beta- and gamma-CDs we were able to determine the rate of molecular motion and the corresponding potential barriers. We emphasize that determining the rate of Z-rotation by ESR is feasible only using HFHF ESR. For the X-rotation case we suggest that the motion of the nitroxide moiety consists of fast small-angle librations about the magnetic X-axis superimposed by rotational diffusion about the same axis. The potential barrier of 1.7 Kcal mol(-1) for this rotational diffusion is unusually low. A fascinating feature of TEMPO derivatives included in beta-CD is the detectable molecular motion at temperatures below 77 K. For the other CD-spin probe systems, we used multifrequency analysis to assign the conformations of spin-labeled molecules. A dramatic spectral change for 16-sasl in beta- and gamma-CDs at approximately 260 K corresponds to a tilting of the position of the nitroxide moiety on the rotating molecule relative to the long diffusion axis, while for TEMPO derivatives in gamma-cyclodextrin below 200 K, we observe a rapid transition from fast to very slow rotational motion. More complex features are best studied by means of multifrequency ESR experiments. The visual clarity and the simplicity of analysis of the ESR spectra shown in this work should provide a benchmark for future studies of molecular motion by HFHF ESR.

Characterization of the Nonionic Microemulsions by EPR. I. Effect of Solubilized Drug on Nanostructure

The effect of the solubilized model drug, carbamazepine, on the internal structure of fully dilutable nonionic microemulsions was examined for the first time using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Systems containing different surfactant to oil ratios, at two different pH values (4.6 and 8.5), with continuous dilution implementing structural transformations (micellar solution-W/O-bicontinuous-O/W) were investigated. The internal order, micropolarity, and microviscosity were scrutinized utilizing pH-dependent amphiphilic probe 5-doxylstearic acid (5-DSA). In the basic environment, the probe explored the vicinity of the surfactant head region; the deeper hydrophobic region of the surfactant tails was investigated in the acidic milieu. The study demonstrated that the EPR technique enables efficient monitoring of structural changes and examination of drug influence on structure in surfactant-poor systems. Lower order and microviscosity values were obtained in surfactant-poor systems in comparison to surfactant-rich systems. The drug functioned as a spacer of the surfactant molecules or as a cosurfactant depending on the formed microemulsion structure and the surfactant to oil ratio. The structural changes, pH variation, and presence of the drug did not alter the polarity parameter, indicating that the probe most likely does not sense a water environment in any of the examined systems. Under the basic conditions, higher microviscosity and order values were obtained in comparison to those at low pH, suggesting a higher order packing of the surfactant chains near the surfactant heads. The structural changes initiated in the vicinity of the surfactant heads, therefore, are more apparent in the basic environment. The ability to control and monitor the intramicellar interactions within drug carrier systems may be of significant interest for understanding the kinetics of drug release.

Interaction of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with ionic surfactants evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy

EPR spectra of 5- and 16-doxyl stearic acid nitroxide probes (5-DSA and 16-DSA, respectively) bound to bovine serum albumin (BSA) revealed that in the presence of ionic surfactants, at least, two label populations coexist in equilibrium. The rotational correlation times ( τ) indicated that component 1 displays a more restricted mobility state, associated to the spin labels bound to the protein; the less immobilized component 2 is due to label localization in the surfactant aggregates. For both probes, the increase of surfactant concentration leads to higher motional levels of component 1 followed by a simultaneous decrease of this fraction of nitroxides and its conversion into component 2. For 10 mM cethyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), the nitroxides are 100% bound to the protein, whereas at 10 mM N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (HPS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) the fractions of bound nitroxides are reduced to 18% and 86%, respectively. No significant polarity changes were observed in the whole surfactant concentration range for component 1. Moreover, at higher surfactant concentration, component 2 exhibited a similar polarity as in the pure surfactant micelles. For 16-DSA the surfactant effect is different: at 10 mM of HPS and CTAC the fractions of bound nitroxides are 76% and 49%, respectively, while at 10 mM SDS they are present exclusively in a micellar environment, consistent with 100% of component 2. Overall, both SDS and HPS are able to effectively displace the nitroxide probes from the protein binding sites, while CTAC seems to affect the nitroxide binding to a significantly smaller extent.

The Motional Dynamics in Bolaamphiphilic Nanofibers and Micellar Aggregates: An ESR Spin Probe Study

The aggregation behavior of the bolaamphiphilic hydrogelators dotriacontane-1,32-diyl-bis[2-(trimethylammonio)ethylphosphate] (PC-C32-PC) and the pH-sensitive dotriacontane-1,32-diyl-bis[2-(dimethylammonio)-ethylphosphate] (Me2PE-C32-Me2PE) was characterized before using different methods. Dependent on the temperature, pH, and concentration, these bolaamphiphiles self-asssemble into long nanofibers or other aggregates, such as short rods or micelles. In order to obtain information about the motional dynamics and microscopic order inside of these aggregates, we carried out a systematic ESR spin probe study. The spectra obtained with the spin probes 5-, 12- and 16-doxyl stearic acid (n-DSA) were found to be highly sensitive to changes in the bolaamphiphilic arrangement. Rotational correlation times and order parameters were obtained from full ESR line shape simulations with the programs EasySpin and EPRSIM. The maximum hyperfine splitting, 2Amax, was used to determine the transition temperatures, which are in agreement with the DSCdata. By comparison of 5-DSA and 12-DSA, which are residing at different positions in the alkyl chain region of the aggregates, it was found that trans-gauche isomerization is predominantly occurring in the outer region of the aggregates. For Me2PE-C32-Me2PE at pH 10, our ESR data indicate that micelles are short rods rather than being spherical in shape. Therefore, increasing the concentration from 1 to 10 mg/mL leads only to a one-dimensional growth of these micelles.

EPR Investigations of Spin‐Probe Dynamics in Aqueous Dispersions of a Nonionic Amphiphilic Compound

AbstractDynamics of various spin probes in aqueous dispersions of nonionic amphiphilic compound, [poly(oxyethylene) hydrogenated castor oil, HCO], were investigated by EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) and saturation recovery (SR) spectroscopies. Partitioning, rotational correlation time (τR), rotational diffusion coefficient, and electron spin‐lattice relaxation time (T1e) in dispersions of the HCO membrane were obtained. The partitioning of water soluble spin probes, DTBN and TEMPO, in the aqueous and vesicle phases was determined by an EPR linewidth simulation as a function of temperature. The results suggest that DTBN and TEMPO have a similar partitioning in the vesicle phase throughout the temperatures studied. The longer τR and shorter T1e (~0.33 μs) values of DTBN in the vesicle phase were obtained, and could be attributed to the probe environment in the membrane. The simulation results for fast tumbling probes were quite different from those of conventional intensity analysis (spectral parameter, f). Thus, the simulation and T1e analyses have provided a quantitative understanding of the probe dynamics in both phases. Aliphatic spin probes, doxylstearic acids (DSAs) and 3β‐doxyl‐5α‐cholestane (CHL), were used for monitor of various membrane motions. The EPR spectra were quantitatively analyzed by a slow tumbling simulation. The rotational diffusion coefficients and order parameter were obtained by the simulation. In addition, the direct observations of the behavior of the probes were measured by SR method. The results were consistent with T1e obtained for spin probes. Thus, the quantitative results regarding EPR, SR method, various simulation analyses have provided detailed information regarding physicochemical properties of the various moieties of the probe region in the amphiphilic compound.

Electron Spin–Lattice Relaxation Times of Spin Probes in Aqueous Dispersions of a Unique Amphiphilic Compound Obtained by a Saturation Recovery Method

Abstract Electron spin–lattice relaxation times (T1e) of a unique nonionic amphiphilic compound, (poly(oxyethylene) hydrogenated castor oil, HCO) in aqueous dispersions, were investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and saturation recovery (SR) spectroscopies. The spin probes, 5-doxylstearic acid (5-DSA) and 3β-doxyl-5α-cholestane (CHL), were used to obtain T1e values for the head group region in the HCO membrane. Analysis of SR signals from both probes showed that the T1e value (≈5 μs at 20 °C) indicates relatively faster relaxation behavior in the region than that of 12-DSA. No abrupt change (such as phase transition) of the relaxation time was observed in the temperature region studied. Thus, the present T1e results indicate relative flexibility for both probe moieties in the membrane throughout the temperatures studied.

Effects of Proteus mirabilis Lipopolysaccharides with Different O-Polysaccharide Structures on the Plasma Membrane of Human Erythrocytes

The effects of O33 and O49 P. mirabilis lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) on human erythrocyte membrane properties were examined. Physical parameters of the plasma membrane, such as membrane lipid fluidity, physical state of membrane proteins, and osmotic fragility, were determined. The fluidity of the lipids was estimated using three spin-labeled stearic acids of doxyl derivatives: 5-doxylstearic acid, 12-doxylstearic acid, and 16-doxylstearic acid. All the applied labels locate to different depths of the lipid layer and provide information on the ordering of phospholipid fatty acyl chain mobility. LPSs O49 increased the membrane lipid fluidity in the polar region of the lipid bilayer as indicated by spin-labeled 5-doxylstearic acid. An increase in fluidity was also observed in the deeper region using 12-doxylstearic acid only for O33 LPSs. The highest concentration of O33 LPSs (1 mg/ml) increased the motion of membrane proteins detected by the spin-label residue of iodoacetamide. These results showed different actions of O33 and O49 LPSs on the plasma membrane due to the different chemical structures of O-polysaccharides. P. mirabilis O33 and O49 LPSs did not induce changes in the membrane cytoskeleton, osmotic fragility and lipid peroxidation of erythrocytes. On the other hand a rise in the content of carbonyl compounds was observed for the highest concentrations of O33 LPS. This result indicated protein oxidation in the erythrocyte membrane. Lipid A, the hydrophobic part of LPS, did not change the membrane lipid fluidity and osmotic fragility of erythrocytes. Smooth and rough forms of P. mirabilis LPSs were tested for their abilities for complement-mediated immunohemolysis of erythrocytes. Only one out of seven LPSs used was a potent agent of complement-mediated hemolysis. It was rough, Ra-type of P. mirabilis R110 LPS. The O-polysaccharide-dependent scheme of reaction is presented.

Liposomes as a carrier for gentamicin delivery: Development and evaluation of the physicochemical properties

The physicochemical properties of liposomal formulations containing gentamicin were investigated. A sustained release of gentamicin from liposomes was observed at both 4 °C and 37 °C in phosphate buffered saline. The distribution of the mean diameters of these liposomal formulations, evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) over a 48 h time period, was bimodal with large polydispersity index values, i.e., ≥0.6. Incorporation of 5- or 16-doxylstearic acids (5- or 16-DSL) into the liposomes allowed the use of EPR spectroscopy to study the fluidity, order parameter, and phase behavior of the phospholipid bilayers in response to the compositions, temperature and time. While, our results revealed that gentamicin disturbs the packing and fluidizes the phospholipid chains, it did not seem to alter the nature of the microdomains at the polar interface of the bilayers. Simulation of the EPR spectra of 5-DSL containing liposomes revealed (1) the heterogeneous nature of the liposomal domains at the polar interfacial region, and (2) that encapsulation of gentamicin neither significantly alters the dynamic properties of the existing domains, nor induces the phase repartition of the liposomes within a 48 h time course.

Self-Assembling of Phenothiazine Compounds Investigated by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) have been carried out to investigate the structure of the self-aggregates of two phenothiazine drugs, chlorpromazine (CPZ) and trifluoperazine (TFP), in aqueous solution. In the SAXS studies, drug solutions of 20 and 60 mM, at pH 4.0 and 7.0, were investigated and the best data fittings were achieved assuming several different particle form factors with a homogeneous electron density distribution in respect to the water environment. Because of the limitation of scattering intensity in the q range above 0.15 A(-1), precise determination of the aggregate shape was not possible and all of the tested models for ellipsoids, cylinders, or parallelepipeds fitted the experimental data equally well. The SAXS data allows inferring, however, that CPZ molecules might self-assemble in a basis set of an orthorhombic cell, remaining as nanocrystallites in solution. Such nanocrystals are composed of a small number of unit cells (up to 10, in c-direction), with CPZ aggregation numbers of 60-80. EPR spectra of 5- and 16-doxyl stearic acids bound to the aggregates were analyzed through simulation, and the dynamic and magnetic parameters were obtained. The phenothiazine concentration in EPR experiments was in the range of 5-60 mM. Critical aggregation concentration of TFP is lower than that for CPZ, consistent with a higher hydrophobicity of TFP. At acidic pH 4.0 a significant residual motion of the nitroxide relative to the aggregate is observed, and the EPR spectra and corresponding parameters are similar to those reported for aqueous surfactant micelles. However, at pH 6.5 a significant motional restriction is observed, and the nitroxide rotational correlation times correlate very well with those estimated for the whole aggregated particle from SAXS data. This implies that the aggregate is densely packed at this pH and that the nitroxide is tightly bound to it producing a strongly immobilized EPR spectrum. Besides that, at pH 6.5 the differences in motional restriction observed between 5- and 16-DSA are small, which is different from that observed for aqueous surfactant micelles.

The liquid-ordered phase in sphingomyelincholesterol membranes as detected by the discrimination by oxygen transport (DOT) method

Membranes made from binary mixtures of egg sphingomyelin (ESM) and cholesterol were investigated using conventional and saturation-recovery EPR observations of the 5-doxylstearic acid spin label (5-SASL). The effects of cholesterol on membrane order and the oxygen transport parameter (bimolecular collision rate of molecular oxygen with the nitroxide spin label) were monitored at the depth of the fifth carbon in fluid- and gel-phase ESM membranes. The saturation-recovery EPR discrimination by oxygen transport (DOT) method allowed the discrimination of the liquid-ordered (l o), liquid-disordered (l d), and solid-ordered (s o) phases because the bimolecular collision rates of the molecular oxygen with the nitroxide spin label differ in these phases. Additionally, oxygen collision rates (the oxygen transport parameter) were obtained in coexisting phases without the need for their separation, which provides information about the internal dynamics of each phase. The addition of cholesterol causes a dramatic decrease in the oxygen transport parameter around the nitroxide moiety of 5-SASL in the l o phase, which at 50 mol% cholesterol becomes ∼5 times smaller than in the pure ESM membrane in the l d phase, and ∼2 times smaller than in the pure ESM membrane in the s o phase. The overall change in the oxygen transport parameter is as large as ∼20-fold. Conventional EPR spectra show that 5-SASL is maximally immobilized at the phase boundary between regions with coexisting l d and l o phases or s o and l o phases and the region with a single l o phase. The obtained results all owed for the construction of a phase diagram for the ESM-cholesterol membrane.

Preferential location of lidocaine and etidocaine in lecithin bilayers as determined by EPR, fluorescence and 2H NMR

We have examined the effect of the uncharged species of lidocaine (LDC) and etidocaine (EDC) on the acyl chain moiety of egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Changes in membrane organization caused by both anesthetics were detected through the use of EPR spin labels (5, 7 and 12 doxyl stearic acid methyl ester) or fluorescence probes (4, 6, 10, 16 pyrene-fatty acids). The disturbance caused by the LA was greater when the probes were inserted in more external positions of the acyl chain and decreased towards the hydrophobic core of the membrane. The results indicate a preferential insertion of LDC at the polar interface of the bilayer and in the first half of the acyl chain, for EDC. Additionally, 2H NMR spectra of multilamellar liposomes composed by acyl chain-perdeutero DMPC and EPC (1:4 mol%) allowed the determination of the segmental order ( S mol) and dynamics ( T 1) of the acyl chain region. In accordance to the fluorescence and EPR results, changes in molecular orientation and dynamics are more prominent if the LA preferential location is more superficial, as for LDC while EDC seems to organize the acyl chain region between carbons 2–8, which is indicative of its positioning. We propose that the preferential location of LDC and EDC inside the bilayers creates a “transient site”, which is related to the anesthetic potency since it could modulate the access of these molecules to their binding site(s) in the voltage-gated sodium channel.

Interaction of meso-tetrakis (4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin with cationic CTAC micelles investigated by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)

Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) have been used to investigate the interaction of the water-soluble meso-tetrakis (4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin (TPPS 4) with cationic cethyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) micelles. To evaluate if the porphyrin protonation state affects its interaction with the micelle, both SAXS and EPR measurements were performed at pH 4.0 and 9.0. The best-fit SAXS curves were obtained assuming for CTAC micelle a prolate ellipsoidal shape in the absence and upon incorporation of 2–10 mM TPPS 4. SAXS results show that the presence of porphyrin impacts on micellar hydrophobic core, leading to a micellar reassembling into smaller micelles. Lineshapes of EPR spectra of 5- and 16-doxyl stearic acids (5- and 16-DSA, respectively) bound to 100 mM CTAC micelles exhibited slight changes as a function of porphyrin concentration. Spectral simulations revealed an increase of mobility restriction for both spin probes, especially at higher porphyrin concentration, where a small reduction of environment polarity was also observed for 16-DSA. The spin labels monitored only slight differences between pH 4.0 and 9.0, in agreement with the SAXS results.

Positioning of the Alzheimer Aβ(1–40) peptide in SDS micelles using NMR and paramagnetic probes

NMR spectroscopy combined with paramagnetic relaxation agents was used to study the positioning of the 40-residue Alzheimer Amyloid beta-peptide Abeta(1-40) in SDS micelles. 5-Doxyl stearic acid incorporated into the micelle or Mn(2+) ions in the aqueous solvent were used to determine the position of the peptide relative to the micelle geometry. In SDS solvent, the two alpha-helices induced in Abeta(1-40), comprising residues 15-24, and 29-35, respectively, are surrounded by flexible unstructured regions. NMR signals from these unstructured regions are strongly attenuated in the presence of Mn(2+) showing that these regions are positioned mostly outside the micelle. The central helix (residues 15-24) is significantly affected by 5-doxyl stearic acid however somewhat less for residues 16, 20, 22 and 23. This alpha-helix therefore resides in the SDS headgroup region with the face with residues 16, 20, 22 and 23 directed away from the hydrophobic interior of the micelle. The C-terminal helix is protected both from 5-doxyl stearic acid and Mn(2+), and should be buried in the hydrophobic interior of the micelle. The SDS micelles were characterized by diffusion and (15)N-relaxation measurements. Comparison of experimentally determined translational diffusion coefficients for SDS and Abeta(1-40) show that the size of SDS micelle is not significantly changed by interaction with Abeta(1-40).