Structure of the inverted hexagonal (HII) phase, and non-lamellar phase transitions of lipids.

Lipid intermolecular hydrogen bonding: influence on structural organization and membrane function.

Ionization of phospholipids and phospholipid-supported interfacial lateral diffusion of protons in membrane model systems

https://www.cell.com/biophysj/pdf/S0006-3495(04)74225-3.pdf

Structure and Fluctuations of Charged Phosphatidylserine Bilayers in the Absence of Salt

The physical properties in water of a series of 1:1 acid-soap compounds formed from fatty acids and potassium soaps with saturated (10-18 carbons) and omega-9 monounsaturated (18 carbons) hydrocarbon chains have been studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction, and direct and polarized light microscopy. DSC showed three phase transitions corresponding to the melting of crystalline water, the melting of crystalline lipid hydrocarbon chains, and the decomposition of the 1:1 acid-soap compound into its parent fatty acid and soap. Low- and wide-angle X-ray diffraction patterns revealed spacings that corresponded (with increasing hydration) to acid-soap crystals, hexagonal type II liquid crystals, and lamellar liquid crystals. The lamellar phase swelled from bilayer repeat distances of 68 (at 45% H2O) to 303 A (at 90% H2O). Direct and polarized light micrographs demonstrated the formation of myelin figures as well as birefringent optical textures corresponding to hexagonal and lamellar mesophases. Assuming that 1:1 potassium hydrogen dioleate and water were two components, we constructed a temperature-composition phase diagram. Interpretation of the data using the Gibbs phase rule showed that, at greater than 30% water, hydrocarbon chain melting was accompanied by decomposition of the 1:1 acid-soap compound and the system changed from a two-component to a three-component system. Comparison of hydrated 1:1 fatty acid/soap systems with hydrated soap systems suggests that the reduced degree of charge repulsion between polar groups causes half-ionized fatty acids in excess water to form bilayers rather than micelles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phase behavior and bilayer properties of fatty acids: hydrated 1:1 acid-soaps

The structure and thermotropic properties of a homologous series of diacylphosphatidylserines (PS) in the anhydrous and hydrated states have been examined with low-angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. In the anhydrous state at low temperatures both acidic PS and its NH4+ salts exhibit lamellar bilayer crystal forms that transform to liquid-crystalline hexagonal (type II) structures at higher temperatures. The crystal leads to liquid-crystal transition temperature increases with increasing chain length, the transition temperature of an NH4+-PS being higher than that of its corresponding acidic form. In contrast, the transition enthalpies of the acidic PS are higher than those of the NH4+ salt forms. Hydrated cyclic PS and NH4+-PS exhibit reversible lamellar gel leads to liquid-crystal transitions. In this case the acidic form undergoes this chain length dependent transition at a higher temperature, but with a lower enthalpy change, than the NH4+-PS. Both below and above the hydrocarbon chain melting transition, hydrated lamellar bilayer structures are present. The temperature-composition phase diagram of the NH4+-dimyristoyl-PS/H2O system has been studied in detail. The chain melting transition decreases with increasing hydration, reaching a limiting value of 39 degrees C. X-ray diffraction shows that both the bilayer gel structure and the bilayer liquid-crystal form take up water continuously (i.e., no hydration limit), a characteristic of lipid bilayers with a net charge. Electron-density profiles a NH4+-dimyristoyl-PS at different hydration levels permit detailed analysis of the structural parameters of the PS bilayer.

Fritz Paltauf

Papers

Structure and thermotropic behavior of phosphatidylserine bilayer membranes.