Material properties of matrix lipids determine the conformation and intermolecular reactivity of diacetylenic phosphatidylcholine in the lipid bilayer

Anu Puri, Hyunbum Jang, Amichai Yavlovich, M. Athar Masood, Timothy D. Veenstra, Carlos Luna, Helim Aranda-Espinoza, Ruth Nussinov, Robert Blumenthal*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Photopolymerizable phospholipid DC 8,9PC (1,2-bis-(tricosa-10,12- diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) exhibits unique assembly characteristics in the lipid bilayer. Because of the presence of the diacetylene groups, DC 8,9PC undergoes polymerization upon UV (254 nm) exposure and assumes chromogenic properties. DC 8,9PC photopolymerization in gel-phase matrix lipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) monitored by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy occurred within 2 min after UV treatment, whereas no spectral shifts were observed when DC 8,9PC was incorporated into liquid-phase matrix 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis showed a decrease in the amount of DC 8,9PC monomer in both DPPC and POPC environments without any change in the matrix lipids in UV-treated samples. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of DPPC/DC 8,9PC and POPC/DC 8,9PC bilayers indicate that the DC 8,9PC molecules adjust to the thickness of the matrix lipid bilayer. Furthermore, the motions of DC 8,9PC in the gel-phase bilayer are more restricted than in the fluid bilayer. The restricted motional flexibility of DC 8,9PC (in the gel phase) enables the reactive diacetylenes in individual molecules to align and undergo polymerization, whereas the unrestricted motions in the fluid bilayer restrict polymerization because of the lack of appropriate alignment of the DC 8,9PC fatty acyl chains. Fluorescence microscopy data indicates the homogeneous distribution of lipid probe 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphoethanolamine-N-lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl ammonium salt (N-Rh-PE) in POPC/DC 8,9PC monolayers but domain formation in DPPC/DC 8,9PC monolayers. These results show that the DC 8,9PC molecules cluster and assume the preferred conformation in the gel-phase matrix for the UV-triggered polymerization reaction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15120-15128
Number of pages9
JournalLangmuir
Volume27
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Dec 2011
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Cancer InstituteZIABC010652

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