Cholesterol esters and membrane permeability. A nuclear magnetic resonance (MNR) study.
Cholesteryl esters have been incorporated into phospholipid vesicles up to 5 mole percent. Excess ester separates out into a separate phase which resembles the mesomorphic droplets of atherosclerosis. The incorporation of 5 mole percent cholesteryl palmitate is shown by 31P NMR studies to increase the permeability of the model membranes to ions 10-fold. The same incorporation of cholesteryl linoleate does not affect the membrane permeability. Implications of these findings, and the significance of the cholesteryl ester/free cholesterol ratio upon atherosclerosis is discussed.
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D004058:Diffusion; D004492:Edetic Acid; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010168:Palmitates; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011221:Praseodymium
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010168:Palmitates; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D004492:Edetic Acid; D011221:Praseodymium