title: Archaebacterial lipid models: highly salt-tolerant membranes from 1,2-diphytanylglycero-3-phosphocholine.
abstract: 1,2-Di(3RS,7R,11R-phytanyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and its glycerol epimers were synthesized as model lipids of archaebacterial halophiles. These amphiphiles, upon sonication of aqueous suspensions, gave rise to small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) of 300-800 A in diameter and about 80 A in the membrane thickness. The liposomes were very stable for at least a month even in a highly concentrated suspension or 5 M aqueous NaCl. The vesicles could retain Na+ and Cl- ions as well as 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein in the aqueous interior at temperature as high as 70 degrees C. The liposomes of ordinary diester lipids such as 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and egg-yolk lecithin were less stable and more permeable than those of the diphytanyl lipids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioapplied Chemistry, Osaka City University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kii
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008081:Liposomes; D008954:Models, Biological; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; C021016:1,2-diphytanoylphosphatidylcholine; D012965:Sodium Chloride