Formation of 2-D paracrystals of F-actin on phospholipid layers mixed with quaternary ammonium surfactants.
Two-dimensional paracrystalline arrays of F-actin have been formed on positively charged lipid layers composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and quaternary ammonium surfactants. These quaternary ammonium surfactants were found to be better promoters of two-dimensional order than PC lipid layers mixed with stearylamine. In addition, the length of the hydrocarbon chain was found to influence the achievement of 2-D order. Lipid layers composed of dilauryl-PC and didodecyldimethylammonium bromide, which are saturated C12 lipids, promoted 2-D crystallization better than mixtures of dipalmitoyl-PC, a saturated C16 lipid, and dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide, a saturated C18 lipid. Thus, the hydrocarbon chain length, which influences lipid layer fluidity, had a significant effect on paracrystal formation. We suggest that quaternary ammonium surfactants may have advantages in some cases for forming ordered arrays on lipid layers. In addition to investigating the effect of lipid layer composition on paracrystal formation, we found that the injection of G-actin rather than F-actin under a fluid lipid layer into a polymerizing solution produced better ordered paracrystals.
Taylor
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Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
Taylor
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D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003460:Crystallization; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
D000199:Actins; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010743:Phospholipids; D011108:Polymers; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D013501:Surface-Active Agents