title: Location of ubiquinone-10 (CoQ-10) in phospholipid vesicles.
abstract: Egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes were prepared by ultrasonic irradiation. At least 25 mol% of coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10) can be incorporated nonstoichiometrically into PC liposomes. Electron microscopy showed no visible influence of CoQ-10 on the membrane structure. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of sonicated PC liposomes containing CoQ-10 showed two peaks (3.82 and 3.98 ppm) due to CoQ-10 methoxyl protons and a 'high-field component' (1.52 and 1.58 ppm). The areas of these peaks were inversely related and influenced by the time of ultrasonic irradiation. After short sonication the low-field positions (3.98/1.58 ppm) are favoured, after long sonication the high-field positions (3.82/1.52 ppm). No gradual shift of the two peaks is observed. The 'critical' liposome diameter was found to be between 500 to 700 A. Lanthanide induced pseudocontact shift on CoQ-10 resonances ('high-field component' and methoxyl) does not lead to a split of the peaks and the difference between them remains constant. It is concluded that CoQ-10 is incorporated into the membrane core, beyond C-2 of the PC acyl chains, with two bilayer curvature-dependent resonance positions.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004530:Egg Yolk; D007700:Kinetics; D008081:Liposomes; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008954:Models, Biological; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D014451:Ubiquinone
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D014451:Ubiquinone; C025204:Ubiquinone Q2