title: Effect of Ca2+ on thermotropic properties of saturated phosphatidylcholine liposomes.
abstract: The effect of various concentrations of calcium ion (Ca2+) on dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) and mixed DPPC/DSPC (1:1) liposomes was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Ca2+ concentrations of 10 mM and above split the main transition peak of DPPC into two distinguishable components, and, at 30 mM and above, also resulted in the disappearance of a pre-transition peak. The effect of Ca2+ on DSPC liposomes was even more dramatic in that it induced a more definitive split in the main transition peak and caused the loss of the pretransition peak at only 10 mM concentration. The thermograms of the DPPC/DSPC mixed liposomes were unaltered in the presence of Ca2+, even at a concentration of 50 mM. Whether or not Ca2+ is able to alter thermograms of phosphatidylcholine liposomes appears to be dependent on the degree of molecular order of the bilayer prior to interaction with Ca2+.
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; C010942:1,2-distearoyllecithin; D002118:Calcium