title: Characterization of mixed monolayers of phosphatidylcholine and a dicationic gemini surfactant SS-1 with a langmuir balance: effects of DNA.
abstract: Monolayers of a cationic gemini surfactant, 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-bis(N-hexadecyl-N;N-dimethyl-ammonium)butane dibromide (abbreviated as SS-1) and its mixtures with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) were studied using a Langmuir balance. More specifically, we measured the force-area (pi-A) curves and determined the elastic area compressibility modulus (C) as a function of lateral packing pressure and the mole fraction of the cationic lipid (X(SS-1)), with and without DNA in the subphase. Both SS-1 and POPC exhibited smooth compression isotherms, indicating their monolayers to be in the liquid expanded state. Even low contents (X(SS-1) < 0.05) of SS-1 in a POPC monolayer condensed the film dramatically, up to 20% at 30 mN/m. This effect is suggested to reflect reorientation of the P(-)-N(+) dipole of the POPC headgroup. Accordingly, the magnitude of the condensing effect diminishes with X(SS-1) and is not observed for mixed films of dioleoylglycerol and SS-1. Reorientation of the P(-)-N(+) dipole is further supported by the pronounced increase in monolayer dipole potential psi due to SS-1. The presence of DNA in the subphase affected the mixed POPC/SS-1 monolayers differently depending on the constituent lipid stoichiometry as well as on the DNA/SS-1 charge ratio. At a DNA concentration of 0.63 microM (in base pairs) condensation of neat POPC monolayers was evident, and this effect remained up to X(SS-1) < 0.5, corresponding to DNA/SS-1 charge ratio of 1.25. An expansion due to DNA, evident as an increase in DeltaA/molecule, was observed at X(SS-1) > 0.5. At a higher concentration of DNA (1.88 microM base pairs) in the subphase corresponding to DNA/SS-1 charge ratio of 3.75 at X(SS-1) = 0.5, condensation was observed at all values of X(SS-1).
authors.affiliation: Helsinki Biophysics and Biomembrane Group, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Matti
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Säily
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ryhänen
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Holopainen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borocci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Kinnunen
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C440188:2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-bis(N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)butane; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D004247:DNA; C028694:1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine