Amphiphilic lipid

A typical biomembrane consists largely of amphiphilic lipids with small hydrophilic head groups and long hydrophobic fatty acid tails. These amphiphiles are insoluble in water (<10 ° mol L ) and capable of self-organization into uitrathin bilaycr lipid membranes (BLMs). Until 1977 only natural lipids, in particular phospholipids like lecithins, were believed to form spherical and related vesicular membrane structures. Intricate interactions of the head groups were supposed to be necessary for the self-organization of several ten thousands of... 

In the first step, lipid model membranes have been generated (Fig. 15) on the air/liquid interface, on a glass micropipette (see Section VIII.A.1), and on an aperture that separates two cells filled with subphase (see Section VIII.A.2). Further, amphiphilic lipid molecules have been self-assembled in an aqueous medium surrounding unilamellar vesicles (see Section VIII.A.3). Subsequently, the S-layer protein of B. coagulans E38/vl, B. stearother-mophilus PV72/p2, or B. sphaericus CCM 2177 have been injected into the aqueous subphase (Fig. 15). As on solid supports, crystal growth of S-layer lattices on planar or vesicular lipid films is initiated simultaneously at many randomly distributed nucleation... 

FIG. 16 Fomation of a Langmuir lipid monolayer at the air/subphase interface and the subsequent crystallization of S-layer protein, (a) Amphiphilic lipid molecules are placed on the air/subphase interface between two barriers. Upon compression between the barriers, increase in surface pressure can be determined by a Wilhelmy plate system, (b) Depending on the final area, a liquid-expanded or liquid-condensed lipid monolayer is formed, (c) S-layer subunits injected in the subphase crystallized into a coherent S-layer lattice beneath the spread lipid monolayer and the adjacent air/subphase interface. 

The lipid molecule is the main constituent of biological cell membranes. In aqueous solutions amphiphilic lipid molecules form self-assembled structures such as bilayer vesicles, inverse hexagonal and multi-lamellar patterns, and so on. Among these lipid assemblies, construction of the lipid bilayer on a solid substrate has long attracted much attention due to the many possibilities it presents for scientific and practical applications [4]. Use of an artificial lipid bilayer often gives insight into important aspects ofbiological cell membranes [5-7]. The wealth of functionality of this artificial structure is the result of its own chemical and physical properties, for example, two-dimensional fluidity, bio-compatibility, elasticity, and rich chemical composition. 

FIG. 2 A zone model of bilayer vesicles consisting of amphiphilic lipid molecules. 

Szostak et al. worked on the basis of a simple cellular system which can replicate itself autonomously and which is subject to Darwinian evolution. This simple protocell consists of an RNA replicase, which replicates in a self-replicating vesicle. If this system can take up small molecules from its environment (a type of feeding ), i.e., precursors which are required for membrane construction and RNA synthesis, the protocells will grow and divide. The result should be the formation of improved replicases. Improved chances of survival are only likely if a sequence, coded by RNA, leads to better growth or replication of membrane components, e.g., by means of a ribozyme which catalyses the synthesis of amphiphilic lipids (Figs. 10.8 and 10.9). We can expect further important advances in the near future from this combination ( RNA + lipid world ). 

The close packing of the acyl groups associated with the inclination of the lipid A backbone with respect to the fatty acid orientation seems to constitute a common and characteristic feature of the lipid A conformation. This specific (endotoxic) conformation is very likely to influence greatly the tendency of the amphiphilic lipid A to adopt peculiar supramolecular structures. 

These possibilities rectify the proposed subsequent appearance and amplification of chiral autocatalytic molecules and hypercydes. [190] Any autocatalytic systems would propagate [191] throughout an extensive adjoining hydrated porous network already rich in layered amphiphiles, lipids, polymeric materials, amino acids, thiols, and so forth. In addition, amphiphiles are known to be organized into lipid membranes by interaction with the inner surfaces of porous minerals. [136] It is a small organizational jump from these membranes to frilly formed lipid vesides. 

Selected entries from Methods in Enzymology [vol, page(s)] Activation of lipolytic enzymes by interfaces, 64, 341 model for lipase action on insoluble lipids, 64, 345 interfacial enzyme inactivation, 64, 347 reversibility of the adsorption step, 64, 347 monolayer substrates, 64, 349 kinetic models applicable to partly soluble amphiphilic lipids, 64, 353 surface dilution model, 64, 355 and 364 practical aspects, 64, 357. 

Venanzi, M., Zhdanov, R.I., Petrelli, C., Moretti, P., Amici, A., Petrelli, F. (1993). Entrapment of supercoiled DNA into performed amphiphilic lipid vesicles. In Gregoriadis, G. and Florence, A., eds., Int. Conference Liposomes, Nineties and Beyond, London, 122-123, Abstract. 

Only a small quantity of an amphiphilic lipid dispersed in water can form a monolayer (unless the water is spread as a very thin film), in which case the bulk of the lipid will form soluble micelles. Micelles can take a variety of forms, each satisfying the hydrophobic effect. Fig. 6-2 shows one such form, representing a spherical micelle, although ellipsoidal, diskoidal, and cylindrical variations are possible. 

Question Are there other forms that amphiphilic lipids can adopt in water ... 

The repulsion of the polar heads does. If there are two hydrocarbon chains per polar head group, the nonpolar volume per head group is twice that of an amphiphilic lipid with one hydrocarbon chain. The greater repulsive force in the latter prevents the lipid molecules from coming too close and thus keeps the micellar size small. The weaker repulsive force and larger hydrocarbon volume in the former allow very much larger structures to form namely, bilayers and vesicles. 

Cholesterol does not form micelles because (1) it is not amphiphilic and (2) its flat, rigid, fused-ring structure gives a solid rather than a liquid, mobile hydrocarbon phase necessary for micellar formation. Cholesterol forms mixed micelles with amphiphilic lipids and will enter monolayers. 

Jin, Y. (2007), Effect of temperature on the state of the self-assembled nanoparticles prepared from an amphiphilic lipid derivative of acyclovir, Coll. Surf. B Biointerf, 54, 124-125. 

Liposomes were also utilized for preparing inkjet inks. Liposomes are aqueous compartments enclosed by lipid bilayer membranes which form spontaneously when amphiphilic lipid molecules are dispersed in water (see Fig. 2). Liposomes are also known as lipid vesicles. 

Biological cell membranes are multi-component systems consisting of a fluid bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) and integrated membrane proteins. The main structural features of the BLMs are determined by a wide variety of amphiphilic lipids whose polar head groups are exposed to water while hydrocarbon tails form the nonpolar interior. The BLMs act as the medium for biochemical vectorial membrane processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and active ion transport. However, they do not participate in the corresponding chemical reactions which occur in membrane-dissolved proteins and often need redox-active cofactors. BLMs were therefore mostly investigated by physical chemists who studied their thermodynamics and kinetic behaviour . ... 

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