Membrane lipids interaction between

All cannabinoids are highly lipophilic substances and it has been suggested that THC is probably related in its properties to the anaesthetics. As related cannabinoids, such as CBD, CBN and the ( + )-enantiomers are inactive (see above), one can assume an enantiospecific structural fit into a hydrophobic environment in some cell membrane. Indeed, Lawrence and Gill, using spin-labelled liposomes, demonstrated lipid interactions between several cannabinoids and lecithin-cholesterol bilayers [109]. They showed differences between (+ )- and (- )-A -THC, suggesting stereospecificity CBD and CBN gave a response different from that observed with (- J-A -THC 7-OH-THC (15) was more active than THC. These observations parallel the known SAR of cannabinoids and support the lipid interaction theory of THC action. 

Proteins distort or disrupt membranes, which in turn act back on proteins. Strucmral perturbations contribute to protein function and are among the most important sources of membrane-induced interactions between proteins. Unfortunately, perturbations or transformations of lipid bilayers due to proteins are very difficult to probe experimentally [225]. Complementary theoretical and computer simulation studies can help to elucidate the role of the lipid bilayer in processes such as protein aggregation and function. 

The presence of surfactants in drug formulations may produce unwanted side or toxic effects because of their interaction with proteins, lipids, membranes and enzymes. To fully understand these interactions, it is essential to have information on the metabolic fate of the ingested surfactant. Membrane disruption by surfactants involves binding of the surfactant monomers to the membrane components, followed by the formation of co-micelles of the surfactant with segments of the membrane. The interaction between surfactants and proteins can lead to solubilization of the insoluble-bound protein or to changes in the biological activity of enzyme... 

The interest in vesicles as models for cell biomembranes has led to much work on the interactions within and between lipid layers. The primary contributions to vesicle stability and curvature include those familiar to us already, the electrostatic interactions between charged head groups (Chapter V) and the van der Waals interaction between layers (Chapter VI). An additional force due to thermal fluctuations in membranes produces a steric repulsion between membranes known as the Helfrich or undulation interaction. This force has been quantified by Sackmann and co-workers using reflection interference contrast microscopy to monitor vesicles weakly adhering to a solid substrate [78]. Membrane fluctuation forces may influence the interactions between proteins embedded in them [79]. Finally, in balance with these forces, bending elasticity helps determine shape transitions [80], interactions between inclusions [81], aggregation of membrane junctions [82], and unbinding of pinched membranes [83]. Specific interactions between membrane embedded receptors add an additional complication to biomembrane behavior. These have been stud-... 

Interactions between macromolecules (protems, lipids, DNA,.. . ) or biological structures (e.g. membranes) are considerably more complex than the interactions described m the two preceding paragraphs. The sum of all biological mteractions at the molecular level is the basis of the complex mechanisms of life. In addition to computer simulations, direct force measurements [98], especially the surface forces apparatus, represent an invaluable tool to help understand the molecular interactions in biological systems. 

Baumgartner and coworkers [145,146] study lipid-protein interactions in lipid bilayers. The lipids are modeled as chains of hard spheres with heads tethered to two virtual surfaces, representing the two sides of the bilayer. Within this model, Baumgartner [145] has investigated the influence of membrane curvature on the conformations of a long embedded chain (a protein ). He predicts that the protein spontaneously localizes on the inner side of the membrane, due to the larger fluctuations of lipid density there. Sintes and Baumgartner [146] have calculated the lipid-mediated interactions between cylindrical inclusions ( proteins ). Apart from the... 

The in situ method using rat living intestine was simple and qualitative. However, it was difficult to evaluate the weak interaction between polymers and cell membranes quantitatively. Therefore, the lipid bilayer of liposome was used as a model of cell membranes for the quantitative evaluation for the affinity of the hydrophobized polymers (15). 

Interaction with a lipid bilayer driven by a potential difference and by polar and/or hydrophobic forces between the amino acid side chains of the pardaxin tetramers and the polar membrane lipid head group triggers insertion from a "raft" like structure. 

The Desmopressin diffusion coefficient in the cubic phase at 40 C (D=0.24 x 10-10 m2s-l) is about a factor 9 smaller than in 2H20-solution at 25 C (D=2.25 x 10-10 m s" ), a difference which is larger than what is expected from pure obstruction effects a reduction factor of three is expected from the inclusion of a solute in the water channels of the cubic phase (13). Thus, the results indicate an interaction between the peptide and the lipid matrix and/or membrane surface, especially since the peptide and lipid diffusion coefficients are very similar in the cubic phase (Table... 

Fig. 9 Surface modification of cells with ssDNA-PEG-lipid. (a) Real-time monitoring of PEG-lipid incorporation into a supported lipid membrane by SPR. (r) A suspension of small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) of egg yolk lecithin (70 pg/mL) was applied to a CH3-SAM surface. A PEG-lipid solution (100 pg/mL) was then applied, (ii) Three types of PEG-lipids were compared PEG-DMPE (C14), PEG-DPPE (C16), and PEG-DSPE (C18) with acyl chains of 14, 16, and 18 carbons, respectively, (b) Confocal laser scanning microscopic image of an CCRF-CEM cell displays immobilized FITC-oligo(dA)2o hybridized to membrane-incorporated oligo(dT)20-PEG-lipid. (c) SPR sensorigrams of interaction between oligo(dA)2o-urokinase and the oligo (dT)2o-PEG-lipid incorporated into the cell surface, (i) BSA solution was applied to block nonspecific sites on the oligo(dT)20-incorporated substrate, (ii) Oligo(dA)20-urokinase (solid line) or oligo(dT)20-urokinase (dotted line) was applied...

To diffuse rapidly in the plane of the membrane (lateral diffusion), a molecule must simply move around in the lipid environment (including the polar head groups). It need not change how it interacts with phospholipids or with water since it is constantly exposed to pretty much the same environment. Lateral diffusion can be slowed (or prevented) by interactions between membrane proteins and the cellular cytoskeleton. This spatially restricts a plasma membrane protein to a localized environment. 

Zdzislaw, S. Goran, L. Gordon, T., Plasmon waveguide resonance and impedance spectros copy studies of the interaction between penetratin and supported lipid bilayer membranes, Biophys. J. 2003, 84, 1796 1807... 

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