Protection of liposomes against fusion during drying by oligosaccharides is not predicted by the ... more Protection of liposomes against fusion during drying by oligosaccharides is not predicted by the calorimetric glass transition temperatures of the dry sugars
In previous studies, it has been suggested that chilling induced activation of human platelets is... more In previous studies, it has been suggested that chilling induced activation of human platelets is related to a lipid phase transition seen in membrane lipids. Those studies showed a single, surprisingly cooperative transition in human platelets, as determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, findings that are confirmed here with calorimetric measurements. Such transitions have now been studied in membrane fractions obtained from the platelets and it is reported that all fractions and purified phospholipids show similar transitions. In order to obtain these data it was necessary to develop means for separating these fractions. Therefore, a novel method for isolation and separation of dense tubular system (DTS) and plasma membranes in human platelets is described here. Lipid analysis showed that phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were the dominant phospholipids in both fractions, whereas cholesterol and sphingomyelin (SM) were predominantly located in the plasma membranes. Thermotropic phase transitions in the two membrane fractions, determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and FTIR spectroscopy were found to occur at about 15 degrees C, similar to the Tm of intact human platelets. These data are discussed in relation to the role of the DTS and plasma membranes in the cold-induced activation of human platelets.
Proton translocation is important in membrane-mediated processes such as ATP-dependent proton pum... more Proton translocation is important in membrane-mediated processes such as ATP-dependent proton pumps, ATP synthesis, bacteriorhodopsin, and cytochrome oxidase function. The fundamental mechanism, however, is poorly understood. To test the theoretical possibility that bundles of hydrophobic a-helices could provide a low energy pathway for ion translocation through the lipid bilayer, polyamino acids were incorporated into extruded liposomes and planar lipid membranes, and proton translocation was measured. Liposomes with incorporated long-chain poly-L-alanine or poly-L-leucine were found to have proton permeability coefficients 5 to 7 times greater than control liposomes, whereas short-chain polyamino acids had relatively little effect. Potassium permeability was not increased markedly by any of the polyamino acids tested. Analytical thin layer chromatography measurements of lipid content and a fluorescamine assay for amino acids showed that there were approximately 135 polyleucine or 65 polyalanine molecules associated with each liposome. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that a major fraction of the long-chain hydrophobic peptides existed in an a-helical conformation. Single-channel recording in both 0.1 N HCI and 0.1 M KCI was also used to determine whether proton-conducting channels formed in planar lipid membranes (phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine, 1:1). Poly-L-leucine and poly-L-alanine in HCI caused a 10-to 30-fold increase in frequency of conductive events compared to that seen in KCI or by the other polyamino acids in either solution. This finding correlates well with the liposome observations in which these two polyamino acids caused the largest increase in membrane proton permeability but had little effect on potassium permeability. Poly-L-leucine was considerably more conductive than poly-L-alanine due primarily to larger event amplitudes and, to a lesser extent, a higher event frequency. Poly-L-leucine caused two populations of conductive events, one in the 0.1-0.5 pA range, and one in the 1.0-5.0 pA range, whereas nearly all events caused by poly-L-alanine were in the 0.1-0.5 pA range at an applied voltage of +60 mV. The channel-like activity appeared to switch between conductive and nonconductive states, with most open-times in the range of 50-200 ms. We conclude that hydrophobic polyamino acids produce proton-conducting defects in lipid bilayers that may be used to model functional proton channels in biological membranes.
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to study the hydrogen-bonding interaction... more Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to study the hydrogen-bonding interactions that take place in vitrified carbohydrates of different chain lengths. The band position of the OH stretching band (vOH) and the shift in band position as a function of temperature were determined from the FTIR spectra as indicators for the length and strength of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to corroborate the FTIR studies and to measure the change in heat capacity (delta C(p)) that is associated with the glass transition. We found that with increasing T(g), the band position of vOH increases, the wavenumber-temperature coefficient of vOH in the glassy state, WTC(g), increases, whereas (delta C(p) decreases. The positive correlation that was found between vOH and the glass transition temperature, T(g), indicates that the length of the hydrogen bonds increases with increasing T(g). The increase in WTC(g) with increasing T(g) indicates that the average strength of hydrogen bonding decreases with increasing T(g). This implies that oligo- and polysaccharides (high T(g)) have a greater degree of freedom to rearrange hydrogen bonds during temperature changes than monosaccharides (low T(g)). Interestingly, WTC(g) and delta C(p) showed a negative linear correlation, indicating that the change in heat capacity during the glass transition is associated with the strength of the hydrogen-bonding network in the glassy state. Furthermore, we report that introduction of poly-L-lysine in glassy sugar matrices decreases the average length of hydrogen bonds, irrespective of the size of the carbohydrate. Palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) vesicles were found to only interact with small sugars and not with dextran.
The objective of this study was to determine if trehalose can effectively enhance the viability a... more The objective of this study was to determine if trehalose can effectively enhance the viability and storage lifetime of Rhizobium tropici and Rhizobium etli after lyophilization as compared to the traditional protective combination of sucrose and peptone. Two strains of bean-nodulating rhizobia were effectively preserved in the lyophilized state by 100 mM trehalose, and survived for at least 12 days, even when stored under non-ideal conditions. Trehalose provided better protection than the sucrose/peptone combination. When protective excipients were introduced inside the cells, strain CFN 42 was more sensitive to the type of additive used than strain CIAT 899, probably because CIAT 899 produces β (1-2) glucan, which may have a protective effect. β (1-2) glucan combined with sucrose protected better than trehalose against leakage from freeze-dried liposomes, but by itself it had no protective capability. There was a high level of unfrozen water associated with the hydrated glucan, in addition to a thermal event at approximately 70 o C, corresponding to an observed gel-sol transition in the glucan. These findings may shed light on the mechanism by which the glucan contributes to the protection of dried cells and liposomes, and may lead to further improvements in rhizobial inoculants.
The Jerusalem Symposia on Quantum Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1992
... Ann E. Oliver and David W. Deamer Dept. ... FTIR spectroscopy was used to probe the secondary... more ... Ann E. Oliver and David W. Deamer Dept. ... FTIR spectroscopy was used to probe the secondary structure of peptides by comparison of the carbonyl stretching (amide I) region (Byler and SUS!, 1986; 1988; Susi and Byler, 1983). ...
Protection of liposomes against fusion during drying by oligosaccharides is not predicted by the ... more Protection of liposomes against fusion during drying by oligosaccharides is not predicted by the calorimetric glass transition temperatures of the dry sugars
In previous studies, it has been suggested that chilling induced activation of human platelets is... more In previous studies, it has been suggested that chilling induced activation of human platelets is related to a lipid phase transition seen in membrane lipids. Those studies showed a single, surprisingly cooperative transition in human platelets, as determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, findings that are confirmed here with calorimetric measurements. Such transitions have now been studied in membrane fractions obtained from the platelets and it is reported that all fractions and purified phospholipids show similar transitions. In order to obtain these data it was necessary to develop means for separating these fractions. Therefore, a novel method for isolation and separation of dense tubular system (DTS) and plasma membranes in human platelets is described here. Lipid analysis showed that phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were the dominant phospholipids in both fractions, whereas cholesterol and sphingomyelin (SM) were predominantly located in the plasma membranes. Thermotropic phase transitions in the two membrane fractions, determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and FTIR spectroscopy were found to occur at about 15 degrees C, similar to the Tm of intact human platelets. These data are discussed in relation to the role of the DTS and plasma membranes in the cold-induced activation of human platelets.
Proton translocation is important in membrane-mediated processes such as ATP-dependent proton pum... more Proton translocation is important in membrane-mediated processes such as ATP-dependent proton pumps, ATP synthesis, bacteriorhodopsin, and cytochrome oxidase function. The fundamental mechanism, however, is poorly understood. To test the theoretical possibility that bundles of hydrophobic a-helices could provide a low energy pathway for ion translocation through the lipid bilayer, polyamino acids were incorporated into extruded liposomes and planar lipid membranes, and proton translocation was measured. Liposomes with incorporated long-chain poly-L-alanine or poly-L-leucine were found to have proton permeability coefficients 5 to 7 times greater than control liposomes, whereas short-chain polyamino acids had relatively little effect. Potassium permeability was not increased markedly by any of the polyamino acids tested. Analytical thin layer chromatography measurements of lipid content and a fluorescamine assay for amino acids showed that there were approximately 135 polyleucine or 65 polyalanine molecules associated with each liposome. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that a major fraction of the long-chain hydrophobic peptides existed in an a-helical conformation. Single-channel recording in both 0.1 N HCI and 0.1 M KCI was also used to determine whether proton-conducting channels formed in planar lipid membranes (phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine, 1:1). Poly-L-leucine and poly-L-alanine in HCI caused a 10-to 30-fold increase in frequency of conductive events compared to that seen in KCI or by the other polyamino acids in either solution. This finding correlates well with the liposome observations in which these two polyamino acids caused the largest increase in membrane proton permeability but had little effect on potassium permeability. Poly-L-leucine was considerably more conductive than poly-L-alanine due primarily to larger event amplitudes and, to a lesser extent, a higher event frequency. Poly-L-leucine caused two populations of conductive events, one in the 0.1-0.5 pA range, and one in the 1.0-5.0 pA range, whereas nearly all events caused by poly-L-alanine were in the 0.1-0.5 pA range at an applied voltage of +60 mV. The channel-like activity appeared to switch between conductive and nonconductive states, with most open-times in the range of 50-200 ms. We conclude that hydrophobic polyamino acids produce proton-conducting defects in lipid bilayers that may be used to model functional proton channels in biological membranes.
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to study the hydrogen-bonding interaction... more Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to study the hydrogen-bonding interactions that take place in vitrified carbohydrates of different chain lengths. The band position of the OH stretching band (vOH) and the shift in band position as a function of temperature were determined from the FTIR spectra as indicators for the length and strength of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to corroborate the FTIR studies and to measure the change in heat capacity (delta C(p)) that is associated with the glass transition. We found that with increasing T(g), the band position of vOH increases, the wavenumber-temperature coefficient of vOH in the glassy state, WTC(g), increases, whereas (delta C(p) decreases. The positive correlation that was found between vOH and the glass transition temperature, T(g), indicates that the length of the hydrogen bonds increases with increasing T(g). The increase in WTC(g) with increasing T(g) indicates that the average strength of hydrogen bonding decreases with increasing T(g). This implies that oligo- and polysaccharides (high T(g)) have a greater degree of freedom to rearrange hydrogen bonds during temperature changes than monosaccharides (low T(g)). Interestingly, WTC(g) and delta C(p) showed a negative linear correlation, indicating that the change in heat capacity during the glass transition is associated with the strength of the hydrogen-bonding network in the glassy state. Furthermore, we report that introduction of poly-L-lysine in glassy sugar matrices decreases the average length of hydrogen bonds, irrespective of the size of the carbohydrate. Palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) vesicles were found to only interact with small sugars and not with dextran.
The objective of this study was to determine if trehalose can effectively enhance the viability a... more The objective of this study was to determine if trehalose can effectively enhance the viability and storage lifetime of Rhizobium tropici and Rhizobium etli after lyophilization as compared to the traditional protective combination of sucrose and peptone. Two strains of bean-nodulating rhizobia were effectively preserved in the lyophilized state by 100 mM trehalose, and survived for at least 12 days, even when stored under non-ideal conditions. Trehalose provided better protection than the sucrose/peptone combination. When protective excipients were introduced inside the cells, strain CFN 42 was more sensitive to the type of additive used than strain CIAT 899, probably because CIAT 899 produces β (1-2) glucan, which may have a protective effect. β (1-2) glucan combined with sucrose protected better than trehalose against leakage from freeze-dried liposomes, but by itself it had no protective capability. There was a high level of unfrozen water associated with the hydrated glucan, in addition to a thermal event at approximately 70 o C, corresponding to an observed gel-sol transition in the glucan. These findings may shed light on the mechanism by which the glucan contributes to the protection of dried cells and liposomes, and may lead to further improvements in rhizobial inoculants.
The Jerusalem Symposia on Quantum Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1992
... Ann E. Oliver and David W. Deamer Dept. ... FTIR spectroscopy was used to probe the secondary... more ... Ann E. Oliver and David W. Deamer Dept. ... FTIR spectroscopy was used to probe the secondary structure of peptides by comparison of the carbonyl stretching (amide I) region (Byler and SUS!, 1986; 1988; Susi and Byler, 1983). ...
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