Thermodynamic considerations of microgel swelling behavior

A simple but novel thermodynamic model is presented, based upon van't Hoff analysis, for the reversible swelling behavior of colloidal microgels. The swelling, as a function of temperature, of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide/N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide) as well as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide/vinylpyridine/N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide/acrylic acid/N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide) microgel dispersions in H2O and D2O has been studied by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). PCS data was used to obtain the hydrodynamic diameter and hence the volume of the microgels (before and after reconstitution following freeze-drying) as a function of temperature. The choice of standard reference states, for analyzing the data attained, is discussed, and the one selected is that of the volume of the microgels at 333 K in H2O. For all microgels examined the volume, at this temperature, is shown to be independent of solvent (H2O, D2O). The derived data has allowed the exploration of a novel thermodynamic approach to the study of the swelling behavior of the microgels. The constant volume, at 333 K, for each of the polymer systems constituting the microgels is suggested to be an intrinsic property of the polymers themselves.

Semi-quantitative analysis of indigo carmine, using silver colloids, by surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS)

The application of surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) to the semi-quantitative analysis of the dye, indigo carmine, has been examined using citrate-reduced silver colloids. Good linear correlations are observed for the dye band at 1580 cm(-1) in the concentration range 10(-7)-10(-5) and 10(-9)-10(-5) mol dm(-3), using laser exciting wavelengths of 514.5 [(R=0.9983)] and 632.8 nm [(R=0.9978)], respectively. At concentrations of dye above 10(-6) M the concentration dependence of the SERRS signals is non-linear due to the coverage of the surface of the colloidal particles by the dye being in excess of a full monolayer. At concentrations above 10(-6) M resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) can be employed for the quantitative analysis of the dye. An internal standard was used and a good linear correlation (R=0.997) was observed for the dependence of dye signal intensities at 1580 cm(-1) in the concentration range 10(-5)-10(-4) M using a laser exciting wavelength of 514.5 nm. The limits of detection of indigo carmine by SERRS (514.5 nm), SERRS (632.8 nm) and solution RRS (514.5 nm) are found to be 0.9, 1 and 38 ppm, respectively.

Semi-quantitative analysis of indigo by surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) using silver colloids

In this paper we report for the first time semi-quantitative analysis of indigo using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and surface enhance resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS). Indigo, a dye widely used today in the textile industry, has been used, historically, both as a dye and as a pigment; the latter in both paintings and in printed material. The molecule is uncharged and largely insoluble in most solvents. The application of SERS/SERRS to the semi-quantitative analysis of indigo has been examined using aggregated citrate-reduced silver colloids with appropriate modifications to experimental protocols to both obtain and maximise SERRS signal intensities. Good linear correlations are observed for the dependence of the intensities of the SERRS band at 1151 cm(-1) using laser exciting wavelengths of 514.5 nm (R=0.9985) and 632.8 nm (R=0.9963) on the indigo concentration over the range 10(-7)-10(-5) and 10(-8)-10(-5) mol dm(-3), respectively. Band intensities were normalised against an internal standard (silver sol band at 243 cm(-1)). Resonance Raman spectra (RRS) of aqueous solutions of indigo could not be collected because of its low solubility and the presence of strong fluorescence. It was, however, possible to obtain RS and RRS spectra of the solid at each laser excitation wavelength. The limits of detection (L.O.D.) of indigo by SERS and SERRS using 514.5 and 632.8 nm were 9 ppm at both exciting wavelengths. Signal enhancement by SERS and SERRS was highly pH dependent due to the formation of singly protonated and possibly doubly protonated forms of the molecule at acidic pH. The SERS and SERRS data provide evidence to suggest that an excess of monolayer coverage of the dye at the surface of silver colloids is observed at concentrations greater than 7.85x10(-6) mol dm(-3) for each exciting wavelength. The data reported herein also strongly suggest the presence of multiple species of the indigo molecule.

The effect of pH and concentration upon aggregation transitions in aqueous solutions of poloxamine T701

Thermally induced aggregation transitions have been investigated for aqueous solutions of the poloxamine block copolymer T701-(OE(4)OP(13))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)N(OP(13)OE(4))(2)-using differential scanning calorimetry. The calorimetric signals obtained were fitted to a mass action model description of aggregation using a previously reported analytical procedure (Patterson et al., Langmuir 13 (1997) 2219). The presence of a central ethylene diamine moiety in the molecular structure renders the T701 molecule basic; this was confirmed and measured by acid/base titration. Basicity is shown to have an important impact upon aggregation. At low pH (2.5), the poloxamine exists in its protonated form and the bulk solution proton concentration is sufficient to suppress de-protonation, aggregation-as a consequence-is shifted to a higher temperature range. Any increase in pH reduces the temperature range over which aggregation occurs. The derived experimental calorimetric parameters, obtained from model fitting procedures, can be used to compute the fraction of poloxamine existing in an aggregated form, at any particular temperature. The data sets obtained were interpolated to show that at human body temperature (310.6 K) the fraction of poloxamine found in its aggregated form is zero at a pH of 2.5. However at a pH of 6.8, the percentage aggregation increases to about 85%. These aggregation characteristics of T701 have important implications for the design of drug delivery systems, which incorporate poloxamines.

Solution structure, hydrodynamics and thermodynamics of the UvrB C-terminal domain

The solution structure, thermodynamic stability and hydrodynamic properties of the 55-residue C-terminal domain of UvrB that interacts with UvrC during excision repair in E. coli have been determined using a combination of high resolution NMR, ultracentrifugation, 15N NMR relaxation, gel permeation, NMR diffusion, circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetry. The subunit molecular weight is 7,438 kDa., compared with 14.5+/-1.0 kDa. determined by equilibrium sedimentation, indicating a dimeric structure. The structure determined from NMR showed a stable dimer of anti-parallel helical hairpins that associate in an unusual manner, with a small and hydrophobic interface. The Stokes radius of the protein decreases from a high plateau value (ca. 22 A) at protein concentrations greater than 4 microM to about 18 A at concentrations less than 0.1 microM. The concentration and temperature-dependence of the far UV circular dichroism show that the protein is thermally stable (Tm ca. 71.5 degrees C at 36 microM). The simplest model consistent with these data was a dimer dissociating into folded monomers that then unfolds co-operatively. The van't Hoff enthalpy and dissociation constant for both transition was derived by fitting, with deltaH1=23 kJ mol(-1). K1(298)=0.4 microM and deltaH2= 184 kJ mol(-1). This is in good agreement with direct calorimetric analysis of the thermal unfolding of the protein, which gave a calorimetric enthalpy change of 181 kJ mol(-1) and a van't Hoff enthalpy change of 354 kJ mol(-1), confirming the dimer to monomer unfolding. The thermodynamic data can be reconciled with the observed mode of dimerisation. 15N NMR relaxation measurements at 14.1 T and 11.75 T confirmed that the protein behaves as an asymmetric dimer at mM concentrations, with a flexible N-terminal linker for attachment to the remainder of the UvrB protein. The role of dimerisation of this domain in the excision repair mechanism is discussed.

Characterisation of the aggregation behaviour in a salmeterol and fluticasone propionate inhalation aerosol system

The nature of the drug-drug aggregation phenomena between salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate used in a metered-dose inhaler system has been examined. Interactions between the drugs in the solvents 1,1,2-trichlorotrifloroethane (CFC-113) and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFA-134a) have been characterised using a focused beam reflectance measurement probe by measuring the average floc size of the drug particles individually and in combination as a function of stirrer rate. The floc composition in the CFC-113 system, where the drug particles cream, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The aggregation behaviour of the individual drugs was shown to depend on the physical and chemical properties of both the drug substance and the media. Larger flocs were observed for salmeterol xinafoate compared with fluticasone propionate, while both drugs formed larger aggregates in HFA-134a compared with in CFC-113. The floc composition studies demonstrated that, in the combined formulation in CFC-113, salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate aggregate together to form hetero-flocs. The interaction between the two drugs was such that they did not separate on creaming, despite having different densities. The average floc size of the combined drug suspension was also found to depend on the dispersion medium.

An investigation of adsorption at the air-water and soil-water interfaces for non-micellizing ethylene oxide-propylene oxide surfactants

Adsorption at the air-water interface and soil sorption from aqueous solution have been investigated for a group of ethylene oxide (EO)-propylene oxide (PO) block copolymeric surfactants. The group which have a common structural formula of EOm POn EOm is distinguished by the fact that they have large critical micelle concentration (CMC) values and therefore do not readily form micelles at common environmental concentrations and temperatures. Adsorption at the air-water interface is readily shown to be driven by the size of the hydrophobic PO block. The size of the reduction in surface tension produced by a common concentration of 10(-5) mol dm(-3) linearly increases with the size of the PO block as does the efficiency of adsorption at the air-water interface as measured by pC20--the negative logarithm of the surfactant concentration that produces a reduction in surface tension of 20 mN m(-1). Soil sorption data have also been captured for these compounds and the data are readily fitted to the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. However soil sorption is shown to be inversely related to the molecular mass of the molecules and appears to be related to the size of the hydrophilic EO blocks in the molecule.

The physico-chemical properties of salmeterol and fluticasone propionate in different solvent environments

The physico-chemical properties of two anti-asthmatic drugs, salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate, have been studied in both aqueous and non-aqueous solvent environments. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) have been used to characterise the interaction of the drugs in 70:30 (v/v) methanol/water solutions. First derivative UV-Vis spectra measurements indicate that an interaction takes place between the two drugs in a binary solvent system. Fluorescence studies indicate that an increase in the concentration of fluticasone propionate results in a decrease in the fluorescence signal of the salmeterol for mixed solutions of the drugs. Analysis of a mixture of the two drug solutions using mass spectrometry also shows evidence of salmeterol-fluticasone propionate interaction and dimer formation with respect to both the salmeterol and the fluticasone propionate. Model metered dose inhalers (MDI) of both individual samples and mixtures of the drugs were formulated as suspensions in solvent CFC-113. The extent of deposition onto different inhaler components, such as the aluminium alloy canister, Teflon coated canister and the metering valve was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the methanol/water washings of the deposited drug(s). Changing the nature of the surface properties of the container resulted in a significant difference in the extent of deposition. The deposition of the individual drugs was found to increase as the dispersion concentration of the drug increases. However, the formulation based on a combination of the two drugs was found to show different deposition behaviour compared to the individual drug formulations. The deposition of the drugs, onto the aluminium alloy canister and the metering valve, decreases as the combined dispersion concentration of the two drug increases.

Wheat-germ aspartate transcarbamoylase: revised purification, stability and re-evaluation of regulatory kinetics in terms of the Monod-Wyman-Changeux model

A revised and simplified purification scheme for aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) from wheat-germ is reported, with an eightfold increase in scale (yielding approximately 10 mg of the pure protein from 4 kg of wheat-germ), and improved characteristics of stability and regulatory kinetics. The ATCase obtained is greater than 96% pure, as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The long-term stability (i.e. on a time-scale of several hours to weeks) of the activity of the purified enzyme, under various storage conditions, was investigated. At 4 degreesC and pH 7.5, stability was found to be strongly dependent on protein concentration (increased stability at high concentration), buffer concentration (decreased stability at high buffer concentration) and the inclusion of glycerol (increased stability with increasing glycerol concentration). The enzyme is routinely stored at 4 degreesC, in 0. 05 m Tris/HCl buffer containing 25% glycerol and at high protein concentration (approximately 1 mg.mL-1, or 10 microm in trimers). Under these conditions, the half-life of the enzyme activity is greater than 300 days. Over the time-scale of kinetic experiments (up to 20 min), the diluted activity (at around 1 nm of ATCase, in the presence of ligands) is completely stable. The specific activity remains constant in the range 0.1-10 nm, in the absence and presence of ligands, showing that dissociation of the trimeric enzyme into its subunits is negligible. Steady-state kinetics were examined using the enzyme at a concentration of 1.3 nm. Initial-rate curves for both allosteric ligands, carbamoylphosphate (CP) and uridine 5'-monophosphate (UMP), showed pronounced sigmoidicity, each in the presence of the other. In the absence of UMP, initial-rate curves for CP are hyperbolic. The initial rate data fit reasonably well to a trimeric Monod-Wyman-Changeux model, suggesting a two-state conformational mechanism, greatly favouring the active (R) state when both ligands are absent, in which the R-state binds CP exclusively (dissociation constant = 23.2 microm), and the T-state binds UMP exclusively (dissociation constant = 0.49 microm). This regulatory behaviour was found to be quite stable, and was indistinguishable from that of the enzyme in a freshly made crude extract, even after storage of the pure sample for 5 months. This enzyme preparation is therefore free of the anomalous allosteric kinetics produced by a previous purification scheme, in which the affinity for UMP was markedly reduced, CP rate curves showed no sigmoidicity, while UMP rate curves had sigmoidicity exaggerated by a low maximum.

Predicting surfactant modified soil/water distribution coefficients using micellar HPLC

Soil water/distribution coefficients (Kd) have been measured for the partitioning of naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene between aqueous surfactant solutions and a clean soil. The surfactants used are ABA block copolymers constructed from ethylene oxide (the monomer used to synthesise the hydrophilic A blocks) and propylene oxide (used for the manufacture of the hydrophobic B block). Three of these surfactants comprising the same size propylene oxide block but different ethylene oxide/propylene oxide ratios were investigated. Increasing amounts of surfactant in the system result in a progressive decrease in the Kd values signifying an increasing tendency for the hydrophobic solutes to be dispersed in aqueous solution due to the action of the surfactant. More significantly for equal surfactant doses the most hydrophobic surfactant possessing the lowest ethylene oxide/propylene oxide ratio reduces Kd by the greatest amount whereas the most hydrophilic surfactant reduces Kd the least. Finally micellar HPLC using the above surfactants and hydrophobic solutes was undertaken. Interpolated capacity factors evaluated for particular surfactant doses correlated well with Kd values calculated for the same surfactant doses. The relationship between Kd and capacity was found to be log-linear and the correlation line could be fitted to the data obtained for all three surfactants. It is therefore concluded that micellar HPLC may be used for preliminary evaluations of the effectiveness of particular surfactants proposed for contaminated soils restoration schemes.

Singular value decomposition of 3-D DNA melting curves reveals complexity in the melting process

The thermal denaturation of synthetic deoxypolynucleotides of defined sequence was studied by a three dimensional melting technique in which complete UV absorbance spectra were recorded as a function of temperature. The results of such an experiment defined a surface bounded by absorbance, wavelength, and temperature. A matrix of the experimental data was built, and analyzed by the method of singular value decomposition (SVD). SVD provides a rigorous, model-free analytical tool for evaluating the number of significant spectral species required to account for the changes in UV absorbance accompanying the duplex--to--single strand transition. For all of the polynucleotides studied (Poly dA-Poly dT; [Poly (dAdT)]2; Poly dG-Poly dC; [Poly(dGdC)]2), SVD indicated the existence of at least 4-5 significant spectral species. The DNA melting transition for even these simple repeating sequences cannot, therefore, be a simple two-state process. The basis spectra obtained by SVD analysis were found to be unique for each polynucleotide studied. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to obtain model free estimates for the enthalpy of melting for the polynucleotides studied, with results in good agreement with previously published values.

Specific binding of hoechst 33258 to the d(CGCAAATTTGCG)2 duplex: calorimetric and spectroscopic studies

Fluorescence spectroscopy and high-sensitivity isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) techniques have been used to examine the binding characteristics of Hoechst 33258 with the extended AT-tract DNA duplex d(CGCAAATTTGCG)2 in aqueous solution. The method of continuous variation reveals a 1:1 binding stoichiometry. Fluorescence equilibrium studies carried out at three different, but fixed, ligand concentrations show that the binding isotherm shifts towards higher [DNA] as the concentration of ligand is increased. The data show tight binding with Kb=3.2(+/-0.6)x10(8) M(duplex)-1 at 25 degrees C in solutions containing 200 mM Na+. Based on UV studies of duplex melting, which show that strand separation starts at approximately 35 degrees C and has a Tm at 54 degrees C in 300 mM NaCl, binding enthalpies were determined by ITC in the 10 to 30 degrees C range. Binding is endothermic at all temperatures examined, with DeltaH values ranging from +10.24(+/-0.18) to +4.2(+/-0.10) kcal mol(duplex)-1 at 9.4 degrees C and 30.1 degrees C, indicating that the interaction is entropically driven. The temperature dependence of DeltaH shows a binding-induced change in heat capacity (DeltaCp) of -330(+/-50) cal mol-1 K-1. This value is similar to that predicted from a consideration of the effects of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvent-accessible surface burial on complexation. This result, almost entirely dictated by a removal from exposure of the non-polar reactant surfaces, represents the first demonstration of such behavior in a DNA-drug system. The salt dependence of the binding constant was examined using reverse-salt fluorescence titrations, with a value of 0.99 determined for the deltalnK/deltaln[Na+] parameter. These data provide a detailed thermodynamic profile for the interaction that enables a dissection of DeltaGobs into the component free energy terms. Analysis of data obtained at 25 degrees C reveals that DeltaGobs is dominated by the free energy for hydrophobic transfer of ligand from solution to the DNA binding site. Molecular interactions, including H-bonding and van der Waals contacts, are found to play only a minor role in stabilizing the resulting complex, a somewhat surprising finding given the emphasis placed on such interactions from structural studies.

Sensing the heat: the application of isothermal titration calorimetry to thermodynamic studies of biomolecular interactions

Biomolecular interactions can be defined by combining thermodynamic data on the energetic properties of the interaction with high-resolution structural data. The development of high sensitivity isothermal titration calorimetric equipment provides a dramatic advance in the gathering of thermodynamic data, and the interactions between biological macromolecules can now be described with unprecedented accuracy.

Effects of lipids on nucleotide inhibition of wheat-germ aspartate transcarbamoylase: evidence of an additional level of control?

Wheat-germ aspartate transcarbamoylase, a monofunctional trimer, is strongly inhibited by uridine 5'-monophosphate (UMP), which shows kinetic interactions with the substrate, carbamoyl phosphate, suggesting a classical allosteric mechanism of regulation. Inhibition of the purified enzyme by UMP was amplified in the presence of a variety of ionic lipids at concentrations low enough to preclude denaturation. In the absence of UMP, most of these compounds had no kinetic effect or were slightly activating. Two phospholipids did not show the effect. In a homologous series of fatty acids (C6-C16), the potentiating effect was only seen with homologues greater than C8, reaching a maximum at C12. The effect of dodecanoate (C12) on kinetic cooperativity (UMP as variable ligand) was studied. At each of several fixed concentrations of carbamoyl phosphate, dodecanoate had a pronounced effect on the half-saturating concentration of UMP, which was reduced by about half in every case, indicating substantially tighter binding of UMP. However, dodecanoate had relatively little effect on the kinetic Hill coefficient for the cooperativity of UMP. The possible metabolic significance of these effects is discussed.

A single amino acid mutation enhances the thermal stability of Escherichia coli malate dehydrogenase

The stability of wild-type Escherichia coli malate dehydrogenase was compared with a mutant form of the enzyme with the amino acid residue at position 102 changed from arginine to glutamine. The mutation occurs on the underside of a mobile loop which closes over the active-site cleft on formation of the enzyme/cofactor/substrate ternary complex. The mutant enzyme is kinetically compromised while the wild-type enzyme is highly specific for oxaloacetate. The mutant enzyme was shown to be more resistant to irreversible thermal denaturation by thermal inactivation experiments and high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry than the wild-type enzyme. In contrast, resistance of both enzymes to reversible unfolding in guanidinium chloride was similar. Circular dichroic spectropolarimetry shows the secondary structures of the enzymes are similar but there is a demonstrable difference in tertiary structure. From the position of the mutation, it is conjectured that the substitution on a mobile surface loop results in partial closure of the loop and greater resistance to thermal inactivation of the mutant enzyme. However, molecular modelling combined with circular dichroic spectropolarimetry indicate that the mutation may have a more widespread effect on the structure than simply partial closure of the mobile surface loop as the environment of distant tyrosine residues is altered. Resistance of the wild-type enzyme to thermal inactivation can be increased by cofactor addition, which may have the effect of partial closure of the mobile surface loop, but has little effect on the mutant enzyme.

Conformational changes in the cyclic undecapeptide cyclosporin induced by interaction with metal ions. An FTIR study

Infra-red spectra have been measured for the cyclic undecapeptide cyclosporin A (CsA) and three analogues CsC, CsD and CsH in acetonitrile and in the presence of 10:1 molar excess of Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+ or Li+ in the same solvent. Interaction with each of these ions is suggested by marked changes in band positions over the amide I region (1600-1700 cm-1). The formation of complexes of cyclosporin with calcium and magnesium ions is indicated by the presence of C = O stretching bands well outside the range normally expected for the amide I absorptions of free peptides. Although they share this characteristic, the spectra indicate that the mode and/or strength of Ca2+ binding is quite different from that of Mg2+ binding. In contrast, the two monovalent ions interact with CsA, CsC and CsD to yield spectra that are very similar to one another. The spectra are consistent with binding of the monovalent ions simultaneously to several carbonyl groups of the loop structure.

Infrared characterization of conformational differences in the lamellar phases of 1,3-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-2-phosphocholine

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize the lamellar phases of 1,3-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-2-phosphocholine (1,3-DPPC), a positional isomer of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (1,2-DPPC). The molecule exists in three distinct phases over the temperature interval 0-70 degrees C. In the low-temperature (LC) phase, the spectra are indicative of acyl chains packed in an orthorhombic subcell, while the carbonyl groups and phosphate ester at the head group show evidence of only partial hydration. The transition from the low-temperature (LC) phase to the intermediate-temperature (L beta) phase at 25 degrees C corresponds to a temperature-induced head-group hydration in which the hydration of the phosphate and carbonyl ester groups results in the reorganization of the hydrocarbon chain-packing subcell from orthorhombic to hexagonal. The transition from the intermediate (L beta) to the high-temperature (L alpha) phase at 37 degrees C is a gel-to-liquid-crystalline phase transition analogous to the 41.5 degrees C transition of 1,2-DPPC. The spectra of the acyl-chain carbonyl groups show evidence of significant differences in molecular conformation at the carbonyl esters in the LC phase. In the L beta and L alpha phases, the carbonyl band contour becomes much more symmetric. However, two components are clearly present in the spectra indicating that the sn-1 and sn-3 carbonyls experience slightly different environments. The observed differences are likely due to a preferred conformation of the phosphocholine group relative to the glycerol backbone. Indications from the infrared spectra of differences in the structure of the C = O groups provide a possible explanation for the selection of the sn-1 chain of 1,3-DPPC by phospholipase A2 on the basis of a preferred head group conformation.

Phase transition properties of 1,2- and 1,3-diacylphosphatidylethanolamines with modified head groups

The phase transition properties of dilute aqueous suspensions of "nonhydrated" (i.e., lipid suspensions which had not been heated above room temperature or above the main phase transition temperature of the fully hydrated lipid, whichever was lower) and hydrated 1,2(alpha)- and 1,3(beta)-dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamines with modified head groups have been determined by high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry at a scan rate of 0.1 K min-1. In both the 1,2 and 1,3 series, the head-group modifications of the phosphoethanolamine moiety included N-methyl, N,N-dimethyl, and N,N,N-trimethyl (phosphocholine). In the 1,2 series, additional modifications were dinitrophenyl, trinitrophenyl, N-(dinitrophenyl)aminocaproyl, N-(trinitrophenyl)aminocaproyl, and N-4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole. Also included in this study were 1,2-dihexadecylphosphatidylethanolamine and the corresponding N-methyl-substituted lipid. In general, increasing bulkiness of the head-group substituent caused increasing lowering of the transition temperature, the most extreme cases among the hydrated lipids being the 45 degrees C lowering produced by the N-(dinitrophenyl)aminocaproyl substitution and its trinitrophenyl analogue in the 1,2 series. No simple trend is evident in the changes produced in the calorimetric enthalpy of transitions.

Thermodynamics of phospholipid-sucrose interactions

The effect of 0-1.0 M sucrose on the phase-transition properties of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine (1,2-DPPC) was examined by high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry at a scan rate of 0.1 K min-1. Increasing the concentration of sucrose caused a small, but experimentally significant, increase in the temperature (Tm) of maximal excess apparent specific heat (Cmax) and in delta T 1/2 (the transition width at 1/2 Cmax), a reduction in Cmax, and a small decrease (approximately 8-10% at 1.0 M sucrose compared with 0 M sucrose) in the calorimetric enthalpy (delta Hcal) of the gel-to-liquid crystalline transition. The calorimetric parameters of the pretransition of 1,2-DPPC were not significantly affected by sucrose in the concentration range examined, except there was a 1.0 degree C increase in the temperature (Tp) of maximal excess apparent specific heat in the presence of 1.0 M sucrose. The results are discussed in terms of the possible molecular mechanisms that could have caused the observed changes and are contrasted with the results obtained by C. -H. Chen et al. (1981, Biophys. J., 36:359-367).

Effects of ganglioside GM1 on the thermotropic behavior of cholera toxin B subunit

The B, or binding, subunit of cholera enterotoxin forms a pentameric ring structure in the intact toxin, and also when the subunit is isolated from the A subunit. The thermal denaturation of the B subunit ring was examined by differential scanning calorimetry in the presence and absence of ganglioside GM1, its natural 'receptor'. In the absence of ganglioside an irreversible endotherm was observed with maximal excess apparent heat capacity, Cmax, at 74.6 degrees C. When the ganglioside was added in increasing amounts, multiple transitions were observed at higher temperatures, the most prominent having a Cmax at 90.8 degrees C. At high ganglioside concentrations, the 74.6 degrees C transition was not observed. In addition to the thermodynamic results a model is proposed for the interaction of GM1 and B subunit pentamer. This model is derived independently of the calorimetric results (but is consistent with such data) and is based upon considerations of the geometry of the GM1 micelle B subunit pentamer.

Effect of lanthanum ions on the phase transitions of lecithin bilayers

Interaction of lanthanum ions (La3+) with 1,2 dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (DPPC) causes an increase in Tc, the temperature of maximal excess heat capacity, and the width of the gel-to-liquid crystalline transition. At a mole ratio of La3+ to DPPC sufficient to remove the hydrocarbon chain tilt angle of DPPC, the changes in the thermodynamic parameters of the pretransition are minor, Tc and the width were unaltered and the enthalpy was reduced by only 10%. This suggests that the change in tilt angle is not a necessary concomitant of the pretransition.

Multicomponent phase transitions of diacylphosphatidylethanolamine dispersions

The phase transition properties of aqueous suspensions of a series of nonhydrated (not heated above room temperature) and hydrated 1,2 diacylphosphatidylethanolamines (PE's) have been examined by high sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry at scan rates of 0.02-1.0 K min-1. At all scan rates nonhydrated PE's show a single asymmetric transition curve of excess heat capacity as a function of temperature. Multilamellar dispersions of hydrated PE's, however, exhibit transitions with fine structure, which can be fitted as the sum of three two-state component transitions, at scan rates of 0.02-0.1 K min-1, but give only a single asymmetric transition at 1.0 K min-1. At all scan rates the transition(s) of hydrated samples occur at lower temperatures than those of nonhydrated samples. One of the component transitions of hydrated PE's may be analogous to the pretransition that occurs in 1,2 diacylphosphatidylcholines.

Flow microcalorimetric bioassay of polyene antibiotics: interaction with growing Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Microcalorimetric investigation of the interaction of polyene antibiotics with mid-exponential cells of a growing culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as the basis of a bioassay procedure. The assay is rapid, sensitive and reproducible. The results are compared to classical assays and potency ranking orders.