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J De Gier

Publications and source records attributed to J De Gier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The role of charge and hydrophobicity in peptide-lipid interaction: a comparative study based on tryptophan fluorescence measurements combined with the use of aqueous and hydrophobic quenchers.

The interaction of interrelated model peptides with model membranes has been studied by techniques based on tryptophan fluorescence. The peptides used are derivatives of the sequence H-Ala-Met-Leu-Trp-Ala-OH, which was designed for this purpose. Several modifications yielded a set of 13 penta- and hexapeptides varying in net charge, hydrophobicity, charge distribution, and the intramolecular position of the tryptophan residue with respect to the charge(s). The affinity of these peptides for small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) consisting of zwitterionic egg phosphatidylcholine (eggPC) and negatively charged beef heart cardiolipin (bhCL) has been investigated in a comparative way. The criteria for affinity comprise (1) intrinsic fluorescence changes upon titration of the peptides with the lipid vesicles, (2) reduced accessibility of the peptides to aqueous quenchers of tryptophan fluorescence (I- and acrylamide) in the presence of lipid, and (3) exposure to membrane-incorporated fluorescence quenchers, brominated phosphatidylcholines (BrPC). Application of BrPC brominated at different positions along the acyl chains provided information on the membrane topology of the peptides. With respect to the extent of affinity for zwitterionic membranes, the overall hydrophobicity of the peptides is the main determinant. A comparison of the affinity for PC of equally hydrophobic peptides carrying either a single positive or negative charge reveals preferential interaction of the cationic peptide. Both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions determine the affinity of positively charged mono- and divalent peptides for CL vesicles. The distribution of the charged moieties in divalent positively charged peptides, either both at one end of the molecule or one at each end, has little influence on the affinity of these peptides for CL but does affect the extent of exposure to BrPC. Upon decreasing the surface charge density of the vesicles by diluting CL with increasing amounts of PC, both types of peptides show different behavior. The position of the tryptophan relative to the charged moiety in the peptide molecule is shown to affect the fluorescent properties upon interaction with vesicles. Concerning the membrane topology, all peptides adopt a localization near the membrane surface, with the neutral peptides inserting slightly deeper into the bilayer than the charged peptides. The results allow a comparative analysis of the factors determining the extents and modes of lipid-model peptide interaction; in addition, the validity of the methods applied is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Relationship between gramicidin conformation dependent induction of phospholipid transbilayer movement and hexagonal HII phase formation in erythrocyte membranes.

Addition of gramicidin in sufficient concentration from dimethylsulfoxide or trifluoroethanol to isolated erythrocyte membranes induces hexagonal HII phase formation for the phospholipids. In contrast, addition from ethanol does not change the overall bilayer organization despite a similar extent of peptide incorporation. The same solvent dependence is observed for the enhancement of transbilayer reorientation of lysophospholipids and unspecific leak formation in intact erythrocytes at lower gramicidin concentrations. These results indicate that the (beta 6.3) conformation of the peptide is essential for all three membrane perturbing effects.

Chemical Phenomena↗

The influence of lipid composition on the barrier properties of band 3-containing lipid vesicles.

Band 3 protein has been incorporated into lipid vesicles consisting of 94:6 (molar ratio) egg phosphatidylcholine-bovine heart phosphatidylserine or total erythrocyte lipids by means of a Triton X-100 Bio-Beads method, with an additional sonication step prior to the removal of the detergent. This methods results, for both types of band 3 lipid vesicles, in rather homogeneous vesicles with comparable protein content and vesicle trap. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy revealed that band 3-egg phosphatidylcholine-bovine heart phosphatidylserine vesicles have considerably more intramembrane particles as compared to the band 3-erythrocyte lipid vesicles. The dimensions of the nonspecific permeation pathways present in the band 3-lipid vesicles were measured using an influx assay procedure for nonelectrolytes of different size, in which the vesicles were sampled and subsequently freed from nonenclosed labeled permeant by means of gel-filtration. The band 3-egg phosphatidylcholine-bovine heart phosphatidylserine vesicles have nonspecific permeation pathways (pores), with diameters of up to 60 A. In contrast, the band 3-total erythrocyte lipid vesicles are more homogeneous and show much smaller nonspecific permeation pathways, having a diameter of about 12 A. These results suggest that the nonspecific permeability of the band 3-lipid vesicles is strongly lipid-dependent. Increase in specific anion permeability expected as a consequence of the presence of band 3 in the erythrocyte lipid vesicles was found to be very limited. However, stereospecific, phloretin-inhibitable D-glucose permeability could clearly be demonstrated in these vesicles. The difference of the nonspecific permeability of the band 3-egg phosphatidylcholine-bovine heart phosphatidylserine vesicles and band 3-erythrocyte lipid vesicles, is discussed in the light of the presence of defects at the lipid/protein interface and protein aggregation, which may induce formation of pores.

Animals↗

The influence of lipid composition on glycophorin-induced bilayer permeability.

Glycophorin was incorporated into large unilamellar vesicles and the bilayer permeability was measured as a function of the lipid composition. In agreement with previous data (Van der Steen, A.T.M., De Kruijff, B. and De Gier, J. (1982) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 691, 13-23) it was found that glycophorin greatly increased the bilayer permeability of DOPC vesicles. This effect was observed for a large variety of phosphatidylcholines, differing in their fatty acid composition and homogeneity. In sharp contrast, it was observed that variations in the polar headgroups by incorporation of DOPE, DOPS and, to a lesser extent, cholesterol, into the DOPC/glycophorin vesicles restored the barrier function. These results are compared to the size of the particles, revealed by freeze-fracture electron microscopy on the glycophorin-containing bilayer and are discussed in the light of various types of lipid-protein interactions and protein aggregation state.

Glycophorins↗

The anion permeability of vesicles reconstituted with intrinsic proteins from the human erythrocyte membrane.

Band 3 protein was reconstituted with lipid vesicles consisting of 94:6 (molar ratio) egg phosphatidylcholine-bovine heart phosphatidylserine in a 2500:1 phospholipid:protein molar ratio by means of a Triton X-100/beads method. The SO2-4 permeability of the resulting vesicles was measured using an influx assay procedure in which the vesicles were sampled and subsequently eluted over Sephadex columns at appropriate time intervals. The accuracy of the assay was greatly increased by using an internal standard in order to correct for vesicle recovery. In agreement with previous work, it could be demonstrated that incorporation of band 3 in the vesicles caused an increase in SO2-4 permeability, which could be (partially) inhibited by high concentrations of DIDS or a competitive anion such as thiocyanate. However, the magnitude of the increased SO2-4 permeability was highly variable, even when vesicles were reconstituted using band 3 isolated from one batch of ghosts. In addition, the SO2-4 influx curves showed complex kinetics. These results are related to the existence of vesicle heterogeneity with respect to protein content and vesicle size as revealed by stractan density gradient centrifugation and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Band 3 incorporation also increased the L-glucose permeability of the vesicles which could also be inhibited by DIDS. Glycophorin, which has no known transport function, reconstituted with lipid vesicles consisting of 94:6 (molar ratio) egg phosphatidylcholine-bovine heart phosphatidylserine in a 400:1 phospholipid:protein molar ration increased the bilayer permeability towards SO2-4 as well as towards L-glucose. Surprisingly, the SO2-4 permeability in the vesicles could also be inhibited by DIDS and thiocyanate. It is concluded that the use of DIDS and a competitive anion, thiocyanate, in order to prove that band 3 is functionally reconstituted, is highly questionable. The increased SO2-4 and L-glucose permeability of band 3-lipid as well as glycophorin-lipid vesicles and the inhibitory action of DIDS are discussed in the light of the presence of defects at the lipid/protein interface and protein aggregation, which may induce the formation of pores. Since the band 3-lipid vesicles are more permeable for SO2-4 than for L-glucose, in contrast to the glycophorin-containing vesicles, it is suggested that some anion specificity of the increased bilayer permeability in the band 3-lipid vesicles is still preserved.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Comparative study on the properties of saturated phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine bilayers: barrier characteristics and susceptibility to phospholipase A2 degradation.

comparative studies on bilayer systems of saturated phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines revealed a maximum in ionic permeability in phosphatidylcholine bilayers at the temperature of the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition but such an increase in permeability was not detectable in bilayers of phosphatidylethanolamine. Furthermore, it was found that at the phase transition temperature the phosphatidylcholine bilayers are subject to rapid hydrolysis by pancreatic phospholipase A2 whereas phosphatidylethanolamine bilayers are not. These differences are discussed in view of detailed information on the molecular organization in the gel and liquid crystalline phases of the two phospholipid classes.

Freeze Fracturing↗

Effects of lysophosphatidylcholines on phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol liposome systems as revealed by 31P-NMR, electron microscopy and permeability studies.

(1) The effect of incorporation of different lysophosphatidylcholine species on the structure, barrier properties and dynamics of bilayers made of various phosphatidylcholines both the presence and absence of cholesterol have been investigated by 31P-NMR, freeze-fracture electron microscopy and K+-permeability measurements. (2) In a dispersion of lysophosphatidylcholine : cholesterol (1 : 1) the lipids are organized in extended bilayers. Upon cooling a micellar solution of 1-palmitoyllysophosphatidylcholine below the chain-melting temperature a transition to a lamellar, most likely interdigitating organization is observed. 31P-NMR shows in both situations a marked decrease in effective chemical shift anisotropy. (3) 1-Palmitoyllysophosphatidylcholine can be incorporated up to 30 mol% into liquid crystalline bilayers of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and up to 35 mol% into dioleoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers. Above this concentration micellization of the bilayers occurs. In the gel state, bilayer structure is maintained up to 60 mol% of the lysocompound. (4) 1-Oleoyllysophosphatidylcholine can be incorporated to higher concentrations into liquid crystalline phosphatidylcholine bilayers than the palmitoyl analogue, which can be explained by the more cylindrical shape of the 1-oleoyllysophosphatidylcholine. (5) In marked contrast, incorporation of only 1 mol% of 1-oleoyllysophosphatidylcholine into gel state dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine already destabilizes bilayer structure and makes the membranes completely permeable for K+. These results are discussed with respect to the mixing properties of the various lysophosphatidylcholines. (6) In general these effects are accompanied by a loss of K+-permeability barrier, which however occurs at lower lysophosphatidylcholine concentrations than needed for the start of micellization. (7) Cholesterol incorporation counteracts the bilayer destabilizing role of lysophosphatidylcholines. (8) 31P-NMR demonstrates with increasing lysophosphatidylcholine concentrations in the bilayers of phosphatidylcholines a decrease in the effective chemical shift anisotropy. As the rigid lattice spectra of lysophosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine are identical, this reflects a change in the conformational and/or motional properties of the phospholipid head groups. This phenomenon might play a role in the observed permeability changes.

Cholesterol↗

The effect of gramicidin A on the temperature dependence of water permeation through liposomal membranes prepared from phosphatidylcholines with different chains lengths.

The permeation of water through liposomal membranes composed of various saturated phosphatidylcholine plus gramicidin A was studied as a function of temperature. 1. The presence of gramicidin in the liposomal bilayers caused an increase in water permeability. Below the phase transition temperature this effect could be measured quite clearly in all the systems we tested, but the extent of the increase was largely dependent on the length of the hydrocarbon chains. 2. Increasing amounts of gramicidin caused a gradual disappearance of the abrupt change in the rate of water permeation near the gel-liquid crystalline phase transition temperature of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis of the system containing these relatively small amounts of gramicidin still showed a clear transition from the liquid crystalline to the gel state with only a slight reduction in the enthalpy change. 3. In liposomes composed of dimyristoyl, dipalmitoyl and saturated egg phosphatidylcholine there was a concomitant decrease in the activation energy of water permeation in the presence of gramicidin below and above the phase transition temperature. The activation energy for water permeation through longer chained distearoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomal bilayers was the same with or without gramicidin in the bilayer. 4. It is concluded that the ability of gramicidin to form conducting channels in a gel state bilayer depends on the thickness of the paraffin core.

Biological Transport↗

A molecular basis for an irreversible thermodynamic description on non-electrolyte permeation through lipid bilayers.

The non-electrolyte permeability of liposomal membranes has been investigated according to the concepts of irreversible thermodynamics. A strong interaction between the permeation of solute and water was observed. This solute-solvent interaction can be fully described by assuming that a number of water molecules will copermeate with each molecule of solute. This number of copermeating water molecules is independent of the nature of the permeant and of temperature, but depends on the osmotic concentration of impermeants inside the liposomes.

Glucose↗

High performance liquid chromatographic separation and direct ultraviolet detection of phospholipids.

A fast and efficient method for the separation of (phospho)lipids by high performance liquid chromatography using n-hexane, 2-propanol, water mixtures as the solvent system is described. The lipid separation occurs on a LiChrosorb Si-60 (10 micron) column and the individual components are monitored directly by ultraviolet absorption at 206 nm. Of a total lipid extract from erythrocytes a complete separation is achieved of cholesterol, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine, whereas phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin are only partly separated under these circumstances. Furthermore, a mixture of synthetic phospholipids, i.e. 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidic acid, 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-1'-sn-glycerol and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine has been completely resolved. In addition to separation of phospholipids in different classes, separation of molecular species can also be achieved in some cases, as is shown for 1,2-dipalmitoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-didocos-13'-cis-enoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine.

Animals↗

The effect of cholesterol incorporation on the temperature dependence of water permeation through liposomal membranes prepared from phosphatidylcholines.

The permeation of water through liposomal membranes composed of phosphatidylcholine plus varying amounts of cholesterol was studied as a function of temperature. 1. Increasing amounts of cholesterol caused a gradual disappearance of the abrupt change in the rate of water permeation near the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition temperature of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes. At cholesterol concentrations above about 30 mol % there was no longer a discontinuity in the rate of water permeation. 2. The incorporation of cholesterol produces a steep change in the activation energy of the water permeation above the transition temperature of the saturated lecithin occurring at about 15 mol % of cholesterol. Below the transition temperature there was a gradual decrease in the activation energy of the water permeation in the region of 0 to 33 mol % of cholesterol. 3. In systems containing unsaturated phosphatidylcholines cholesterol also enhanced the activation energy of the water permeation although to a lesser extent. The results indicate that the position of the cis-double bond in the fatty acid chain is very important in this respect. 4. In systems in which cholesterol increased the temperature dependence of the water permeation there is also an enhancement of the temperature dependence of the isotonic glycerol and erythritol swelling by the same number of kcal/mol.

Biological Transport↗

The preference of cholesterol for phosphatidylcholine in mixed phosphatidylcholine-phosphatidylethanolamine bilayers.

The following phosphatidylethanolamines were studied by differential scanning calorimetry: 1,2-dipalmitoleoyl-, 1,2-dioleoyl-, 1,2-dilauroyl-, 1,2-dielaidyl-, 1,2-dimyristoyl- and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoryl-ethanolamine. The saturated and trans-unsaturated species underwent thermotropic phase transitions at temperatures about 20-30 degrees C higher than the corresponding phosphatidylcholines but the enthalpy changes were nearly identical. The transition temperatures for the cis-unsaturated species were about the same as those of the corresponding phosphatidylcholines but here the enthalpy change was markedly decreased as compared with the phosphatidylcholines. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy revealed phase changes from a lamellar to a hexagonal phase for 1,2-dipalmitoleoyl- and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-phosphorylethanolamine at 20 and 0 degrees C respectively. At these temperatures no transitions were apparent in the calorimeter scan. Incorporation of increasing amounts of cholesterol into phosphatidylethanol-amine bilayers gradually decreased the enthalpy changes of the phase transition in the same manner as was demonstrated before for phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol mixtures. This was studied both for 1,2-dipalmitoleoyl- and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycerophosphorylethanolamine. In an equimolar mixture of 1,2-dioleoyl- and 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphoryl-ethanolamine, which showed phase separation, cholesterol preferentially decreased the transition of the lowest melting component. In equimolar mixtures of phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylcholines, which showed phase separation, cholesterol preferentially abolished the transition of the phosphatidylcholine component present. This occurred both in experiments where the phosphatidylcholine was the lowest melting and where it was the highest melting component present in the mixture. These experiments strongly suggest that in phosphatidylcholine-phosphatidylethanolamine mixtures at temperatures where both components are in the liquid-crystalline state cholesterol is preferently associated with the phosphatidylcholine component in the mixture.

Cholesterol↗

Effect of the gel to liquid crystalline phase transition on the osmotic behaviour of phosphatidylcholine liposomes.

Aspects of osmotic properties of liposomes, prepared from synthetic lecithin, above, at and below the gel to liquid crystalline phase transition temperature are described. The experiments show that liposomal membranes with their lipids in the gel state are still permeable to water. The rate of water permeation changes drastically on passing the transition temperature. The water permeation has activation energies of 9.5 +/- 1.28 and 26.4 +/- 0.9 kcal/mol above and below the transition temperature, respectively, indicating that the diffusion processes take place by different mechanisms. With respect to the barrier properties of the liposomes in the vicinity of the transition temperature, the following conclusions can be made. (1) Studying the osmotic shrinkage of liposomes at a fixed temperature near the transition point, the experiments indicate that dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine membranes are highly permeable to glucose under these conditions, where liquid and solid domains co-exist. Under the same conditions the osmotic experiments did not indicate a strong increase in glucose permeability of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine membranes as compared to the situation above and below the transition temperature. (2) On the other hand, perturbations of the phase equilibrium by temperature varations resulted in a marked increase of the glucose permeation through dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayers. Once a new phase equilibrium of liquid and solid regions is established the permeation rate of glucose is much less.

Binding Sites↗

Influence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the thermotropic behaviour and permeability properties of liposomes prepared from dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol and mixtures of dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol and dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine.

Calorimetric experiments showed a marked effect of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the thermotropic behaviour of dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol. 2. Concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ lower than 1 ion to 2 molecules of phosphatidylglycerol produced a shift of the phase transition to higher temperatures and an increase in the enthalpy change which is consistent with a closer packing of the lipid molecules in the liposomes. 3. Above the 1:2 ratio, freeze-fracture electron microscopy demonstrated typical "crystal" structures both in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+. In the presence of Mg2+ a metastable behaviour was noticed in the calorimetric experiments. 4. A Ca2+- and Mg2+-induced shift in the transition temperature and an increase in the enthalpy change was also observed in a 1:1 mixture of dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol and dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine. However, these mixed samples remained liposomal in structure at any concentration of the divalent ions. 5. Liposomes prepared from a 1:1 mixture of dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol and dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine in the absence of divalent cations are permeable in the range 10-50 degrees C. Bilayers of mixtures neutralized by Ca2+ or Mg2+ were demonstrated to be completely impermeable to K+, except in the vicinity of the phase transition. 6. The leak of ions from liposomes of a 1:1 mixture of dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol and dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine in the vicinity of the phase transition temperature was considerably less in the presence of Ca2+ than in the presence of Mg2+. 7. It is concluded that there is a correlation between the calorimetric data and the permeability properties of dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol-containing bilayers with respect to the influence of Ca2+ and Mg2+.

Calcium↗

Barrier properties of lecithin/lysolecithin mixtures.

Light scattering, birefringence and X-ray studies showed that liposomes, with lipid molecules orientated in bilayers, are formed from egg licithin/lysolecithin mixtures up to 50 mol percent of lysolecithin; above this concentration much smaller mixed micelles are formed. Permeability studies demonstrated a dramatic increase in the permeability of the liposomes when the lyso concentration exceeds 22.5 mol percent. X-ray studies indicated a significant decrease in bilayer thickness with increasing lysolecithin concentration. It is suggested that decreased interaction energy between the lipid molecules in the bilayer is responsible for the inability of the thin bilayers to act as an effective permeability barrier.

Binding Sites↗