Evidence for Boundary Lipid in Membranes
Year: 1973
Type: article
Abstract: Cytochrome oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) isolated from beef-heart mitochondria with an appropriate phospholipid content forms vesicular structures. Lipid-protein interactions in this model membrane system were studied with the lipid spin label, 16-doxylstearic acid. As the phospholipid/protein ratio is varied, two spectral components are observed. At low phospholipid/protein ratios (</=0.19 mg of phospholipid per mg of protein) the lipid spin label is highly immobilized. At higher phospholipid content an additional component characteristic of fluid lipid bilayers is evident. By summation of digitalized spectra and subsequent integration it was shown that all composite spectra could be approximated by assuming only two components are present, and that the amount of phospholipid bound to the protein is independent of the extent of the fluid bilayer region. The experimentally determined amount of phospholipid for maximum occupancy of protein-bound sites is about 0.2 mg of phospholipid per 1.0 mg of protein. Calculations show that this ratio is consistent with a single layer of phospholipid surrounding the protein complex. The data are interpreted as evidence for a boundary of immobilized lipid between the hydrophobic protein and adjacent fluid bilayer regions in this membrane model system.
Institutions: University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Oregon
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: National Cancer Institute
OpenAlex ID: W2019402898