JBC, Vol. 254, Issue 8, 2592-2594, Apr, 1979
An assessment of the fluidity gradient of the lipid bilayer as determined by a set of n-(9-anthroyloxy) fatty acids (n = 2, 6, 9, 12, 16)
L. Tilley, K. R. Thulborn and W. H. Sawyer
The rotational behavior of a set of n-(9-anthroyloxy) fatty acid
fluorescent probes is examined in two liquid paraffins and in liposomes
composed of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine. As has been observed with
other membrane fluorescent probes (Hare, F., and Lussan, C. (1977) Biochim.
Biophys. Acta 467, 262-272), the degree of fluorescence depolarization for
a given solvent viscosity is dependent on the solvent standard employed. In
addition, when the anthroyloxy group is in the terminal position of the
acyl chain, it has more rotational freedom than when it is conjugated to
positions 6, 9, or 12 where the rotational motion of the fluorophore is
similar. When incorporated into lipid bilayers, values of fluorescence
polarization reflect the gradient of "fluidity" which extends from the
surface to the center of the membrane. The nature of this polarization
gradient is discussed in relation to the intrinsic differences between the
probes and the anisotropic rotations responsible for depolarization.
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
