Molecular features of nonionic detergents involved in the binding kinetics and solubilization efficiency, as studied in model (Langmuir films) and biological (Erythrocytes) membranes.

The effect of the nonionic detergents Brij-98 and Brij-58 over human erythrocytes was studied through quantitative hemolysis and in Langmuir films. Hemolytic tests revealed that Brijs are stronger membrane solubilizers than Triton X-100 (TX-100), with effective detergent/lipid ratios of 0.18 and 0.37 for Brij-98 and Brij-58, respectively. Experiments with Langmuir films provided significant information on the kinetics and thermodynamics of detergent-membrane interaction. The adsorption (ka) and desorption (kd) rate constants of Brijs were lower than those of TX-100. In the case of ka, that is probably due to their larger hydrophilic head (with twice (20) the oxyethylene units of TX-100). As for the thermodynamic binding constant, the linear and longer hydrophobic acyl chains of Brijs favor their stabilization in-between the lipids, through London van der Waals forces. Consequently, Kb,m values of Brij-98 (12,500 M-1) and Brij-58 (19,300 M-1) resulted higher than TX-100 (7500 M-1), in agreement with results from the hemolytic tests. Furthermore, Brij-58 binds with higher affinity than Brij-98 to bilayers and monolayers, despite its shorter (palmitic) hydrocarbon chain, showing that unsaturation restrains the detergent insertion into these environments. Our results provide significant information about the mechanism of interaction between Brijs and membranes, supporting their distinct solubilization effect.

Brij detergents reveal new aspects of membrane microdomain in erythrocytes.

Membrane microdomains enriched in cholesterol, sphingolipids (rafts), and specific proteins are involved in important physiological functions. However their structure, size and stability are still controversial. Given that detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) are in the liquid-ordered state and are rich in raft-like components, they might correspond to rafts at least to some extent. Here we monitor the lateral order of biological membranes by characterizing DRMs from erythrocytes obtained with Brij-98, Brij-58, and TX-100 at 4 °C and 37 °C. All DRMs were enriched in cholesterol and contained the raft markers flotillin-2 and stomatin. However, sphingomyelin (SM) was only found to be enriched in TX-100-DRMs - a detergent that preferentially solubilizes the membrane inner leaflet - while Band 3 was present solely in Brij-DRMs. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra showed that the acyl chain packing of Brij-DRMs was lower than TX-100-DRMs, providing evidence of their diverse lipid composition. Fatty acid analysis revealed that the SM fraction of the DRMs was enriched in lignoceric acid, which should specifically contribute to the resistance of SM to detergents. These results indicate that lipids from the outer leaflet, particularly SM, are essential for the formation of the liquid-ordered phase of DRMs. At last, the differential solubilization process induced by Brij-98 and TX-100 was monitored using giant unilamellar vesicles. This study suggests that Brij and TX-100-DRMs reflect different degrees of lateral order of the membrane microdomains. Additionally, Brij DRMs are composed by both inner and outer leaflet components, making them more physiologically relevant than TX-100-DRMs to the studies of membrane rafts.

Transdermal delivery of butamben using elastic and conventional liposomes.

Gel formulations containing the local anesthetic butamben (BTB) encapsulated in either conventional (BTBLUV) or elastic (BTBLUV-EL) liposomes were prepared and characterized, and then evaluated in terms of their skin permeability. Parameters measured included vesicle size and surface charge, BTB fluorescence anisotropy, encapsulation efficiency, partition coefficient and liposomal membrane organization. Encapsulation efficiencies and membrane/water partition coefficients were determined using a phase separation. The partition coefficients of the elastic and conventional formulations were 2025 ± 234 and 1136 ± 241, respectively. The sizes of the elastic and conventional liposomes did not change significantly (p > 0.05) following incorporation of the anesthetic. As expected, the elastic liposomes presented order parameters that were lower than those of the conventional liposomes, as determined by electron paramagnetic resonance with a 5-stearic acid nitroxide probe incorporated into the bilayer. After 8 h, the fluxes into the receiving solution (µg/cm(2)/h) were 6.95 ± 1.60 (10% BTB), 23.17 ± 6.09 (10% BTBLUV) and 29.93 ± 6.54 (10% BTBLUV-EL). The corresponding time lags (h) were 1.90 ± 0.48, 1.23 ± 0.28 and 1.57 ± 0.38, respectively. The permeability coefficients (10(-3 )cm/h) were 1.02 ± 0.23, 2.96 ± 0.77 and 4.14 ± 0.9, for 10% BTB, 10% BTBLUV and 10% BTBLUV-EL, respectively. The results demonstrate that anesthetic access through the skin can be considerably enhanced using liposomal gel formulations, compared to plain gel formulations.

Modified native electrophoresis protocol for the solubilization and separation of mitochondrial protein complexes.

To isolate mitochondrial complexes, we have combined elements from the classic Laemmli protocol and blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) methods to develop a straightforward modified native electrophoresis protocol. This modified protocol presented good resolution for native electrophoresis of inner mitochondrial membrane proteins, where bands were easily visualized with no leftover stain or gel lanes overlap. Enzymatic tests revealed that complexes I and V remain active in the gel. This protocol, designed to overcome specific limitations of the standard protocols, provides a potential methodology to study membrane proteins in their functional form.