Temperature dependence of N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine binding in egg lecithin vesicles

The temperature dependence of the binding of PhNapNH2 (N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine) to vesicles of egg phosphatidylcholine has been determined. The Arrhenius plot of the association constant exhibits a discontinuity at 20.9 degrees C, some 30 degrees C above the broad phase transition region of the phospholipid. In the temperature range above 20 degrees C, deltaH0 =--6100 cal-mol-1 and deltaS0 = 9.7 e.u.; in the temperature range below 20 degrees C, deltaH0 = 0 cal-mol-1 and deltaS0 = 30.4 e.u. These values are consistent with the view that there are well ordered lipid-lipid bonds below 20 degrees C which are significantly less important above this temperature. The order in the temperature range of 5 to 20 degrees C, though significantly greater than that above 20 degrees C, is still significiantly less than that in the crystalline state.