Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
14:55
Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Published on: September 17, 2017
Bolalipid membrane structure revealed by solid-state 2H NMR spectroscopy.
David P Holland1, Andrey V Struts, Michael F Brown
1Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|March 20, 2008
Summary
Ether-linked bolalipids show high membrane order, unlike typical phospholipids. Their sn-1 chain penetrates bilayers uniquely, affecting deuterium atom positioning and membrane properties.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Membrane Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Phospholipids are key components of biological membranes.
- Ether-linked lipids offer different properties compared to ester-linked lipids.
- Understanding lipid behavior in membranes is crucial for drug delivery and biomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the membrane properties of deuterium-labeled ether-linked bolalipids (C20BAS-PC).
- To compare the orientational order and structural parameters of C20BAS-PC with conventional phospholipids.
- To analyze the deuterium NMR (2H NMR) spectra of specifically labeled C20BAS-PC.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of three specifically deuterium-labeled C20BAS-PC analogs.
- Analysis of lipid membranes using 2H NMR spectroscopy.
- Calculation of membrane thickness, area per lipid, and thermal expansion coefficients.
Main Results:
- C20BAS-PC exhibited a high degree of orientational order within the membrane.
- The sn-1 chain of C20BAS-PC showed an initial penetration orientation distinct from the bilayer normal.
- This resulted in inequivalent deuterium atoms observed at the C1 position.
- Hydrophobic layer thickness was ~18.4 Å, and area per lipid was ~60.4 Ų at 25°C.
- Thermal expansion coefficients were comparable to monopolar phospholipids like DLPC.
Conclusions:
- Ether-linked bolalipids possess distinct membrane ordering properties compared to ester-linked phospholipids.
- The unique sn-1 chain orientation influences lipid packing and deuterium NMR spectral characteristics.
- C20BAS-PC demonstrates potential for applications requiring stable and ordered membrane structures.
Related Concept Videos
01:35Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
01:28Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
Biological membranes are more than just a barrier separating cell cytoplasm from the outside environment. They are highly dynamic and help maintain the integrity and physiological stability of the cells as well as membrane-bound organelles. Membranes also play vital roles in cell-to-cell and intracellular communication.
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
03:38Structure of Lipids
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...
03:38Structure of Lipids
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...
03:38Structure of Lipids
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...
01:062D NMR: Homonuclear Correlation Spectroscopy (COSY)
Homonuclear correlation spectroscopy, or COSY, is a 2-dimensional NMR technique that provides information about coupled protons. Typically, the geminal and vicinal coupling are observed. For example, consider the COSY spectrum of ethyl acetate, where its 1D proton NMR spectrum is plotted along the vertical and horizontal axes with their corresponding chemical shift scale. Three spots on the diagonal corresponding to the three peaks in the 1D proton spectrum are called diagonal peaks. The COSY...