Mechanical and electrokinetic effects of polyamines/phospholipid interactions in model membranes

The mechanical and electrical properties of phospholipids layers influenced by interaction with polyamines were determined by measuring surface pressure and compression modulus of monolayers and zeta potential of liposomes. The saturated derivative of phosphatidic acid (DPPA) formed layers of the organization varying with compression degree. Contact of DPPA layers with polyamines present in the subphase resulted in changing their mechanical properties and the conditions in which the layer reorganization appears. The parameters corresponding to the layer reorganization depended on the size and charge of polyamines' molecules. The values of: area per DPPA molecule, surface pressure at the point of layer structure reorganization, and surface pressure at the point of collapse characterizing of DPPA layers in the studied systems were determined. It was found that polyamines influenced to a much lesser extent the mechanical properties of monolayers formed from unsaturated derivative of phosphatidic acid slightly increasing its mechanical resistance in the range of higher molecular packing. The results of electrokinetic measurements revealed that surface charge of phosphatidic acid liposomes was effectively neutralized in the presence of polyamines. A similar effect was observed for phosphatidyl glycerol and for negatively charged polystyrene latex particles used as a reference. The influence of polyamines on the mechanical properties of DPPA layers was interpreted assuming a possibility of penetration of the lipid layer by polyamines' molecules. Comparison of action of putrescine and calcium ions and effects of polyamines on phosphatidyl glycerol provided additional justification for the proposed interpretation of the observed effects.