Sterol orientations in phosphatidylcholine liposomes as determined by deuterium NMR

Deuterium magnetic resonance spectra (55.26 MHz) of cholesterol-3 alpha-d1 and epicholesterol-3 beta-d1 in dipalmitoylglycerophosphocholine (DPPC) liposomes were measured as a function of sterol-to-phospholipid ratio below (24 degrees C) and above (60 degrees C) the phase transition temperature of DPPC. From the quadrupolar splittings delta vq, the molecular order parameters S describing the motions of the sterols in the bilayer were calculated, and the most probable angle of tilt alpha 0 of the molecular axis of the sterols relative to the bilayer normal was determined. We observed that the molecular axis of cholesterol in DPPC liposomes at both 24 and 60 degrees C is tilted at an angle of 16-19 degrees with the 3 beta-hydroxyl group projecting parallel to the bilayer normal into the aqueous interface. In contrast, at 24 degrees C, epicholesterol is aligned parallel (0 degrees) to the bilayer normal, placing the 3 alpha-hydroxyl group essentially perpendicular to the bilayer normal along the aqueous interface. At 60 degrees C, the average angle of epicholesterol (16-18 degrees) is similar to that of cholesterol, which can project the 3 alpha-hydroxyl group into the hydrophobic bilayer region. On the basis of the observed tilt angles of the two isomeric sterols in DPPC liposomes, a model is proposed that can rationalize the differential effects of cholesterol and epicholesterol on membrane properties.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)