Membrane-Modifying Effects of Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Model Bacterial Membranes
Micaela Panella1, Amani Rabadi1, Jasmin Ceja-Vega1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States.
ACS Omega
|September 15, 2025
Summary
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) disrupt bacterial membranes by increasing permeability and disordering lipid packing. Membranes with higher hydrogen bonding capacity, like those containing DOPE, are more susceptible to PFAS contamination effects.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants with significant ecological and health implications.
- Understanding the interaction of PFAS with biological membranes, particularly bacterial membranes, is crucial for assessing their impact.
- Bacterial membranes exhibit diverse lipid compositions and structures, influencing their susceptibility to xenobiotic compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) on model bacterial membranes.
- To elucidate the role of lipid headgroup type and charge in mediating PFAS interactions with membranes.
- To determine how PFAS influence membrane permeability, lipid packing, and phase behavior.
Main Methods:
- Construction of model membranes using binary lipid mixtures (DOPC/DOPG and DOPE/DOPG) in various formats (bilayers, liposomes, supported bilayers).
- Exposure of model membranes to different concentrations of PFOA and PFBS salts.
- Assessment of membrane properties using water permeability measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Raman spectroscopy, and attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- PFAS salts induced concentration- and lipid-dependent disordering effects in both DOPC/DOPG and DOPE/DOPG membranes.
- Membranes with higher hydrogen bonding capacity and curvature stress (containing DOPE) showed more significant increases in water permeability upon PFAS exposure.
- DSC, Raman, and ATR-IR spectroscopies revealed greater lipid acyl chain disorder and decreased phase transition temperatures in DOPE-DOPG mixtures exposed to PFAS compared to DOPC-DOPG mixtures.
Conclusions:
- PFAS salts increase bacterial membrane permeability and destabilize lipid packing and phase organization.
- Membranes containing DOPE are more susceptible to PFAS-induced disruption due to their higher hydrogen bonding capacity and curvature stress.
- The study highlights the complex interplay of electrostatic, van der Waals, and hydrogen bonding interactions governing PFAS effects on bacterial membranes.
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