Quinidine is a strong perturber of acidic phospholipid bilayer order and fluidity

The effect of an antiarrhythmic drug, quinidine, on the organization of model phospholipid membranes was studied by the spin-labeling technique. Quinidine strongly perturbs the molecular organization of lipid bilayers prepared from acidic phospholipids (phosphatidylserine, phosphatidic acid) and has only a slight effect on neutral phosphatidylcholine membranes. The interaction of the drug with acidic phospholipids manifests itself in a pronounced increase in the order parameter of the region close to the polar surface of the bilayer and in some decrease in its inner hydrocarbon core fluidity. It is suggested that the perturbation in the organization of membrane lipids may contribute to the mechanisms by which quinidine exerts its pharmacological effects.