[Fluorescent probe--a cholesterol analog: localization in plasma lipoproteins and in model lipid particles]

The absorption spectrum of fluorescent probe--a cholesterol analog cholesta-5,7, 9(11)-trien-3 beta-ol has a vibrational structure with the maximum 326 nm. Its fluorescence spectra maximum is 370 nm. The localization of the probe in lipoproteins of high, low and very low density and in lipid spheres is studied. There are measured the areas, which occupied one molecule of cholesterol and phosphatidyl choline on the surface of lipid spheres and the radius of the lipid spheres. The localization of the probe in lipoproteins and lipid spheres is determined. The areas which occupied one molecule of phosphatidyl choline on the surface of lipid sphere is equal to the same area in mono- and bilayers. Cholesterol has the same condensing action on phosphatidyl choline in lipid spheres as in mono- and bilayers. All the probe molecules are localized on the surface of lipid spheres and lipoproteins and the B-ring of the molecule is immersed on 1.3 +/- 0.2 nm relative to polar groups. The hydroxyl group of cholesterol is arranged near the carbonyl group of phospholipid and the formation of the H-bond between these groups is possible.