Modulation of properties of phospholipid membranes by the long-chain polyprenol (C160)

The electrical measurements of phospholipid bilayers and the studies of phospholipid vesicles by using the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that dotriacontaprenol (C-160) isolated from leaves of Spermatophyta influences some properties of membranes. The current-voltage characteristics, the membrane conductance-temperature relationships, the membrane breakdown voltage and the membrane capacitance have been measured for different mixtures of C-160/DOPC. The membrane conductance, the activation energy of ion migration across the membrane and the membrane thickness were determined. Dotriacontaprenol decreases the membrane breakdown voltage, the activation energy and the membrane capacitance, and increases the membrane conductance and the membrane hydrophobic thickness. The analysis of TEM micrographs shows several characteristic structures, which have been described. The results indicate that dotriacontaprenol increases the membrane elasticity and modulates the surface curvature of the membranes by the formation of fluid microdomains. We suggest that the long polyprenols facilitate the formation of transmembrane, ions-conductive pores. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.