PROPERTIES OF ALKYL BETA-D-GLUCOSIDE AND ALKYL BETA-D-MALTOSIDE MICELLES

Characterization of alkyl beta-D-glucoside (C(n)G) and alkyl beta-D-maltoside (C(n)M) micelles has been studied. A (-) to (+) bisignate CD of(4Z, 15Z)-bilirubin-IX alpha (BR) is induced by C(n)G or C(n)M micelles, indicating that BR bound to the glycolipid micelles preferentially takes an (S)-helix configuration. The intensity of the CD induced by the C(n)M micelle is stronger than that induced by the C(n)G micelle. In order to understand such a phenomenon, the characterization of the C(n)G and C(n)M micelles has been investigated. The fluorescent probe method using 1,3-bis(1-pyrenyl)propane (P3P), pyrene and 1-pyrenecarbaldehyde suggests that C(n)M provides less lipophilic and less fluid micelles compared with C(n)G. Such a difference in micelle properties is reflected in the solubilization phenomena of C(n)G and C(n)M micelles. The C(n)G micelles solubilize well the lipophilic solutes such as P3P and 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporhyrin. The less fluid microenvironment and higher microscopic concentration of the glucopyranose unit of the C(n)M micelle seems to be preferable for forming an optically active BR-glycolipid complex.