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Effect of lipid composition on rat liver nuclear membrane fluidity
Author(s) -
Albi Elisabetta,
Tomassoni Maria Letizia,
ViolaMagni Mariapia
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
cell biochemistry and function
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1099-0844
pISSN - 0263-6484
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-0844(199709)15:3<181::aid-cbf737>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - diphenylhexatriene , membrane fluidity , phosphatidylcholine , phospholipid , chemistry , membrane , bilayer , biochemistry , fatty acid , biophysics , fluorescence anisotropy , lipid bilayer , cholesterol , biology
Nuclear membrane fluidity is measured in rat liver by use of the fluorescence anisotropy of two probes: diphenylhexatriene and its cationic derivative trimethylammonium‐diphenylhexatriene. It has been shown that, in 2‐month‐old rat liver cells, the bilayer surface is less fluid than the hydrophobic core. The fluidity was higher in 6‐day‐old rat liver nuclei, in which both the amount of cholesterol and the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio decreased. The influence of the single phospholipids, and in particular of phosphatidylcholine, has been studied by increasing the phosphatidylcholine with a choline base exchange reaction in isolated nuclear membranes. After this reaction, the fluorescence anisotropy of the bilayer surface increased, whereas at the hydrophobic core it decreased. Analysis of fatty acid composition shows an increase of phosphatidylcholine unsaturated fatty acids. The results show that the fluidity of nuclear membranes changes in relation to the lipid content and to the fatty acid composition. The role of nuclear membrane fluidity in cell function is discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.