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Low pH Stabilizes the Inverted Hexagonal II Phase in Dipalmitoleoylphosphatidylethanolamine Membrane

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Abstract

Dipalmitoleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DPOPE) membrane is in the Lα phase in neutral pH at 20 °C. The results of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) indicate that an Lα to HII phase transition in DPOPE membranes occurred at pH 1.9 in the absence of salt, and at pH 2.8 in the presence of 0.5 M KCl, at fully hydrated condition at 20 °C. The spontaneous curvature of DPOPE monolayer membrane did not change with a decrease in pH values. To elucidate the mechanism, we have investigated the effect of the cationic dioctadecyldimethylammonium (DODMA) on the structure and phase behavior of DPOPE membrane. The result shows that DODMA stabilizes the HII phase rather than the Lα phase in DPOPE membrane at its low concentrations. Based on these results, the HII phase stability of DPOPE membrane due to low pH is discussed in terms of the spontaneous curvature of the monolayer membrane and the packing energy of acyl chains in the membrane.

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Author notes

  1. Shu Jie LI

    Present address: Division of Protein Crystallography, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita-shi, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Dalian University, Dalian Economic and Technical Development Zone, Dalian, 116622, China

    Shu Jie LI

  2. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Shizuoka University, 836 Oya, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan

    Masahito Yamazaki

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  1. Shu Jie LI
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LI, S., Yamazaki, M. Low pH Stabilizes the Inverted Hexagonal II Phase in Dipalmitoleoylphosphatidylethanolamine Membrane. J Biol Phys 30, 377–386 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10867-004-7894-3

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