Membrane solubilization by a hydrophobic polyelectrolyte: surface activity and membrane binding
Abstract
We have previously observed that the hydrophobic polyelectrolyte poly(2-ethylacrylic acid) solubilizes lipid membranes in a pH-dependent manner, and we have exploited this phenomenon to prepare lipid vesicles that release their contents in response to pH, light, or glucose (Thomas, J. L., and D. A. Tirrell. Acc. Chem. Res. 25:336-342, 1992). The physical basis for the interaction between poly(2-ethylacrylic acid) and lipid membranes has been explored using surface tensiometry and fluorimetry. Varying the polymer concentration results in changes in surface activity and membrane binding that correlate with shifts in the critical pH for membrane solubilization. Furthermore, the binding affinity is reduced as the amount of bound polymer increases. These results are consistent with a hydrophobically driven micellization process, similar to those observed with apolipoproteins, melittin, and other amphiphilic α-helix-based polypeptides. The absence of specific secondary structure in the synthetic polymer suggests that amphiphilicity, rather than structure, is the most important factor in membrane micellization by macromolecules.
Additional Information
Copyright © 1994 The Biophysical Society. Received for publication 9 February 1994 and in final form 1 June 1994. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation Materials Research Laboratory and the Center for Environmentally Appropriate Materials at the University of Massachusetts.Attached Files
Published - 122-Thomas.pdf
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Additional details
- PMCID
- PMC1225462
- Eprint ID
- 53488
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20150109-122804674
- NSF
- University of Massachusetts
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2015-01-27Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field