Orientation and specific interactions of nucleotides and nucleolipids inside monoolein-based liquid crystals

J Phys Chem B. 2009 Jul 9;113(27):9205-15. doi: 10.1021/jp9035474.

Abstract

The entrapment of AMP, GMP, CMP, and UMP nucleotides along with two different AMP-based nucleolipids (hydrophobically functionalized nucleotides) inside the liquid crystalline phases of the monoolein/water system is investigated through optical microscopy, small-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. As ascertained mainly through (31)P NMR experiments, when included within the cubic phase, the various nucleotides undergo a slow hydrolysis of the sugar-phosphate ester bond, induced by specific interactions at the monoolein-water interface. Upon aging, the degradation of the nucleotides causes a cubic-to-hexagonal phase transition. Differently, neither hydrolysis nor alterations of the monoolein self-assembly are observed when the nucleotides are included as lipid derivatives within the cubic liquid crystalline phase. A model that explains both the hydrolysis and the consequent phase transition is presented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Glycerides / chemistry*
  • Hydrolysis
  • Lipids / chemistry*
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Chemical
  • Nucleotides / chemistry*
  • Phase Transition
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Glycerides
  • Lipids
  • Nucleotides
  • monoolein