Biophysical Journal 64: 426-434 (1993)
© 1993 the Biophysical Society

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ertel, A Articles by Wood, J M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ertel, A Articles by Wood, J M

Mechanical properties of vesicles. I. Coordinated analysis of osmotic swelling and lysis.

Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

ABSTRACT

To determine how transmembrane osmotic gradients perturb the structure and dynamics of biological membranes, we examined the effects of medium dilution on the structures of osmolyte-loaded lipid vesicles. Our preparations were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. Populations of Escherichia coli phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) or dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG) vesicles prepared by the pH jump technique were variable and polymodal in size distribution. Complex and variable structural changes occurred when PE vesicles were diluted with hypotonic buffer. Such vesicles could not be used as model systems for the analysis of membrane mechanical properties. NaCl-loaded, DOPG vesicles prepared by extrusion through 100 nm (diameter) pores were reproducible and monomodal in size distribution and unilamellar, whereas those prepared by extrusion through 200-, 400-, or 600-nm pores were variable and polymodal in size distribution and/or multilamellar. Time and pressure regimes associated with osmotic lysis of extruded vesicles were defined by monitoring release of carboxyfluorescein, a self-quenching fluorescent dye. Corresponding effects of medium dilution on vesicle structure were assessed by DLS spectroscopy. These experiments and the accompanying analysis (Hallett, F.R., J. Marsh, B.G. Nickel, and J.M. Wood. 1993. Biophys. J. 64:000-000) revealed conditions under which vesicles are expected to reside in a consistently strained state.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P.-A. Boucher, B. Joos, M. J. Zuckermann, and L. Fournier Pore Formation in a Lipid Bilayer under a Tension Ramp: Modeling the Distribution of Rupture Tensions Biophys. J., June 15, 2007; 92(12): 4344 - 4355. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Kirouac, V. Vachon, M. Fortier, M.-C. Trudel, A. Berteloot, J.-L. Schwartz, and R. Laprade A Mechanical Force Contributes to the "Osmotic Swelling" of Brush-Border Membrane Vesicles Biophys. J., November 1, 2006; 91(9): 3301 - 3312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.-J. Marrink and D. P. Tieleman Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Spontaneous Membrane Fusion during a Cubic-Hexagonal Phase Transition Biophys. J., November 1, 2002; 83(5): 2386 - 2392. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Wood Osmosensing by Bacteria: Signals and Membrane-Based Sensors Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., March 1, 1999; 63(1): 230 - 262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Arbuzova, J. Wang, D. Murray, J. Jacob, D. S. Cafiso, and S. McLaughlin Kinetics of Interaction of the Myristoylated Alanine-rich C Kinase Substrate, Membranes, and Calmodulin J. Biol. Chem., October 24, 1997; 272(43): 27167 - 27177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Glaasker, W. N. Konings, and B. Poolman Glycine Betaine Fluxes in Lactobacillus plantarum during Osmostasis and Hyper- and Hypo-osmotic Shock J. Biol. Chem., April 26, 1996; 271(17): 10060 - 10065. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. J. Sharom, G. DiDiodato, X. Yu, and K. J. D. Ashbourne Interaction of the P-glycoprotein Multidrug Transporter with Peptides and Ionophores J. Biol. Chem., April 28, 1995; 270(17): 10334 - 10341. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]