Characterization of the unusual phospholipid BMP: A membrane morphology and acyl-chain dynamics study

PHYS 368

Thomas E Frederick, tko2deg@ufl.edu, Chad E Mair, and Gail E Fanucci. Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
Bis(monoacylglycerol)phosphate (BMP) is a uniquely structured anionic phospholipid, composed of two glycerol backbones with single acyl chains at the 3 and 1' hydroxide residues. BMP is localized in higher concentrations within late endosomes, and is thought to be involved in the formation of the highly curved intra-vesicular domains of the late endosomes. Additionally, when BMP is present in liposomes containing ganglioside GM2, the enzymatic hydrolysis of GM2 to GM3 is enhanced. This study utilizes 31P and 2H NMR, power saturation EPR, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) to investigate the effect BMP has upon membrane morphology and acyl chain dynamics of model membranes in order to elucidate its role in lipid catabolism and lysosomal storage disease. 31P NMR and DLS revealed the addition of as little as 1% BMP causes the formation of small vesicles hypothesized to mostly be comprised of BMP, therefore the morphology of 100% BMP is also investigated.
 

PHYS Poster Session - General Experiment
7:30 PM-10:00 PM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Physical Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008