scholarly journals Phospholipase activity on N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamines is critically dependent on the N-acyl chain length

2003 ◽  
Vol 374 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio J. CARAMELO ◽  
Jorge FLORIN-CHRISTENSEN ◽  
José M. DELFINO

We have recently shown that an endogenous phospholipase A2 from bovine erythrocytes does not hydrolyse NAPEs (N-acyl l-α-phosphatidylethanolamines), which accumulate remarkably in this system [Florin-Christensen, Suarez, Florin-Christensen, Wainszelbaum, Brown, McElwain and Palmer (2001) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98, 7736–7741]. Here we investigate the causes underlying this resistance. N-acylation of PE (l-α-phosphatidylethanolamine) results in alteration of charge, head-group volume and conformation, the last two features depending on the N-acyl chain length. To evaluate each effect separately, we synthesized NAPEs with selected N-acyl chain length. We found that phospholipase A2 has considerable activity against N-acetyl PE, but is poorly active against N-butanoyl PE and only marginally active against N-hexanoyl PE, whereas the activity is completely lost when N-hexadecanoyl PE is presented as a substrate. On the other hand, N-hexanoyl PE does not inhibit phospholipase A2 activity, suggesting that this substrate fails to enter the hydrophobic channel. Phospholipase C presents a similar, but less sharp pattern. Molecular dynamics simulations of the polar head group of selected NAPEs reveal a substantially increased conformational variability as the N-acyl chain grows. This larger conformational space represents an increased impairment limiting the access of these molecules to the active site. Our data indicate that, whereas a change in charge contributes to diminished activity, the most relevant effects come from steric hindrance related to the growth of the N-acyl chain.

Author(s):  
Takeo Nakano ◽  
Gota Kikugawa ◽  
Taku Ohara

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are carried out on single component lipid bilayers with ambient water in order to investigate the effect of acyl chain length on heat transport characteristics along and across the membranes. In this study, dipalmitoyl-phosphatidyl-choline (DPPC), dilauroyl-phosphatidyl-choline (DLPC), and stearoyl-myristoyl-phosphatidyl-choline (SMPC) which has two acyl chains of both sixteen C atoms, both twelve C atoms, and eighteen and fourteen C atoms, respectively, were used as lipid molecules. In the direction along the membranes, thermal conductivity corresponds with that of each membrane. On the other hand, in the direction across membrane, the highest thermal resistance exists at the center of lipid bilayer where lipid acyl chains face each other. However, asymmetric chain length reduces thermal resistance at the interface between lipid monolayers. Therefore, thermal conductivity across the membrane which consists of asymmetric chain length is higher than those which consist of symmetric chain length.


Biochemistry ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 4496-4500 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Cameron ◽  
Eva F. Gudgin ◽  
Henry H. Mantsch

1989 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Racey ◽  
Michael A. Singer ◽  
Leonard Finegold ◽  
Paul Rochon

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Katev ◽  
Zahari Vinarov ◽  
Slavka S. Tcholakova

Despite the widespread use of lipid excipients in both academic research and oral formulation development, rational selection guidelines are still missing. In the current study, we aimed to establish a link between the molecular structure of commonly used polar lipids and drug solubilization in biorelevant media. We studied the effect of 26 polar lipids of the fatty acid, phospholipid or monoglyceride type on the solubilization of fenofibrate in a two-stage <i>in vitro</i> GI tract model. The main trends were checked also with progesterone and danazol.<br>Based on their fenofibrate solubilization efficiency, the polar lipids can be grouped in 3 main classes. Class 1 substances (n = 5) provide biggest enhancement of drug solubilization (>10-fold) and are composed only by unsaturated compounds. Class 2 materials (n = 10) have an intermediate effect (3-10 fold increase) and are composed primarily (80 %) of saturated compounds. Class 3 materials (n = 11) have very low or no effect on drug solubilization and are entirely composed of saturated compounds.<br>The observed behaviour of the polar lipids was rationalized by using two classical physicochemical parameters: the acyl chain phase transition temperature (<i>T</i><sub>m</sub>) and the critical micellar concentration (CMC). Hence, the superior performance of class 1 polar lipids was explained by the double bonds in their acyl chains, which: (1) significantly decrease <i>T</i><sub>m</sub>, allowing these C18 lipids to form colloidal aggregates and (2) prevent tight packing of the molecules in the aggregates, resulting in bigger volume available for drug solubilization. Long-chain (C18) saturated polar lipids had no significant effect on drug solubilization because their <i>T</i><sub>m</sub> was much higher than the temperature of the experiment (<i>T</i> = 37 C) and, therefore, their association in colloidal aggregates was limited. On the other end of the spectrum, the short chain octanoic acid manifested a high CMC (50 mM), which had to be exceeded in order to enhance drug solubilization. When these two parameters were satisfied (C > CMC, <i>T</i><sub>m</sub> < <i>T</i><sub>exp</sub>), the increase of the polar lipid chain length increased the drug solubilization capacity (similarly to classical surfactants), due to the decreased CMC and bigger volume available for solubilization.<br>The hydrophilic head group also has a dramatic impact on the drug solubilization enhancement, with polar lipids performance decreasing in the order: choline phospholipids > monoglycerides > fatty acids.<br>As both the acyl chain length and the head group type are structural features of the polar lipids, and not of the solubilized drugs, the impact of <i>T</i><sub>m</sub> and CMC on solubilization by polar lipids should hold true for a wide variety of hydrophobic molecules. The obtained mechanistic insights can guide rational drug formulation development and thus support modern drug discovery pipelines.<br>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Katev ◽  
Zahari Vinarov ◽  
Slavka S. Tcholakova

Despite the widespread use of lipid excipients in both academic research and oral formulation development, rational selection guidelines are still missing. In the current study, we aimed to establish a link between the molecular structure of commonly used polar lipids and drug solubilization in biorelevant media. We studied the effect of 26 polar lipids of the fatty acid, phospholipid or monoglyceride type on the solubilization of fenofibrate in a two-stage <i>in vitro</i> GI tract model. The main trends were checked also with progesterone and danazol.<br>Based on their fenofibrate solubilization efficiency, the polar lipids can be grouped in 3 main classes. Class 1 substances (n = 5) provide biggest enhancement of drug solubilization (>10-fold) and are composed only by unsaturated compounds. Class 2 materials (n = 10) have an intermediate effect (3-10 fold increase) and are composed primarily (80 %) of saturated compounds. Class 3 materials (n = 11) have very low or no effect on drug solubilization and are entirely composed of saturated compounds.<br>The observed behaviour of the polar lipids was rationalized by using two classical physicochemical parameters: the acyl chain phase transition temperature (<i>T</i><sub>m</sub>) and the critical micellar concentration (CMC). Hence, the superior performance of class 1 polar lipids was explained by the double bonds in their acyl chains, which: (1) significantly decrease <i>T</i><sub>m</sub>, allowing these C18 lipids to form colloidal aggregates and (2) prevent tight packing of the molecules in the aggregates, resulting in bigger volume available for drug solubilization. Long-chain (C18) saturated polar lipids had no significant effect on drug solubilization because their <i>T</i><sub>m</sub> was much higher than the temperature of the experiment (<i>T</i> = 37 C) and, therefore, their association in colloidal aggregates was limited. On the other end of the spectrum, the short chain octanoic acid manifested a high CMC (50 mM), which had to be exceeded in order to enhance drug solubilization. When these two parameters were satisfied (C > CMC, <i>T</i><sub>m</sub> < <i>T</i><sub>exp</sub>), the increase of the polar lipid chain length increased the drug solubilization capacity (similarly to classical surfactants), due to the decreased CMC and bigger volume available for solubilization.<br>The hydrophilic head group also has a dramatic impact on the drug solubilization enhancement, with polar lipids performance decreasing in the order: choline phospholipids > monoglycerides > fatty acids.<br>As both the acyl chain length and the head group type are structural features of the polar lipids, and not of the solubilized drugs, the impact of <i>T</i><sub>m</sub> and CMC on solubilization by polar lipids should hold true for a wide variety of hydrophobic molecules. The obtained mechanistic insights can guide rational drug formulation development and thus support modern drug discovery pipelines.<br>


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renu Wadhwa ◽  
Neetu Singh Yadav ◽  
Shashank P. Katiyar ◽  
Tomoko Yaguchi ◽  
Chohee Lee ◽  
...  

AbstractPoor bioavailability due to the inability to cross the cell membrane is one of the major reasons for the failure of a drug in clinical trials. We have used molecular dynamics simulations to predict the membrane permeability of natural drugs—withanolides (withaferin-A and withanone) that have similar structures but remarkably differ in their cytotoxicity. We found that whereas withaferin-A, could proficiently transverse through the model membrane, withanone showed weak permeability. The free energy profiles for the interaction of withanolides with the model bilayer membrane revealed that whereas the polar head group of the membrane caused high resistance for the passage of withanone, the interior of the membrane behaves similarly for both withanolides. The solvation analysis further revealed that the high solvation of terminal O5 oxygen of withaferin-A was the major driving force for its high permeability; it interacted with the phosphate group of the membrane that led to its smooth passage across the bilayer. The computational predictions were tested by raising and recruiting unique antibodies that react to withaferin-A and withanone. The time-lapsed analyses of control and treated cells demonstrated higher permeation of withaferin-A as compared to withanone. The concurrence between the computation and experimental results thus re-emphasised the use of computational methods for predicting permeability and hence bioavailability of natural drug compounds in the drug development process.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document