Organization of two-component monomolecular layers formed with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and the carotenoid pigment, canthaxanthin

• Published in: Molecular membrane biology Vol. 24; no. 5-6; pp. 431 - 441
• Main Authors: Sujak, Agnieszka, Gago, Mariusz, Serra, Mauro Dalla, Gruszecki, Wies aw I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 01.01.2007; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine - chemistry; canthaxanthin; Canthaxanthin - chemistry; Carotenoid pigments; linear dichroism FTIR; Lipid Bilayers - chemistry; lipid membranes; Membranes, Artificial; Molecular Structure; monolayers; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; xanthophyll; Xanthophylls - chemistry
• ISSN: 0968-7688; 1464-5203
• DOI: 10.1080/09687860701243899

Canthaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment of physiological importance owing to potential modulation of the dynamic and structural properties of biomembranes. The effect of canthaxanthin on the organization of lipid membranes formed with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) was studied with application of monomolecular layer technique, FTIR spectroscopy and linear dichroism-FTIR. The specific molecular areas of the two-component monomolecular layers of canthaxanthin-DPPC show pronounced underadditivity in the concentration range below 2 mol% carotenoid with respect to the lipid, corresponding to the monomeric organization of the pigment. Additionally, the analysis of the FTIR spectra of the two-component monolayers deposited to the solid support shows that organization of the carotenoid in the lipid monolayer is governed primarily by van der Waals interactions between the pigment chromophore and lipid alkyl chains. This interaction is responsible for an ordering effect of canthaxanthin with respect to lipids. Analysis of FTIR spectra of two-component monolayers suggests the possibility of hydrogen bonding between the lipid polar headgroups and the keto groups of canthaxanthin via water bridges.