Dicarboxylic acids with limited numbers of hydrocarbons stabilize cell membrane and increase osmotic resistance in rat erythrocytes

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1828; no. 11; pp. 2379 - 2384
• Main Authors: Mineo, Hitoshi, Amita, Nozomi, Kawawake, Megumi, Higuchi, Ayaka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Cell membrane; Dicarboxylic acid; Dicarboxylic Acids - metabolism; Erythrocyte; Erythrocyte Membrane - metabolism; Erythrocytes - metabolism; Hydrocarbons - metabolism; Male; Osmosis; Osmotic fragility; Phospholipid; Phthalic acid; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Erythrocyte; Phospholipid; Dicarboxylic acid; Osmotic fragility; Phthalic acid; Cell membrane
• ISSN: 0005-2736; 0006-3002; 1879-2642
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2013.06.002

We examined the effect of dicarboxylic acids having 0 to 6 hydrocarbons and their corresponding monocarboxylic or tricarboxylic acids in changing the osmotic fragility (OF) in rat red blood cells (RBCs). Malonic, succinic, glutaric and adipic acids, which are dicarboxylic acids with 1, 2, 3 and 4 straight hydrocarbons located between two carboxylic groups, decreased the OF in a concentration-dependent manner. Other long-chain dicarboxylic acids did not change the OF in rat RBCs. The benzoic acid derivatives, isophthalic and terephthalic acids, but not phthalic acid, decreased the OF in a concentration-dependent manner. Benzene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid, but not benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, also decreased the OF in rat RBCs. On the other hand, monocarboxylic acids possessing 2 to 7 straight hydrocarbons and benzoic acid increased the OF in rat RBCs. In short-chain dicarboxylic acids, a limited number of hydrocarbons between the two carboxylic groups are thought to form a V- or U-shaped structure and interact with phospholipids in the RBC membrane. In benzene dicarboxylic and tricarboxylic acids, a part of benzene nucleus between the two carboxylic groups is thought to enter the plasma membrane and act on acyl-chain in phospholipids in the RBC membrane. For dicarboxylic and tricarboxylic acids, limited numbers of hydrocarbons in molecules are speculated to enter the RBC membrane with the hydrophilic carboxylic groups remaining outside, stabilizing the structure of the cell membrane and resulting in an increase in osmotic resistance in rat RBCs. [Display omitted] •Some of dicarboxylic acids increase osmotic resistance in rat erythrocytes.•A limited number of hydrocarbons affect phospholipid in plasma membrane.•Two hydrophilic carboxylic groups remain at lipid–water interface.•These structures stabilize cell membrane and increase osmotic resistance.•This effect on plasma membrane can be regarded as a “wedge-like effect”.