X-Message-Number: 9644
Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 08:51:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: trehalose and bilayers

Authors
  Tsvetkova N.  Tenchov B.  Tsonev L.  Tsvetkov T.
Institution
  Central Problem Laboratory for Cryobiology and Freeze-Drying, Sofia,
  Bulgaria.
Title
  Dependence of trehalose protective action on the initial phase state of
  dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers.
Source
  Cryobiology.  25(3):256-63, 1988 Jun.
Abstract
  Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers hydrated in the presence of
  trehalose were equilibrated at various temperatures (4, 20, and 60 degrees C)
  corresponding to the crystalline Lc, gel L beta', and liquid-crystalline L
  alpha phases, respectively, and then desiccated at these temperatures or
  freeze-dried at -80 degrees C to ca. DPPC dihydrate. The thermotropic
  behavior of the resulting DPPC/trehalose mixtures was investigated by
  differential scanning calorimetry and found to be dependent not only on the
  trehalose concentration but also on the phase state of the hydrated bilayers
  prior to their drying. Trehalose was most effective when the desiccation was
  carried out from the L alpha phase at 60 degrees C. In this case, one
  trehalose molecule per two DPPC molecules was sufficient to depress the
  melting temperature from values typical of DPPC dihydrate to 45 degrees C.
  Trehalose's influence decreased when dried from the L beta' phase and was
  significantly less pronounced when dried from the Lc phase. These data show
  that trehalose's protective influence depends on the initial phase state of
  the lipid bilayer and reaches its maximum in the liquid-crystalline state.
  The possible role of this effect in anhydrobiosis is pointed
  out.

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