Mitogens-DPPC-vesicles interaction: A spin label ESR study

The electron spin resonance spectroscopy with the spin labelling technique has been used to investigate the interaction of sonicated di-palmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) small unilamellar vesicles with concanavalin A (Con A), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in the temperature range 0-50°C. Conventional ESR measurements show that the addition of mitogens to the vesicles suspensions up to the number of mitogens/number of vesicles ratio of 60 increases the orientational degree of order of the lipid molecules in the gel phase and the gel→liquid-crystalline phase transition temperature. No effects on the liquid-crystalline phase have been observed, also no matter for the mitogen used. The effectiveness results in the order: ConA>SEB>PHA. Saturation transfer-ESR measurements evidence more restricted rotation of the DPPC molecules in the gel phase in the presence of Con A and SEB than in the presence of PHA if compared to pure DPPC-vesicles. The effective rotational correlation time, σc, of the spin label 5-SASL results about one order of magnitude higher in the presence of 60 mitogen molecules/vesicle. The ESR findings suggest a mitogen-induced increase in the packing density of lipid bilayers which is attributed to a morphological change from sonicated vesicles, with a small radius of curvature, to a more planar mesophase. Con A is more effective than SEB and PHA in inducing this process. © 1993 Società Italiana di Fisica.