Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to determine whether intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the C-OH and P-OH groups exists in beef heart cardiolipin (CL) or in hydrogenated beef heart cardiolipin (18:0-CL) as compared to the synthetic 2'-deoxy analogue of cardiolipin (16:0-dCL). Such intramolecular hydrogen bonding would provide a structural basis for proton conduction on the molecular level. In aqueous dispersions at 20 degrees C, both 18:0-CL and 16:0-dCL exist in the gel phase as bilayers with gel to liquid-crystalline transitions (Tm) at 61 and 56 degrees C, respectively, whereas the unsaturated CL exists in the non-bilayer (hexagonal II) state. Evidence for intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the C-OH group in aqueous dispersions of 18:0-CL is provided by the large increase in Tm observed on changing the aqueous medium from H2O to D2O but specific hydrogen-bonded C-OH...PO2- species cannot be identified because water molecules also compete for the PO2- binding sites. However, C-OH...PO2- hydrogen bonds can be identified in dry films of the sodium salt of 18:0-CL or in CCl4 solution. In contrast, such hydrogen bonds cannot be formed in the deoxy analogue (16:0-dCL) indicating that the central C-OH group in 18:0-CL could provide a structural basis for proton conduction, involving the phosphate groups.