Biomaterial Database

Polycation-induced fusion of negatively-charged vesicles. 1982

A E Gad, and B L Silver, and G D Eytan

Sonicated vesicles of 20-50 nm in diameter consisting of neutral phospholipids and a variety of acidic phospholipids were interacted with polylysine, cytochrome c, Ca2+ and Mg2+. The addition of polycations caused massive aggregation accompanied by an increase of membrane permeability as determined by leakage of fluorescent dye. Aggregation was followed by fusion of the vesicles into structures that in some cases exceeded 1 micron in diameter. Polylysine induced aggregation and appreciable fusion at charge ratios (polylysine/phospholipid) of 0.5-2, while divalent cations did so only at charge ratios (cation/phospholipid) greater than 10. Aggregation and fusion induced by polylysine were dependent also on the size of the polycation, i.e., the longer the molecule the less needed to induce similar aggregation. It appears that, due to the concentration of charges on a single molecule, polylysine is at least an order of magnitude more effective than divalent cations at inducing fusion of membranes. Cytochrome c induced fusion of similar vesicles at moderately acidic pH (pH 4.2).

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008081	Liposomes	Artificial, single or multilaminar vesicles (made from lecithins or other lipids) that are used for the delivery of a variety of biological molecules or molecular complexes to cells, for example, drug delivery and gene transfer. They are also used to study membranes and membrane proteins.	Niosomes,Transferosomes,Ultradeformable Liposomes,Liposomes, Ultra-deformable,Liposome,Liposome, Ultra-deformable,Liposome, Ultradeformable,Liposomes, Ultra deformable,Liposomes, Ultradeformable,Niosome,Transferosome,Ultra-deformable Liposome,Ultra-deformable Liposomes,Ultradeformable Liposome
D008244	Lysophosphatidylcholines	Derivatives of PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINES obtained by their partial hydrolysis which removes one of the fatty acid moieties.	Lysolecithin,Lysolecithins,Lysophosphatidylcholine
D008274	Magnesium	A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and atomic weight 24.31. It is important for the activity of many enzymes, especially those involved in OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION.
D010455	Peptides	Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS.	Peptide,Polypeptide,Polypeptides
D010712	Phosphatidic Acids	Fatty acid derivatives of glycerophosphates. They are composed of glycerol bound in ester linkage with 1 mole of phosphoric acid at the terminal 3-hydroxyl group and with 2 moles of fatty acids at the other two hydroxyl groups.	Ammonium Phosphatidate,Diacylglycerophosphates,Phosphatidic Acid,Acid, Phosphatidic,Acids, Phosphatidic,Phosphatidate, Ammonium
D010713	Phosphatidylcholines	Derivatives of PHOSPHATIDIC ACIDS in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to a CHOLINE moiety.	Choline Phosphoglycerides,Choline Glycerophospholipids,Phosphatidyl Choline,Phosphatidyl Cholines,Phosphatidylcholine,Choline, Phosphatidyl,Cholines, Phosphatidyl,Glycerophospholipids, Choline,Phosphoglycerides, Choline
D010714	Phosphatidylethanolamines	Derivatives of phosphatidic acids in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to an ethanolamine moiety. Complete hydrolysis yields 1 mole of glycerol, phosphoric acid and ethanolamine and 2 moles of fatty acids.	Cephalin,Cephalins,Ethanolamine Phosphoglyceride,Ethanolamine Phosphoglycerides,Ethanolamineglycerophospholipids,Phosphoglyceride, Ethanolamine,Phosphoglycerides, Ethanolamine
D010715	Phosphatidylglycerols	A nitrogen-free class of lipids present in animal and particularly plant tissues and composed of one mole of glycerol and 1 or 2 moles of phosphatidic acid. Members of this group differ from one another in the nature of the fatty acids released on hydrolysis.	Glycerol Phosphoglycerides,Monophosphatidylglycerols,Phosphatidylglycerol,Phosphatidyl Glycerol,Glycerol, Phosphatidyl,Phosphoglycerides, Glycerol
D010718	Phosphatidylserines	Derivatives of PHOSPHATIDIC ACIDS in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to a SERINE moiety.	Serine Phosphoglycerides,Phosphatidyl Serine,Phosphatidyl Serines,Phosphatidylserine,Phosphoglycerides, Serine,Serine, Phosphatidyl,Serines, Phosphatidyl