Determination of the phase behaviour of phosphatidylethanolamine admixed with other lipids and the effects of calcium chloride: implications for protein kinase C regulation.

The phase behaviour of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (POPE) was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and 31P-NMR spectroscopy. Modulation of the phase behaviour of POPE by 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylserine (POPS). 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC), 1,2-di-olein (DOG), CaCl2, MgCl2, and combinations of these substances was studied. The bilayer-forming lipids, POPS and POPC, raise the bilayer-to-hexagonal phase-transition temperature of POPE. The POPC has a greater effect than POPS, probably because the former lipid is more miscible with POPE. Addition of 10 mM CaCl2 has little effect on the phase-transitions of POPE/POPC mixtures, but it greatly decreases the effectiveness of POPS in raising the bilayer-to-hexagonal phase-transition temperature of POPE. The effectiveness of DOG in lowering the phase-transition temperature of POPE is also greatly reduced in the presence of 10 mM CaCl2. This phenomenon may play a role in the negative feedback regulation of protein kinase C.