Cholesterol-phospholipid interaction in membranes. 1. Cholestane spin-label studies of phase behavior of cholesterol-phospholipid liposomes.

The effect of cholesterol concentration on the thermotropic phase behavior of aqueous phospholipid multi-bilayers was monitored by means of electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) of a cholestane spin-label (CSL). The spin-label itself induces an additional transition in several different phospholipids, which is attributed to local melting around the spin probe. In contrast, cholesterol prevents its neighboring phospholipids from undergoing fluidization. Small additions of cholesterol affect the position of the probe-induced lipid mobilization curve. The phospholipid main gel-liquid-crystal transition, which is also observed as a separate change in probe mobilization, is not affected by low concentrations of cholesterol. These observations indicate the presence of two phases, a cholesterol-rich phase and a pure phospholipid phase, and indicate that CSL preferentially enters the cholesterol-rich phase. Addition of more than 20 mol % cholesterol abolishes the bulk phospholipid phase. This is evidenced by the disappearance of the gel-liquid-crystal transition as observed by ESR. However, the CSL-induced transition is present at all concentrations of cholesterol and CSL. The behavioral differences between the two sterols caution against using this probe as a direct substitute for cholesterol. However, it remains a useful tool for monitoring the phase behavior of cholesterol-phospholipid bilayer systems.