α-Tocopherols location in membranes is not affected by their composition

Drew Marquardt, Norbert Kučerka, John Katsaras, Thad A. Harroun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

To this day, α-tocopherols (aToc) role in humans is not well known. In previous studies, we have tried to connect aTocs biological function with its location in a lipid bilayer. In the present study, we have determined, by means of small-angle neutron diffraction, that not only is aTocs hydroxyl group located high in the membrane but its tail also resides far from the center of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) bilayers. In addition, we located aTocs hydroxyl group above the lipid backbone in 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (POPS), and sphingomyelin bilayers, suggesting that aTocs location near the lipid-water interface may be a universal property of vitamin E. In light of these data, how aToc efficiently terminates lipid hydroperoxy radicals at the membrane center remains an open question.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4464-4472
Number of pages9
JournalLangmuir
Volume31
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 21 2015

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