Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Role of lipids in theNeurospora crassa membrane. I. Influence of fatty acid composition on membrane lipid phase transitions

  • Published:
The Journal of Membrane Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The relationship between lipid composition and phase transition was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry for intact and membrane phospholipid extracts of wild-type (w/t) and thecel − (Tw 40) mutant ofNeurospora crassa. Thecel − (Tw 40) mutant (grown on minimal, sucrose medium supplemented with Tween 40 at ∼34 °C) had approximately twice the saturated fatty acid content ofw/t organisms grown at ∼22 °C. The gel-liquid crystal phase transitions of ergosterol-free extracts derived fromw/t andcel − (Tw 40) occur at −31 and −11 °C, respectively. The heats of transition (ΔH) of these extracts were 1 and 13 cal/g, respectively. The addition of ergosterol (the predominant sterol inNeurospora) to the phospholipid extracts decreased the observed heats of transition, but did not alter the transition temperature. IntactNeurospora, whetherw/t orcel − (Tw 40) did not manifest similar gel-liquid crystal phase transitions in the differential scanning calorimeter. However, an endothermic peak at approximately 30 °C was observed in intact cells and extracted phospholipids of bothw/t andcel − (Tw 40) organisms. This peak was insensitive to the addition of ergosterol, had a low heat content (ΔH≃1 cal/g), and was reversible.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Blazyk, J.E., Steim, J.M. 1972. Phase transitions in mammalian membranes.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 266:737

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Brody, S., Allen, B. 1972. The effect of branched chain fatty acid incorporation intoNeurospora crassa membranes.Supramolec. Structure 1:125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Chapman, D., Urbina, J. 1971. Phase transitions and structure ofMycoplasma laidlawii B.FEBS Lett. 12:169

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Chapman, D., Urbina, J., Keough, K. 1974. Biomembrane phase transitions. Studies of lipid-water systems using differential scanning calorimetry.J. Biol. Chem. 249:2512

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Christie, W.W. 1973. Lipid Analysis. Pergamon Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  6. Davis, M.T. 1974. Changes in cell permeability following a marked reduction of saturated fatty acid content ofEscherichia coli K-12.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 373:224

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. DeKruyff, B., Demel, R.A., Slotboom, A.J., Van Deenen, L.L.M., Rosenthal, A.F. 1973. The effect of the polar head group on the lipid-cholesterol interaction: A monolayer and differential scanning calorimetry study.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 307:1

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. DeKruyff, B., Demel, R.A., Van Deenen, L.L.M. 1972. The effect of sterol structure on the permeability of liposomes to glucose, glycerol, and Rb+.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 255:321

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Elliot, C.G., Knights, B.A., Freeland, J.A. 1974. Sterols ofNeurospora crassa and the pattern of their binding during the growth cycle.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 360:339

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Elovson, J. 1975. Purification and properties of the fatty acid synthetase complex fromNeurospora crassa and the nature of the fas− mutation.J. Bacteriol. 124:524

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Engleman, D.M. 1970. X-ray diffraction studies of phase transitions in the membrane ofMycoplasma laidlawii.J. Molec. Biol. 47:115

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Esfahani, M., Limbrick, A.R., Knutton, S., Oka, T., Wakil, S.J. 1971. The molecular organization of lipids in the membrane ofEscherichia coli: Phase transitions.Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 68:3180

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Haest, C.W.M., Verkleiji, A.J., Gier, J. de, Scheek, R., Ververgaert, P.H.J., Van Deenen, L.L.M. 1974. The effect of lipid phase transitions on the architecture of bacterial membranes.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 356:17

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Henry, S.A., Keith, A.D. 1971. Saturated fatty acid requirer ofNeurospora crassa.J. Bacteriol. 106:174

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hinz, H., Sturtevant, J.M. 1972. Calorimetric investigation of the influence of cholesterol on transition properties of bilayers formed from synthetic L-α- lecithins in aqueous suspension.J. Biol. Chem. 247:3697

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ladbrooke, B.D., Williams, R.M., Chapman, D. 1968. Studies on lecithin-cholesterol-water interactions by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 150:333

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Mason, W.T., Abrahamson, E.W. 1974. Phase transitions in vertebrate and invertebrate photoreceptor membranes.J. Membrane Biol. 15:383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. McElhaney, R.N. 1974. The effect of alterations in the physical state of the membrane lipids on the ability ofAcholeplasma laidlawii B to grow at various temperatures.J. Molec. Biol. 84:145

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Melchoir, D.L., Morowitz, H.J., Sturtevant, J.M., Tsong, T.Y. 1970. Characterization of the plasma membrane ofMycoplasma laidlawii. VII. Phase transitions of membrane lipids.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 219:114

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Overath, P., Schairer, H.U., Stoffel, W. 1970. Correlation ofin vivo andin vitro phase transitions of membrane lipids inEscherichia coli.Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 67:606

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Razin, S. 1975.In: Progress in Surface Membrane Science. A. Cadenhead, J.F. Danielli, M.D. Rosenberg, editors. Vol. 9, p. 257. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  22. Reinert, J.C., Steim, J.M. 1970. Calorimetric detection of a membrane lipid phase transition in living cells.Science 168:1580

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Scarborough, G.A. 1975. Isolation and characterization ofNeurospora crassa plasma membranes.J. Biol. Chem. 250:1106

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Slayman, C.L. 1965. Electrical properties ofNeurospora crassa. Effects of external cations on the intracellular potential.J. Gen. Physiol. 49:69

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Steim, J.M. 1972.In: Mitochondria: Biogenesis and Bioenergetics and Biomembranes. S.G. Van den Bergh, P. Borst, L.L.M. Van Deenan, editors.8th F.E.B.S. Meeting, Vol. 28, p. 185. North Holland/American Elsevier, New York

    Google Scholar 

  26. Steim, J.M., Tourtellotte, M.E., Reinert, J.C., McElhaney, R.N., Rader, R.L. 1969. Calorimetric evidence for the liquid-crystalline state of lipids in a biomembrane.Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 63:104

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Vogel, H.J. 1956. A convenient growth medium forNeurospora (Medium N).Microb. Genet. Bull. 13:42

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Kenneth J. Friedman

    Present address: College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 100 Bergen Street, 07103, Newark, New Jersey

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Physical Biology, National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 20014, Bethesda, Maryland

    Kenneth J. Friedman

Authors
  1. Kenneth J. Friedman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Friedman, K.J. Role of lipids in theNeurospora crassa membrane. I. Influence of fatty acid composition on membrane lipid phase transitions. J. Membrain Biol. 32, 33–47 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01905208

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01905208

Keywords

Search

Navigation