Abstract
In order to characterize the potentially deleterious effects of toxic Hg2+ and Cd2+ on lipid membranes, we have studied their binding to liposomes whose composition mimicked erythrocyte membranes. Fluorescence spectroscopy utilizing the concentration dependent quenching of Phen Green™ SK by Hg2+ and Cd2+ was found to be a sensitive tool to probe these interactions at metal concentrations ≤1 μM. We have systematically developed a metal binding affinity assay to screen for the interactions of Hg2+ or Cd2+ with certain lipid classes. A biomimetic liposome system was developed that contained four major lipid classes of erythrocyte membranes (zwitterionic lipids: phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine; negatively charged: phosphatidylserine and neutral: cholesterol). In contrast to Hg2+, which preferentially bound to the negatively charged phosphatidylserine compared to the zwitterionic components, Cd2+ bound stronger to the two zwitterionic lipids. Thus, the observed distinct differences in the binding affinity of Hg2+ and Cd2+ for certain lipid classes together with their known effects on membrane properties represent an important first step toward a better understanding the role of these interactions in the chronic toxicity of these metals.
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Abbreviations
- POPC:
-
1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine
- POPE:
-
1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine
- POPS:
-
1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-l-serine]
- PC:
-
Phosphatidylcholine
- PE:
-
Phosphatidylethanolamine
- PS:
-
Phosphatidylserine
- Chol:
-
Cholesterol
- PGSK:
-
Phen Green™ SK
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by an ACCESS scholarship from the University of Calgary to MTL. JG and EJP are supported by NSERC discovery grants. EJP is an Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research scholar.
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Le, M.T., Gailer, J. & Prenner, E.J. Hg2+ and Cd2+ interact differently with biomimetic erythrocyte membranes. Biometals 22, 261–274 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-008-9162-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-008-9162-7