Modulation of the physical properties of dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine membranes by a dirhamnolipid biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Chem Phys Lipids. 2006 Jul;142(1-2):118-27. doi: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2006.04.001. Epub 2006 Apr 19.

Abstract

Rhamnolipids are bacterial biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas spp. These compounds have been shown to present several interesting biological activities, restricting the growth of Bacillus subtilis and showing zoosporicidal activity on zoosporic phytopathogens. It has been suggested that the interaction with the membrane could be the ultimate responsible for these actions. Therefore, it is of great interest to get insight into the molecular mechanism of the interaction of purified rhamnolipids with the various phospholipid components of biological membranes. In this paper we report on the phase behaviour of mixtures of dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DEPE) with a purified dirhamnolipid (DiRL) fraction from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as studied by a number of physical techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry, FTIR, small angle X-ray (SAX) diffraction and dynamic light scattering. Our data indicate that the presence of DiRL counteracts the tendency of DEPE to form vesicular aggregates of large size, forming vesicles of smaller diameter which most probably have a lower lamellarity index. The partial phase diagram obtained from calorimetric data shows a complex behaviour with a solid-phase immiscibility. X-ray diffraction shows that DiRL has a bilayer stabilizing effect, impeding formation of the inverted hexagonal-HII phase of DEPE. The presented data are discussed focussing into how DiRL/DEPE interactions could help to explain the membrane perturbing activities of this biosurfactant.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calorimetry, Differential Scanning
  • Glycolipids / chemistry*
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / chemistry*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*
  • Temperature
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Glycolipids
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • rhamnolipid hemolysin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • 1,2-dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine