The effect of cholesterol on measured interaction and compressibility of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers

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Abstract
The phase diagram of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine(DPPC)-cholesterol-water mixtures at low cholesterol content, and phase separation between 3 and 10 mol% cholesterol were examined. The 2 lamellar phases at equilibrium in this region appear to be pure DPPC and 11 mol% cholesterol in DPPC. For these 2 lamellar phases, which are made up of alternating layers of water and bimolecular lipid leaflets, the forces of interaction between leaflets and the lateral pressure and compressibility of the leaflets were measured. Both bilayers experience a strong repulsive force when forced together only a few .ANG. closer than their maximum separation in excess water. The presence of 11 mol% cholesterol causes the bilayers to move apart to 35-.ANG. separation from the 19-.ANG. characteristic of pure DPPC in excess water. This swelling may result from a decrease in van der Waals attraction between bilayers or from an increase in bilayer repulsion. Differences in bilayer interaction can cause phase separation. These differences can also cause changes in the composition of regions of membranes approaching contact. At 11 mol%, cholesterol substantially increases the lateral compressibility of DPPC bilayers leading to higher lateral density fluctuations and potentially higher bilayer permeability.