In a range of low ionic strength, aqueous dispersions of the anionic phospholipid DMPG (dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol) have a transparent intermediate phase (IP, between T(m)(on) congruent with 20 degrees C and T(m)(off) congruent with 30 degrees C) between the turbid gel and fluid membrane phases, evidenced in turbidity data. Small angle x-ray scattering results on DMPG dispersions show that, besides the bilayer peak present in all phases, a peak corresponding to a mesoscopic structure at approximately 400 A is detected only in IP. The dependence of this peak position on DMPG concentration suggests a correlation in the bilayer plane, consistent with the stability of vesicles in IP. Moreover, observation of giant DMPG vesicles with phase contrast light microscopy show that vesicles "disappear" upon cooling below T(m)(off) and "reappear" after reheating. This further proves that although vesicles cannot be visualized in IP, their overall structure is maintained. We propose that the IP in the melting regime corresponds to unilamellar vesicles with perforations, a model which is consistent with all described experimental observations. Furthermore, the opening of pores across the membrane tuned by ionic strength, temperature, and lipid composition is likely to have biological relevance and could be used in applications for controlled release from nanocompartments.

Dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) has been extensively studied as a model for biological membranes, since phosphatidylglycerol is the most abundant anionic phospholipid in prokaryotic cells. At low ionic strengths, this lipid presents a peculiar thermal behavior, with two sharp changes in the light scattering profile, at temperatures named here T(on)(m) and T(off)(m). Structural changes involved in the DMPG thermal transitions are here investigated by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and compared to the results yielded by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron spin resonance (ESR). The SAXS results show a broad peak, indicating that DMPG is organized in single bilayers, for the range of temperature studied (10-45 degrees C). SAXS intensity shows an unusual effect, starting to decrease at T(on)(m), and presenting a sharp increase at T(off)(m). The bilayer electron density profiles, obtained from modeling the SAXS curves, show a gradual decrease in electron density contrast (attributed to separation between charged head groups) and in bilayer thickness between T(on)(m) and T(off)(m). Results yielded by SAXS, DSC and ESR indicate that a chain melting process starts at T(on)(m), but a complete fluid phase exists only for temperatures above T(off)(m), with structural changes occurring at the bilayer level in the intermediate region.

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At low ionic strength dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) exhibits a broad phase transition region characterized by several superimposed calorimetric peaks. Peculiar properties, such as sample transparency, are observed only in the transition region. In this work we use differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), turbidity, and optical microscopy to study the narrowing of the transition region with the increase of ionic strength (0-500 mM NaCl). Upon addition of salt, the temperature extension of the transition region is reduced, and the number of calorimetric peaks decreases until a single cooperative event at T(m) = 23 degrees C is observed in the presence of 500 mM NaCl. The transition region is always coupled with a decrease in turbidity, but a transparent region is detected within the melting process only in the presence of up to 20 mM NaCl. The vanishing of the transparent region is associated with one of the calorimetric peaks. Optical microscopy of giant vesicles shows that bilayers first rupture when the transition region is reached and subsequently lose optical contrast. Fluorescence microscopy reveals a blurry and undefined image in the transparent region, suggesting a different lipid self-assembly. Overall sample turbidity can be directly related to the bilayer optical contrast. Our observations are discussed in terms of the bilayer being perforated along the transition region. In the narrower temperature interval of the transparent region, dependent on the ionic strength, the perforation is extensive and the bilayer completely loses the optical contrast.

Specific ion effects in surfactant solutions affect the properties of micelles. Dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), bromide (DTAB), and methanesulfonate (DTAMs) micelles are typically spherical, but some organic anions can induce shape or phase transitions in DTA(+) micelles. Above a defined concentration, sodium triflate (NaTf) induces a phase separation in dodecyltrimethylammonium triflate (DTATf) micelles, a phenomenon rarely observed in cationic micelles. This unexpected behavior of the DTATf/NaTf system suggests that DTATf aggregates have unusual properties. The structural properties of DTATf micelles were analyzed by time-resolved fluorescence quenching, small-angle X-ray scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, and electron paramagnetic resonance and compared with those of DTAC, DTAB, and DTAMs micelles. Compared to the other micelle types, the DTATf micelles had a higher average number of monomers per aggregate, an uncommon disk-like shape, smaller interfacial hydration, and restricted monomer chain mobility. Molecular dynamic simulations supported these observations. Even small water-soluble salts can profoundly affect micellar properties; our data demonstrate that the -CF3 group in Tf(-) was directly responsible for the observed shape changes by decreasing interfacial hydration and increasing the degree of order of the surfactant chains in the DTATf micelles.