Deuterium magnetic resonance spectra (55.26 MHz) of cholesterol-3 alpha-d1 and epicholesterol-3 beta-d1 in dipalmitoylglycerophosphocholine (DPPC) liposomes were measured as a function of sterol-to-phospholipid ratio below (24 degrees C) and above (60 degrees C) the phase transition temperature of DPPC. From the quadrupolar splittings delta vq, the molecular order parameters S describing the motions of the sterols in the bilayer were calculated, and the most probable angle of tilt alpha 0 of the molecular axis of the sterols relative to the bilayer normal was determined. We observed that the molecular axis of cholesterol in DPPC liposomes at both 24 and 60 degrees C is tilted at an angle of 16-19 degrees with the 3 beta-hydroxyl group projecting parallel to the bilayer normal into the aqueous interface. In contrast, at 24 degrees C, epicholesterol is aligned parallel (0 degrees) to the bilayer normal, placing the 3 alpha-hydroxyl group essentially perpendicular to the bilayer normal along the aqueous interface. At 60 degrees C, the average angle of epicholesterol (16-18 degrees) is similar to that of cholesterol, which can project the 3 alpha-hydroxyl group into the hydrophobic bilayer region. On the basis of the observed tilt angles of the two isomeric sterols in DPPC liposomes, a model is proposed that can rationalize the differential effects of cholesterol and epicholesterol on membrane properties.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The d in the structural label indicates that the compound bears a deuterium substituent, Z = D. For the sake of clarity; the absolute configurations of these labeled species have been assigned without any consideration of the deuterium atom. Therefore, the structural labels for the deuterated and the corresponding protiated compounds differ only in the presence or absence of d following the number for that structure. Although the compounds bearing deuterium are mixtures of diastereomers, no evidence has been observed which indicates a diastereomeric composition which is not equal to 1:1. (20) J.

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Choline phospholipids can be conveniently synthesized by reaction of a lipophilic alcohol, such as diacylglycerol, with 2-bromoethyl dichlorophosphate followed by nucleophilic displacement of the bromine with trimethylamine. We found that the low yields often encountered in the initial phosphorylation step are particularly due to exchange of both chlorines for alkoxy functions (triester formation) and to chlorination of the alcohol by 2-bromoethyl dichlorophosphate. However, these drawbacks can be overcome by proper choice of the reaction medium and by optimizing other reaction conditions. The procedure described is efficient and most versatile, and it lends itself to the preparation of a wide range of choline phospholipids containing a glycerol, diol, or long-chain alkyl backbone and bearing various aliphatic functions. Proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy proved useful in establishing the homogeneity and structures of the synthetic intermediates and byproducts and of the choline phospholipids synthesized.