Title

Cooperative effects of fatty acids and n-butanol on lipid membrane phase behavior

Authors

Geoffrey D. Bothun, University of Rhode Island
Lauren Boltz, University of Rhode Island
Yogi Kurniawan, University of Rhode Island
Carmen Scholz, The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

3-1-2016

Abstract

Biodiesel-derived crude glycerol can be fermented to produce n-butanol, which is a platform chemical for biorefining and a biofuel. One limitation to crude glycerol fermentation is the presence of long-chain fatty acids (FAs) that can partition into cellular membranes, leading to membrane fluidization and interdigitation, which can inhibit cellular function. In this work, we have examined the phase behavior of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC, C16:0) membranes and the membrane partitioning of n-butanol as a function of FA degree of unsaturation (steric, oleic, and linoleic acids) using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and monolayer surface pressure studies. All three FAs at 15. mol% (85. mol% DPPC) prevented interdigitation by n-butanol based on the DSC results. n-Butanol partitioning and membrane expansion was greatest for DPPC/oleic acid membranes, where monounsaturated oleic acid (OA, C18:1) was miscible in gel and fluid phase DPPC. Saturated steric acid (SA, C18:0), which ordered the membranes and yielded a SA-rich phase during melting, led to a modest increase in n-butanol partitioning compared to DPPC alone. Di-unsaturated linoleic acid (LA, C18:2), which disordered the membranes and phase separated, had little affect on n-butanol partitioning into the DPPC-rich phases. The effects of OA and LA are attributed to the additional interfacial area provided by these FAs due to acyl tail 'kinks' at the carbon double bonds. These results show that exogenous FAs can partition into membranes, impacting n-butanol partitioning and acting cooperatively with n-butanol to alter membrane structure.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces

Volume

139

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Bothun, Geoffrey D., Lauren Boltz, Yogi Kurniawan, and Carmen Scholz. "Cooperative effects of fatty acids and n-butanol on lipid membrane phase behavior." Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 139, (2016): 62-67. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2015.11.054.