Structure and stability of vitamin E – lecithin and phytanic acid – lecithin bilayers studied by 13C and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract

13C spin–lattice relaxation studies on lecithin bilayers indicate a marked destabilization of the bilayer structure by incorporated vitamin E (d,l-α-tocopherol) and phytanic acid, phytanic acid causing the greatest perturbation.Kinetic analysis of paramagnetic praseodymium infusion into the lecithin vesicles containing various phytyl compounds has been performed using 31P nmr. Relative rates of Pr3+ leakage through the mixed lecithin – phytyl compound bilayer compared with pure lecithin (relative rate = 1.00) were: phytol = 7.8, vitamin E = 47.7, and phytanic acid = 2897.