Thermodynamic Analysis of Myelin Basic Protein Adsorbed on Liquid Crystalline Dioleoylphosphatidylcholine Monolayer

Abstract

To investigate the stability and dynamic characteristics of monolayer adsorbed on unsaturated lipid dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) with varying concentrations of myelin basic protein (MBP), the system is studied by applying Langmuir technique and making atomic force microscope (AFM) observation, which is based on the mass conservation equation analysis method referred to in the thermodynamics theory. As indicated by surface pressure-mean molecular area (π−A) and surface pressure-adsorption time (π−T) isotherms, the physical properties of monolayer derived from the interaction of varying concentrations of MBP with liquid crystalline unsaturated lipid DOPC molecules were qualitatively studied. As revealed by surface morphology analysis with AFM, the micro region was expanded as the concentration of MBP in the subphase was on the increase, suggesting that hydrophobic interactions led to the MBP insertion, thus causing accumulation of the MBP on the surface of the monolayer. Experimental results have demonstrated that the partition coefficient of the interaction between MBP and unsaturated phospholipid DOPC and the molecular area of MBP adsorbed on the monolayer film was calculated using the mass conservation equation. In addition, not only does the varying concentration of MBP in the subphase exerts significant effects on the arrangement and conformation of DOPC monolayer, it also has certain guiding significance to exploring the structural changes to biofilm supramolecular aggregates as well as the pathogenesis and treatment of related diseases.