Modification of Phospholipid Bilayers Induced by Sulfurated Naphthoquinones

Abstract

New thionaphthoquinones and their hydroxyl derivatives, bearing alkyl side chains that match the phospholipids POPC and POPE, were synthesized in order to investigate their interactions with lipids. It was observed that, in general, these additives destabilize the lipid bilayer and induce less organized structures with higher curvature, in particular the induction of an hexagonal phase on aqueous POPC mixtures. Moreover, cubic phases, not normally observed in the pure lipids when fully hydrated, were detected. Coexistence of lamellar phases was interpreted as a consequence of microsegregation of the components in the mixtures. These results are in line with previous observations on the effect of structurally similar (hydro)quinones in phase behavior of these lipids.