TY - JOUR
T1 - Localization and Interactions of Melatonin in Dry Cholesterol/Lecithin Mixed Reversed Micelles used as Cell Membrane Models
AU - Ruggirello, Angela Monia
AU - Ceraulo, Leopoldo
AU - Ferrugia, Mirella
AU - Turco Liveri, Vincenzo
AU - Bongiorno, David
AU - Ceraulo, Leopoldo
AU - Filizzola, Felice
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - The state of melatonin confined in dry cholesterol/lecithin mixed reversed micelles dispersed in CCl4 was investigated using H-1-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies as a function of the melatonin to lecithin molar ratio (R-MLT) and of the cholesterol to lecithin molar ratio (R-CHL). An analysis of experimental results leads to the hypothesis that, independent of R-MLT and as a consequence of anisotropic melatonin/lecithin, melatonin/cholesterol and cholesterol/lecithin interactions, melatonin is totally solubilized in reversed micelles. Melatonin is mainly located in and oriented in the nanodomain constituted by the hydrophilic groups of cholesterol and lecithin. A competition of melatonin and cholesterol for the hydrophilic binding sites of the reversed micelles was observed by changing the R-CHL. Some possible biological implications of the specific interactions governing the solubilization process, the preferential location and the peculiar properties of melatonin confined in cholesterol/lecithin mixed reversed micelles are discussed.
AB - The state of melatonin confined in dry cholesterol/lecithin mixed reversed micelles dispersed in CCl4 was investigated using H-1-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies as a function of the melatonin to lecithin molar ratio (R-MLT) and of the cholesterol to lecithin molar ratio (R-CHL). An analysis of experimental results leads to the hypothesis that, independent of R-MLT and as a consequence of anisotropic melatonin/lecithin, melatonin/cholesterol and cholesterol/lecithin interactions, melatonin is totally solubilized in reversed micelles. Melatonin is mainly located in and oriented in the nanodomain constituted by the hydrophilic groups of cholesterol and lecithin. A competition of melatonin and cholesterol for the hydrophilic binding sites of the reversed micelles was observed by changing the R-CHL. Some possible biological implications of the specific interactions governing the solubilization process, the preferential location and the peculiar properties of melatonin confined in cholesterol/lecithin mixed reversed micelles are discussed.
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10447/25068
M3 - Article
VL - 38
SP - 292
EP - 298
JO - Journal of Pineal Research
JF - Journal of Pineal Research
SN - 0742-3098
ER -