Surface-Enhanced Infrared Spectroscopy and Neutron Reflectivity Studies of Ubiquinone in Hybrid Bilayer Membranes under Potential Control

Surface-enhanced infrared adsorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) and neutron reflectometry (NR) were employed to characterize ubiquinone (UQ) containing hybrid bilayer membranes. The biomimetic membrane was prepared by fusing phospholipid vesicles on a hydrophobic octadecanethiol monolayer self-assembled on a thin gold film. Using SEIRAS, the assembly of the membrane is monitored in situ. The presence of ubiquinone is verified by the characteristic carbonyl peaks from the quinone ester. A well-ordered distal lipid leaflet results from fusion of vesicles with and without the addition of ubiquinone. With applied potential, the hybrid bilayer membrane in the absence of UQ behaves in the same way as previously reported solid supported phospholipid membranes. When ubiquinone is incorporated in the membrane, electric field induced changes in the distal leaflet are suppressed. Changes in the infrared vibrations of the ubiquinone due to applied potential indicate the head groups are located in both polar and nonpolar environments. The spectroscopic data reveal that the isoprenoid unit of the ubiquinone is likely lying in the midplane of the lipid bilayer while the head has some freedom to move within the hydrophobic core. The SEIRAS experiments show redox behavior of UQ incorporated in a model lipid membrane that are otherwise inaccessible with traditional electrochemistry techniques.