Phenylalanine interaction with lipid monolayers at different pHs

The influence of Phe on the surface pressure of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) monolayers at the air-water interface was studied at different initial surface pressures (26 and 40 mN/m) and two pHs (5.0 and 7.3) at constant temperature (20 degrees C). Changes produced by the aminoacid added to the subphase on the surface pressure and on the dipole potential of lipid monolayers were measured at a fixed area. Compressibility properties of the monolayers at different pHs were studied by (pi-A) isotherms. The results suggest that Phe intercalates into a DPPC film at the air-water interface at pH 5 and forms a different arrangement at pH 7.3. The possible relevance of these results of the effect of Phe in physiological conditions is discussed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.