Induction of fusion in aggregated and nonaggregated liposomes bearing cationic detergents

Mordechai Keren-Zur*, Michael Beigel, Abraham Loyter

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

The addition of polyanionic polymers such as poly(aspartic acid) (PASP), DNA or dextran sulfate to liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and cholesterol (chol), and bearing the quaternary ammonium detergent [[[(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)cresoxy]ethoxy]ethyl]dimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide (DEBDA]OH]) resulted in liposome aggregation and fusion. Liposome-liposome fusion was studied by using fluorescently labeled liposomes and fluorescence-dequenching (DQ) methods. Addition of monoanions, such as aspartate or acetate, to liposomes bearing DEBDA[OH] caused neither their aggregation nor liposome-liposome fusion. Aggregation of liposomes bearing DEBDA[OH] by the binding pair avidin-biotin did not result in their fusion. Fusion in such aggregated liposomes was observed by the addition of chaotropic anions, such as nitrate or thiocynate, or by PASP. A variety of other quaternary ammonium detergents behaved similarly to DEBDA[OH] in their ability to confer fusogenic properties upon PC/chol liposomes. The relevance of these findings to the mechanism of liposome-liposome fusion is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)253-258
Number of pages6
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
Volume983
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 7 Aug 1989

Keywords

  • Avidin
  • Biotin
  • Cationic detergent
  • Chaotropic ion
  • Fluorescence energy transfer
  • Liposome fusion

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