**3. Membrane environment**

### **3.1. X-band ESR**

The full extent of the 9 GHz spectrum is determined by the largest of the principal values of the 14N hyperfine constant, which is Azz. Hence at X-band, the distance between outer extrema for a well-resolved spectrum in the rigid limit is exactly 2Azz. This value is known to increase ~ 2G if nitroxide is transferred from a non-polar solvent like hydrocarbons to water and, as mentioned above, can be considered a measure for local polarity. Table.3 shows the 2Azz determined by X-band ESR as the outer splitting of the rigid limit spectra at 77K. As seen from the data, DMPC/Cholesterol (Fig. 2B) and DPPC/Cholesterol (Fig. 2D) membranes, consistent with previous observations3, show abrupt drop in the 2Azz value, between *n*-PC positions 7 and 10. However, for DMPC, in the absence of cholesterol, the 2Azz value shows little trend throughout the PC spin labels series and remains ~ 69.5G (cf. Fig. 2A), which correspond to a relatively polar environment, more polar than ethanol (see below). DPPC in the absence of cholesterol (Fig. 2C), in general, shows a profile similar to a cholesterol-containing membrane, though the spectra, especially for positions 7-12 show signs of a broad singlet-like component.

The dependencies of relaxation enhancement 1 *P* by 10 mM of Ni(ClO4)2 on the spinlabeling position for the gel and liquid crystal phase of DMPC are given in Fig. 3. Here P is the relaxation parameter *P=*g*eT1T2* , where g*e* is the electron gyromagnetic ratio and *T1* and *T2* are corresponding effective relaxation times. In the liquid crystal phase (T=390C) the interaction with the paramagnetic relaxant decreases with increasing *n*, consistent with an increase in the average immersion depth of the spin label moiety in the membrane. On the contrary, the 1 *P* profile in the gel phase (Pβ, T=190C) is almost flat, with a minor spike at position 10.

### **3.2. High field/ High frequency ESR**

High frequency ESR and PC spin labels were previously used to study polarity profiles in phospholipid membranes14, 26, 27. For example, in a detailed ESR study at 250GHz 5,7,10,12,14 and 16 PC were studied in DPPC and DPPC/gramicidin systems26. It was found that in pure DPPC most spins are strongly aggregated and the spectrum consists mostly (especially for

**3. Membrane environment** 

**3.2. High field/ High frequency ESR** 

**3.1. X-band ESR** 

 DMPC DMPC/Chol DPPC DPPC/Chol 5 68.9 69.7 69.2 70.1 7 69.3 70.1 69.9 (broadening) 69.1 10 69.6 66.6 69.5 (more broadening) 66.5 12 68.4 66.3 67.2 66.4 14 69.3 66.4 66.3 66.8 16 69.3 66.2 66.7 66.5

**Table 3.** Hyperfine splitting parameter 2Azz in DMPC and DPPC membranes with and without cholesterol determined by X-band ESR at 77K. To record the ESR spectra the samples in 1.2 mm ID

The full extent of the 9 GHz spectrum is determined by the largest of the principal values of the 14N hyperfine constant, which is Azz. Hence at X-band, the distance between outer extrema for a well-resolved spectrum in the rigid limit is exactly 2Azz. This value is known to increase ~ 2G if nitroxide is transferred from a non-polar solvent like hydrocarbons to water and, as mentioned above, can be considered a measure for local polarity. Table.3 shows the 2Azz determined by X-band ESR as the outer splitting of the rigid limit spectra at 77K. As seen from the data, DMPC/Cholesterol (Fig. 2B) and DPPC/Cholesterol (Fig. 2D) membranes, consistent with previous observations3, show abrupt drop in the 2Azz value, between *n*-PC positions 7 and 10. However, for DMPC, in the absence of cholesterol, the 2Azz value shows little trend throughout the PC spin labels series and remains ~ 69.5G (cf. Fig. 2A), which correspond to a relatively polar environment, more polar than ethanol (see below). DPPC in the absence of cholesterol (Fig. 2C), in general, shows a profile similar to a cholesterol-containing membrane, though the spectra, especially for positions 7-12 show signs of a broad singlet-like component.

The dependencies of relaxation enhancement 1 *P* by 10 mM of Ni(ClO4)2 on the spinlabeling position for the gel and liquid crystal phase of DMPC are given in Fig. 3. Here P is the relaxation parameter *P=*g*eT1T2* , where g*e* is the electron gyromagnetic ratio and *T1* and *T2* are corresponding effective relaxation times. In the liquid crystal phase (T=390C) the interaction with the paramagnetic relaxant decreases with increasing *n*, consistent with an increase in the average immersion depth of the spin label moiety in the membrane. On the contrary, the 1 *P* profile in the gel phase (Pβ, T=190C) is almost flat, with a minor spike at position 10.

High frequency ESR and PC spin labels were previously used to study polarity profiles in phospholipid membranes14, 26, 27. For example, in a detailed ESR study at 250GHz 5,7,10,12,14 and 16 PC were studied in DPPC and DPPC/gramicidin systems26. It was found that in pure DPPC most spins are strongly aggregated and the spectrum consists mostly (especially for

capillaries after long exposure at 190C were quickly submerged into liquid nitrogen.

**Figure 2.** 9 GHz ESR spectra of PC spin labels in DMPC (A) (from 16), DMPC/30% Cholesterol (B), DPPC (C) and DPPC/30% Cholesterol (D) at 77K. In (C) spectra of 7PC and 10 PC with most broadening are shown in color.

(C)

**Figure 2.** 9 GHz ESR spectra of PC spin labels in DMPC (A) (from 16), DMPC/30% Cholesterol (B), DPPC (C) and DPPC/30% Cholesterol (D) at 77K. In (C) spectra of 7PC and 10 PC with most broadening

are shown in color.

(D)

**Figure 3.** Relaxation enhancement from 10 mM of Ni(ClO4)2 introduced into the water phase of lipid DMPC dispersions as a function of *n* in the Pβ (190C) and L (390C) lipid phases. An almost flat accessibility profile in the gel might indicate similar average membrane immersion depth for the nitroxide moieties of all studied PC labels (from 16).

7-12 PCs) of a singlet-like signal. Although the g-factor values for the resolved rigid-limit component seems to indicate increasing immersion of the nitroxide into the hydrophobic core of the membrane with increasing *n*, it is difficult to obtain any information on the location of aggregates which manifest themselves in the broad component. However, addition of cholesterol prevents such aggregation and yields in better resolved spectra27.

### *3.2.1. Frozen DMPC/DPPC membranes with cholesterol: Partition-like depth distribution of spin labels*

Several W-band (94GHz) studies by Marsh and coworkers14, 27, 28 on DMPC/Cholesterol membranes utilized all *n*-PC spin labels in the 4-16 range (except 15-PC). Based on the gxx values detailed polarity profiles for these systems were suggested. These polarity profiles appeared to be similar to the polarity profiles previously obtained by rigid limit X-band ESR from the hyperfine splitting3 values. However, a close inspection of the spectra of 27 shows two partially resolved components, which likely correspond to hydrogen-bonded and nonhydrogen-bonded states of the nitroxide radical. These two components are discernible not only for the area of abrupt "polarity change" (PC 5-10), but also for PC14-16. Higher resolution of 240GHz ESR allows for complete separation and identifying these components. Fig.4 A, B show the spectra for DMPC and DPPC in the presence of cholesterol. The ESR spectra in the two different lipids are very similar, nearly identical. There are two components discernible for n7, which are completely resolved for n10, with gxx= 2.009435 and gxx= 2.008820 (with gzz taken as 2.00233, see 29). The two *g* values are nearly the same for all *n*. For 5-PC only the polar component is present.

**Figure 4.** Rigid-limit 240 GHz ESR spectra of *n*-PC spin labels in DMPC and in DPPC containing 30% mol cholesterol. T=80-82K. The samples are gradually frozen in the flow of gaseous nitrogen. Red lines show simulations of these spectra using two components with the gxx = 2.009435±0.000005 and 2.008820±0.000005 for all spectra. gyy and gzz are taken 2.006100 and 2.00233 for both components (from 16).

*Can these two components just reflect a water penetration profile?* It has previously been assumed that polarity profile reported by spin labels for fluid and frozen membranes containing cholesterol in general follows the membrane water penetration profile23, 30, 31. However, the exact features of the ESR spectrum at low temperature may be defined by interplay of this water penetration and the flexibility of spin-labeled lipid chains, see below. While, due to the short acyl tether, the nitroxide of 5PC is always located in the area with higher water content and shows only hydrogen-bonded component, longer acyl tethers can reach a less polar area with lower water content. Yet, even for 14 and16PC there is a substantial fraction of hydrogenbonded component. Moreover, the fraction of the hydrogen-bonded component does not decrease monotonically with an increase in the *n* number. As seen in Fig.4 A, B and Table 4, this fraction experiences a dramatic drop between 7 and 10PC and then gradually increases further for positions 12,14 and 16. Based on these observations and what is currently known about flexibility of spin-labeled lipids10, we believe that the hydrogen-bonded component mainly corresponds to bent conformations of the spin-labeled lipid chain, rather than penetration of water molecules to the middle of the membrane and forming a hydrogen bond with the nitroxide moiety of the PC spin label in a fully extended conformation.

Indeed, theoretical estimates32 show that the concentration of water in the middle of the DPPC membrane is ~ 1 mM. It should be even lower for membranes containing cholesterol, since cholesterol is known to substantially decrease water permeability across lipid membranes33, 34. For the equilibrium constant between hydrogen bonded/unbonded forms of 16-sasl in toluene - trifluoroethanol mixtures Marsh30 gives a value ~ 1M-1. This value is determined from the isotropic hyperfine splitting at room temperature. Our estimates for this constant for various nitroxides based on measurements of 2Azz values in ethanol –


**Table 4.** Ratio of hydrogen bonded, HB (gxx= 2.00882) and non-hydrogen bonded components (gxx=2.009435) determined from rigid-limit simulations of n-PC spin labels in DMPC and DPPC containing 30% mol cholesterol.

176 Nitroxides – Theory, Experiment and Applications

**Figure 4.** Rigid-limit 240 GHz ESR spectra of *n*-PC spin labels in DMPC and in DPPC containing 30% mol cholesterol. T=80-82K. The samples are gradually frozen in the flow of gaseous nitrogen. Red lines show simulations of these spectra using two components with the gxx = 2.009435±0.000005 and

2.008820±0.000005 for all spectra. gyy and gzz are taken 2.006100 and 2.00233 for both components (from 16).

*Can these two components just reflect a water penetration profile?* It has previously been assumed that polarity profile reported by spin labels for fluid and frozen membranes containing cholesterol in general follows the membrane water penetration profile23, 30, 31. However, the exact features of the ESR spectrum at low temperature may be defined by interplay of this water penetration and the flexibility of spin-labeled lipid chains, see below. While, due to the short acyl tether, the nitroxide of 5PC is always located in the area with higher water content and shows only hydrogen-bonded component, longer acyl tethers can reach a less polar area with lower water content. Yet, even for 14 and16PC there is a substantial fraction of hydrogenbonded component. Moreover, the fraction of the hydrogen-bonded component does not decrease monotonically with an increase in the *n* number. As seen in Fig.4 A, B and Table 4, this fraction experiences a dramatic drop between 7 and 10PC and then gradually increases further for positions 12,14 and 16. Based on these observations and what is currently known about flexibility of spin-labeled lipids10, we believe that the hydrogen-bonded component mainly corresponds to bent conformations of the spin-labeled lipid chain, rather than penetration of water molecules to the middle of the membrane and forming a hydrogen bond

with the nitroxide moiety of the PC spin label in a fully extended conformation.

Indeed, theoretical estimates32 show that the concentration of water in the middle of the DPPC membrane is ~ 1 mM. It should be even lower for membranes containing cholesterol, since cholesterol is known to substantially decrease water permeability across lipid membranes33, 34. For the equilibrium constant between hydrogen bonded/unbonded forms of 16-sasl in toluene - trifluoroethanol mixtures Marsh30 gives a value ~ 1M-1. This value is determined from the isotropic hyperfine splitting at room temperature. Our estimates for this constant for various nitroxides based on measurements of 2Azz values in ethanol – DBPH mixtures by 9GHz ESR at 77K or on the ratio of hydrogen-bonded and non-hydrogen bonded components in frozen ethanol (~ 17M hydroxyl concentration) measured by 240GHz ESR give values of the same order, between 0.2M-1 and 0.5M-1. A 1:1 ratio of the two spectral components for a nitroxide located in the middle of the bilayer would thus yield a water concentration in the membrane core of ~0.5M, about three orders of magnitude higher than expected from theoretical estimates. Also, consistent with the above estimates of the equilibrium constant, in our test experiments we did not see any appearance of a hydrogen bonded component for nitroxides dissolved in frozen nearly saturated (~16 mM) solutions of water in toluene.

And finally, a strong point in favor of considering bent conformations of *n-*PC spin labels is the non-monotonic dependence of the hydrogen-bonded fraction on *n* (Table 4). In a fluid membrane the membrane depth distribution of nitroxide moieties for each spin-labeled lipid correlates to its *n*-value10. Higher *n* show deeper average immersion although the distribution is broad and even high *n* numbers show a substantial fraction of conformations with the nitroxide touching the carbonyl area. In the much denser packed gel phase the situation can be different and the spin labels may prefer defects in the lipid structure35, 36. One of the areas with such defects is just above the cholesterol rings and this should correspond to a hydrophobic local environment. It can be reached by the nitroxide of 10PC, but not 7PC. This would explain the jump in the fraction of non-polar component between 7 and 10PC, while further decrease in this fraction could be attributed to U-shaped conformations for higher values of *n*. These conformations put the nitroxide moiety back to the surface region with high water content, while the hydrocarbon chain mostly remains located in the hydrophobic part of the membrane.

Indeed, if we assume that the spin-labeled *sn*-chain takes on mostly the fully extended conformation, we would observe a similar jump after the nitroxide moiety reaches the hydrophobic core of the membrane, but with further increase in the *n* number the hydrogenbonded fraction would decrease and quickly disappear.

Another limiting case suggests that the acyl-chain hydrocarbon tether connecting the nitroxide to the lipid head group can take all possible coil conformations of the chain. It will

put the possible position of the nitroxide of an *n*-PC spin label anywhere within a half sphere with a radius of the all-stretched conformation for the nitroxide tethers. This half sphere would rest on the membrane surface (cf. Fig.5). The ratio of hydrogen bonded/unbonded components would be opposite to the volume ratio of the spherical cap, which is cut off by the border of the hydrophobic core of the membrane, and the rest of the half sphere. If the cap height is half of the sphere radius, the ratio will be 2.2, similar to what we see for 7PC (Table 4). This observation can be then used to set (in a rather arbitrary fashion) the cutoff of the hydrophobic core at "3.5" PC, half of the acyl tether for 7PC in the fully extended conformation. The predictions of the components ratio obtained with this cutoff value by further applying the formula for the spherical cap are given in Table 5.

**Figure 5.** A model of random distribution of conformations of the spin label tethers for 7PC. It puts the spin label in some random position within the half-sphere. The spherical cap is the intersection of the

area available for the nitroxide and the hydrophobic core of the membrane.


**Table 5.** Estimates for the ratio of hydrogen bonded and non-hydrogen bonded components based on the simple model shown in Fig. 12. The location of the nitroxide moiety is considered in the hydrophobic core of the membrane if the distance to the membrane surface is more than half of the acyl tether for 7PC in the fully extended conformation ("3.5 PC").

Although this model is qualitatively better when compared to Table 4, it does not reproduce the observed abrupt drop between positions 7 and 10. Also, no model assuming some random distribution of nitroxide depth position would reproduce the decrease in the hydrophobic fraction with further increase in *n* beyond 10.

To better explain the observed effects one could assume some set of preferential depth positions in the membrane to be occupied by the nitroxide ring. These positions may be areas of defects in the membrane structure, which can more easily accommodate a structuredisturbing nitroxide moiety than areas with compact alignment of hydrocarbon chains. One of the areas of such defects could start above the end of the rigid fused-ring system of cholesterol37, which is about the level reachable by *n*-PC labels starting from *n*=9. Once the tether length is sufficient, nitroxides start populating these favorable locations causing the change in the component ratio. However, the preference of the nitroxide ring for the location in the hydrophobic part of a DMPC/Cholesterol or DPPC/Cholesterol membrane apparently does not completely overwhelm its affinity to some sites close to the membrane surface. It gives a partition-like distribution between the two sites which is observable in the spectrum of all *n*-PC labels with *n*>7 as two components.

178 Nitroxides – Theory, Experiment and Applications

put the possible position of the nitroxide of an *n*-PC spin label anywhere within a half sphere with a radius of the all-stretched conformation for the nitroxide tethers. This half sphere would rest on the membrane surface (cf. Fig.5). The ratio of hydrogen bonded/unbonded components would be opposite to the volume ratio of the spherical cap, which is cut off by the border of the hydrophobic core of the membrane, and the rest of the half sphere. If the cap height is half of the sphere radius, the ratio will be 2.2, similar to what we see for 7PC (Table 4). This observation can be then used to set (in a rather arbitrary fashion) the cutoff of the hydrophobic core at "3.5" PC, half of the acyl tether for 7PC in the fully extended conformation. The predictions of the components ratio obtained with this cutoff value by further applying the formula for the spherical cap are given in Table 5.

**Figure 5.** A model of random distribution of conformations of the spin label tethers for 7PC. It puts the spin label in some random position within the half-sphere. The spherical cap is the intersection of the

*n-*PC 5 7 10 12 14 16 HB/non-HB 7.2 2.2 1.01 0.74 0.58 0.48 **Table 5.** Estimates for the ratio of hydrogen bonded and non-hydrogen bonded components based on

hydrophobic core of the membrane if the distance to the membrane surface is more than half of the acyl

Although this model is qualitatively better when compared to Table 4, it does not reproduce the observed abrupt drop between positions 7 and 10. Also, no model assuming some random distribution of nitroxide depth position would reproduce the decrease in the

To better explain the observed effects one could assume some set of preferential depth positions in the membrane to be occupied by the nitroxide ring. These positions may be

the simple model shown in Fig. 12. The location of the nitroxide moiety is considered in the

area available for the nitroxide and the hydrophobic core of the membrane.

tether for 7PC in the fully extended conformation ("3.5 PC").

hydrophobic fraction with further increase in *n* beyond 10.

A gradual increase in the hydrogen-bonded fraction between PC10 and PC16 can be also explained using this partition model. For an *n-PC* spin label, the same carbon atom of the nitroxide ring that is connected to the acyl tether also has a hydrocarbon tail with a length of *18-n* carbons attached. Bringing the nitroxide label of 10PC to the membrane surface will require, on the average, placing more hydrophobic CH2 groups to the polar area than for 16PC. This will be associated with some energy penalty preventing the nitroxide of 10PC from leaving the hydrophobic core and affecting the partition. Note also a slight drop in the accessibility of the 10PC position for Ni2+ ions for cholesterol-free DMPC membranes, which may have the same origin.

## *3.2.2. DMPC and DPPC without cholesterol. Nitroxide moiety as a foreign body in the bilayer*

It has been previously observed that in the absence of cholesterol, PC spin labels in DPPC26 and DMPC27 at rigid limit conditions have a strong broad background signal. This signal points at aggregation of spin labels and is most pronounced for the7-12 PC positions. Since no significant signs of such aggregation are seen in the fluid phase of the membrane or in the gel phase in the presence of cholesterol, this aggregation can be specifically attributed to the gel or crystalline (sub-gel) state of pure-lipid membranes. Also, since diffusion in the gel phase is slow, one can expect hysteresis effects and effects of the sample-treatment procedure, see38, 39.

Fig. 6 shows 240 GHz ESR spectra of PC spin labels in DMPC membranes without cholesterol. These spectra were recorded after the sample was slowly cooled from 295 to 85K within ~ 2 hours. As in the presence of cholesterol, two components with different gxx are clearly discernible. However, another broad unresolved component, which is present for all spin labels but most pronounced for 7-12PC, follows a previously observed26 pattern for DPPC at 250GHz . Our 240 GHz data for DPPC obtained under the same conditions as those for DMPC are very similar to the 250 GHz results by Earle et al.26 and shown in Fig.7. A nonpolar (non -hydrogen bonded) component similar to the non-polar component in membranes containing cholesterol can be identified by its characteristic gxx value. However, there is an important and obvious difference between DMPC and DPPC at first inspection. In DPPC there is only one resolved component which shows the gxx value corresponding to the non-hydrogen bonded state of the nitroxide, while in DMPC two components are clearly

**Figure 6.** *n*-PC spin labels in DMPC with no cholesterol at 80-82K. The samples are gradually frozen in the flow of gaseous nitrogen. The vertical lines indicate g values of 2.00882 and 2.009435. (The additional superposition signal for 7PC originates from an occasional manganese impurity in the sample holder) (from 16).

**Figure 7.** n-PC spin labels in DPPC with no cholesterol at 80-82K. The samples are gradually frozen in the flow of gaseous nitrogen (from 16).

discernible in the spectrum. This observation is in good accord with the X-band results, which indicate a less polar environment reported by high values of *n* in DPPC compared to DMPC (cf. Table 3, Figs. 2A, 2C).

180 Nitroxides – Theory, Experiment and Applications

(from 16).

the flow of gaseous nitrogen (from 16).

**Figure 6.** *n*-PC spin labels in DMPC with no cholesterol at 80-82K. The samples are gradually frozen in the flow of gaseous nitrogen. The vertical lines indicate g values of 2.00882 and 2.009435. (The additional superposition signal for 7PC originates from an occasional manganese impurity in the sample holder)

**Figure 7.** n-PC spin labels in DPPC with no cholesterol at 80-82K. The samples are gradually frozen in

It is very unlikely that small structural differences between the gel phase bilayers of DMPC and DPPC40, 41 cause dramatically different water penetration into these membranes and explain the presence of the hydrogen-bonded component in DMPC, but not DPPC. Moreover, it has been recently shown that water penetration into the membrane depends rather on the surface area of the lipid (which is nearly identical for DMPC and DPPC) than on the membrane thickness42. Thus, it makes the explanation of the difference between DMPC and DPPC through dramatically different water penetration very unlikely. Even more intriguing, the average environment of the nitroxide in DPPC looks, at the first glance, less polar in the absence of cholesterol, since no component with a clear peak at smaller gxx can be detected, cf. Fig 8.

**Figure 8.** Comparison of 14 PC spin label in DMPC and DPPC with/without cholesterol. All samples are slowly frozen in the flow of gaseous nitrogen. While in the presence of cholesterol the spectra can be described as a superposition of two rigid-limit components, the most salient feature in the absence of cholesterol is a broad singlet-like background signal (from 16).

However, the most salient feature of all spectra, both DMPC and DPPC, in the absence of cholesterol, is a broad singlet-like background signal which accounts for most of the spins. The location of spins responsible for this background is unclear. In Fig. 8 one can see an apparent broadening of the hydrogen-bonded component in DMPC and complete absence of this component in DPPC, concomitant with an increase in the background. A likely explanation for these observations is that the hydrogen-bonded and non hydrogen- bonded forms of PC spin labels aggregate differently. If the hydrogen bonded form is more prone to aggregation than the non- bonded one, it likely becomes broader due to more interactions between spins. In the superposition, spectral peaks from this broad component are less intense and eventually, with an increase in broadening, not discernible at all. To test this hypothesis we cooled our samples very rapidly in an attempt to trap the hydrogen-bonded component before aggregation could occur.

#### *Slow cooling vs. quick submerging into liquid nitrogen*

Quantitative study of aggregation in the gel or subgel phases is difficult because of the slow diffusion rates and various hysteresis effects. For example, even though the gel phase of DPPC does not favor formation of gramicidin channels, it takes between an hour and several days for these channels to dissociate39. There are also indications pointing to a relatively slow time scale for aggregation of PC spin labels in the gel-phase. Fig. 9 shows saturation curves for 0.5 mol. % of 7PC in DMPC. At 190C, in the Pβ phase, this system show good saturation, with a P parameter of ~ 19. Saturation measurements performed immediately after cooling to 20C give a similarly high P value. However, after longer exposure at this temperature the P value starts to decrease and after several hours drops below 2. This increase in relaxation is very likely due to aggregation, and this aggregation appears to be a relatively slow process at 20C. Also, this increase in relaxation is reversible; return to 190C reverses the aggregation and the P value. Although a temperature of 20C should correspond to the subgel phase, the exact phase state of the lipid at this condition is not obvious due to likely supercooling, see below. It usually takes days at this temperature to form the LC phase, which then can be characterized by X-Ray diffraction.

**Figure 9.** Change in relaxation curve of 7PC in DMPC under exposure at 20C. This increase in relaxation occurs gradually within several hours and it can be completely reversed by a brief exposure at 190C (from 16).

Previously, similar observations of exclusion of 5PC spin labels from DPPC after exposure at 00C by using Saturation Transfer ESR43 were attributed to formation of a sub-gel phase.

182 Nitroxides – Theory, Experiment and Applications

component before aggregation could occur.

*Slow cooling vs. quick submerging into liquid nitrogen* 

aggregation than the non- bonded one, it likely becomes broader due to more interactions between spins. In the superposition, spectral peaks from this broad component are less intense and eventually, with an increase in broadening, not discernible at all. To test this hypothesis we cooled our samples very rapidly in an attempt to trap the hydrogen-bonded

Quantitative study of aggregation in the gel or subgel phases is difficult because of the slow diffusion rates and various hysteresis effects. For example, even though the gel phase of DPPC does not favor formation of gramicidin channels, it takes between an hour and several days for these channels to dissociate39. There are also indications pointing to a relatively slow time scale for aggregation of PC spin labels in the gel-phase. Fig. 9 shows saturation curves for 0.5 mol. % of 7PC in DMPC. At 190C, in the Pβ phase, this system show good saturation, with a P parameter of ~ 19. Saturation measurements performed immediately after cooling to 20C give a similarly high P value. However, after longer exposure at this temperature the P value starts to decrease and after several hours drops below 2. This increase in relaxation is very likely due to aggregation, and this aggregation appears to be a relatively slow process at 20C. Also, this increase in relaxation is reversible; return to 190C reverses the aggregation and the P value. Although a temperature of 20C should correspond to the subgel phase, the exact phase state of the lipid at this condition is not obvious due to likely supercooling, see below. It usually takes days at this temperature

to form the LC phase, which then can be characterized by X-Ray diffraction.

**Figure 9.** Change in relaxation curve of 7PC in DMPC under exposure at 20C. This increase in relaxation occurs gradually within several hours and it can be completely reversed by a brief exposure at 190C (from 16). We expected that quick freezing (within ~ 0.2s) of the sample by instantly submerging into liquid nitrogen should substantially eliminate these slow lipid rearrangement effects compared to the standard slow cooling procedure using a flow cryostat. Indeed, spectra recorded after this simple quick-freeze procedure were different from the spectra obtained by gradual cooling in a flow of gaseous nitrogen. As seen in Fig. 10A the spectrum of 14PC in DPPC does not have a broad singlet-like component and can be well simulated by a simple superposition of two rigid limit spectra with gxx of 2.00943 and gxx= 2.00882.

**Figure 10.** 14PC in DPPC (A) and DMPC (B): gradual cooling vs. quick freeze by submerging into liquid nitrogen. The spectra are recorded at 80-82K. In the case of quick freezing the broad unresolved component disappears and the spectrum can be well described as a superposition of HB/non-HB forms of the nitroxide. The HB/non-HB ratio is 2.2:1 for DPPC and 3.1:1 for DMPC (from 16).

Importantly, most 14PC spins are present in the form of the hydrogen bonded component, which has a fraction greater than the non-bonded one by a 2.2:1 ratio.

As seen from Fig 11, quick freezing helps to dramatically decrease the amount of the broad background signal and yields well resolved rigid-limit spectra even when a standard cooling procedure results in nearly unresolvable, broad-feature spectra.

**Figure 11.** Obtaining better resolved spectra by quick freezing in liquid nitrogen (from 16).

#### *Nitroxides in the L phase – an analogy to bulk crystallizing solids*

One of the possible artifacts of using molecular probes as reporters in biological and model membranes is their exclusion from the membrane interior to the membrane surface. Such exclusion of certain molecules or structural units is a natural feature of membrane biological function. For example, exclusion of tryptophans and their affinity to the membrane interface is an important factor in lipid-protein interactions and stabilization of certain conformations of transmembrane protein/peptides44. Exclusion from the bilayer and formation of some Ushaped conformations have been known for a long time for a number of fluorescent labels7, 9, 11.

Spin labels are usually considered as more adequate molecular probes for lipid bilayers, as evidenced by studies in fluid membranes (see Introduction). However, our current study shows that in the gel phase the situation is different. Several ESR parameters (accessibility for Ni2+ ions absorbed on the membrane surface, hyperfine tensor and g-tensor components) unambiguously indicate that in the gel phase a substantial fraction of nitroxide is located in the membrane region with high water content. Pure lipids DMPC and DPPC form the L΄ β "tilted gel" phase with densely packed and relatively well ordered hydrocarbon chains. The ability of nitroxide groups on spin labeled stearic acids to be excluded from hydrocarbon environments and form U-shaped conformations has been previously reported12, 13. In principle, formation of the L΄ β phase can be compared with freezing of a bulk threedimensional solvent. In this case solutes are excluded from crystallizing solvent and form some regions with high local concentration. If the solute is a nitroxide radical, freezing of its solution in non glass-forming media is well known to yield a broad signal similar to one observed in DMPC or DPPC without cholesterol (Figs 6, 7).

In the case of a lipid in the gel phase the complete exclusion of spin labels into a separate phase with a high spin concentration appears to take two steps. The first one, exclusion of nitroxides from the hydrophobic area of the membrane, occurs once the lipid forms an Lβ΄or even a Pβ phase (cf. Fig 3 for 190C, the Pβ phase of DMPC, also the quick-freeze spectra in Fig. 10). The second stage, which is a formation of separate phase by these bentconformation molecules, can be attributed to lateral aggregation in the supercooled gel, possibly at the gel/subgel phase transition.

Although formation of subgel phases was initially observed after storing a multilamellar suspension of DPPC at ~00C for several days45, there are reports of quicker gel/subgel transformations in DPPC and DMPC. For example, in one protocol46 the subgel (SGII) phase in DPPC forms at about 70C upon cooling at 20C/min. These conditions are very similar to cooling conditions observed in our "slow cooling" experiment – and, in general, the cooling conditions usually existing in standard helium/nitrogen cryostats. For DMPC, formation of the subgel phase was reported after incubation at temperatures of -50C or lower for 2h47. But, the kinetics of subgel formation is complex48 and in some cases the final subgel phase contains spectroscopic features characteristic for the Lβ΄ phase49. It could be possible that aggregation of spin labels does not require a complete transformation into the subgel phase, in the sense of giving a clean X-ray pattern, and can happen sooner during cooling.

Again, we would like to stress that exclusion of nitroxides from the hydrophobic membrane core occurs in all gel phases and is a separate effect from the succeeding lateral aggregation in the supercooled gel phase.

Our quick freeze vs. slow cooling experiments can also help answer an important question about the nature of the two components in the 240GHz spectrum. Does the component with a larger gxx correspond to the location of the nitroxide in the hydrophobic part of the membrane? Or both components arise from equilibrium of the hydrogen-bonded/nonhydrogen bonded forms in the same location, like TEMPONE in ethanol (cf. Fig. 1A)? The different aggregation behavior of spins contributing into these components points to their different location. That is, the major hydrogen-bonded component comes from nitroxides excluded from the hydrophobic part into the area with high water content, while the minor non-polar component may arise from spins somehow trapped in the defects of the hydrophobic membrane core.

### **3.3. What about biological membranes?**

β

184 Nitroxides – Theory, Experiment and Applications

*Nitroxides in the L*

principle, formation of the L΄

Importantly, most 14PC spins are present in the form of the hydrogen bonded component,

As seen from Fig 11, quick freezing helps to dramatically decrease the amount of the broad background signal and yields well resolved rigid-limit spectra even when a standard

which has a fraction greater than the non-bonded one by a 2.2:1 ratio.

cooling procedure results in nearly unresolvable, broad-feature spectra.

**Figure 11.** Obtaining better resolved spectra by quick freezing in liquid nitrogen (from 16).

 *phase – an analogy to bulk crystallizing solids* 

One of the possible artifacts of using molecular probes as reporters in biological and model membranes is their exclusion from the membrane interior to the membrane surface. Such exclusion of certain molecules or structural units is a natural feature of membrane biological function. For example, exclusion of tryptophans and their affinity to the membrane interface is an important factor in lipid-protein interactions and stabilization of certain conformations of transmembrane protein/peptides44. Exclusion from the bilayer and formation of some Ushaped conformations have been known for a long time for a number of fluorescent labels7, 9, 11. Spin labels are usually considered as more adequate molecular probes for lipid bilayers, as evidenced by studies in fluid membranes (see Introduction). However, our current study shows that in the gel phase the situation is different. Several ESR parameters (accessibility for Ni2+ ions absorbed on the membrane surface, hyperfine tensor and g-tensor components) unambiguously indicate that in the gel phase a substantial fraction of nitroxide is located in the membrane region with high water content. Pure lipids DMPC and DPPC form the L΄

"tilted gel" phase with densely packed and relatively well ordered hydrocarbon chains. The ability of nitroxide groups on spin labeled stearic acids to be excluded from hydrocarbon environments and form U-shaped conformations has been previously reported12, 13. In

dimensional solvent. In this case solutes are excluded from crystallizing solvent and form some regions with high local concentration. If the solute is a nitroxide radical, freezing of its

β phase can be compared with freezing of a bulk three-

The gel phase rarely exists in biological membranes and the subgel phase is unknown for them. However, polarity measurements in frozen natural membranes using PC spin labels can also be affected by the affinity of spin labels to some structural defects, especially in the presence of proteins. For example, all PC labels in mixtures of DPPC with gramicidin A show about the same gxx value, indicative of the same polarity26, most likely due to an interaction with the peptide's -helical structure. Also, natural membranes usually have complex lipid head group composition and variety of lengths and unsaturation in acyl chains. This can affect the free volume available for spin labels both in the hydrophobic core and in the membrane interface. Fig. 12 shows 240 GHz spectra for 14PC in egg-yolk lecithin with and without cholesterol.

**Figure 12.** 14 PC in EYL with and without cholesterol at 82K. The samples are gradually frozen in the flow of gaseous nitrogen. The corresponding one and two-component (the ratio of components with gxx=2.009410 and 2.008820 is 0.5) rigid limit simulations are shown in red (from 16).

One can see that, similar to DMPC and DPPC membranes, the fraction of the hydrogenbonded component drops with addition of cholesterol (cf. Figs 4 and the quick-freeze spectra in Fig.10 ). However, compared to DMPC and DPPC membranes this fraction in EYL is lower. Actually, in EYL/Cholesterol only a non-polar component can be observed in the spectrum. It can be explained by the presence of a double bond in the acyl chain of EYL. This unsaturated bond has a kink, which disrupts the packing of lipids. It creates extra free space in the hydrophobic core of the membrane50, and thus may shift the partition of nitroxides in favor of the membrane interior. Also, a variety of headgroups may improve packing in the polar head area, additionally forcing nitroxides into the hydrophobic core.

### **3.4. Summary**

The ESR parameters of PC spin labels in frozen membranes do not simply represent the membrane polarity or water penetration profile. Instead, they show a distribution between hydrogen-bonded (HB) and non-hydrogen bonded (non-HB) states, which is affected by a number of factors in the membrane composition. In frozen lipid membranes at 240 GHz *n*- PC labels with *n* > 7 usually show two-component ESR spectra corresponding to HB and non-HB states of the nitroxide. In DMPC and DPPC membranes without cholesterol the ESR spectra recorded after gradual sample cooling show a broad background signal as well. But if the sample is instantly frozen, the broad background signal is absent and one observes mainly the HB component. We attribute the HB component for *n*10 to bent conformations of the nitroxide tethers. Such conformations at 9 GHz ESR manifest themselves in apparent "polar" Azz values and increased accessibility of the nitroxide to aqueous Ni2+ ions. These bent conformations prevail in the absence of cholesterol due to the tendency of the pure gel phase to exclude nitroxides, similar to the exclusion of solutes from crystallizing solvents. The formation of a separate phase of spin-labeled lipid (i.e. precipitate) manifests itself in the broad background ESR signal and occurs slowly in the supercooled gel. In membranes with cholesterol the observed HB/ non-HB ratio can best be described by a partition-like equilibrium between nitroxides located in defects of lipid structure in the hydrophobic core of the membrane and those close to the membrane surface.

### **Abbreviations**

186 Nitroxides – Theory, Experiment and Applications

with and without cholesterol.

**3.4. Summary** 

interaction with the peptide's -helical structure. Also, natural membranes usually have complex lipid head group composition and variety of lengths and unsaturation in acyl chains. This can affect the free volume available for spin labels both in the hydrophobic core and in the membrane interface. Fig. 12 shows 240 GHz spectra for 14PC in egg-yolk lecithin

**Figure 12.** 14 PC in EYL with and without cholesterol at 82K. The samples are gradually frozen in the flow of gaseous nitrogen. The corresponding one and two-component (the ratio of components with

One can see that, similar to DMPC and DPPC membranes, the fraction of the hydrogenbonded component drops with addition of cholesterol (cf. Figs 4 and the quick-freeze spectra in Fig.10 ). However, compared to DMPC and DPPC membranes this fraction in EYL is lower. Actually, in EYL/Cholesterol only a non-polar component can be observed in the spectrum. It can be explained by the presence of a double bond in the acyl chain of EYL. This unsaturated bond has a kink, which disrupts the packing of lipids. It creates extra free space in the hydrophobic core of the membrane50, and thus may shift the partition of nitroxides in favor of the membrane interior. Also, a variety of headgroups may improve packing in the polar head area, additionally forcing nitroxides into the hydrophobic core.

The ESR parameters of PC spin labels in frozen membranes do not simply represent the membrane polarity or water penetration profile. Instead, they show a distribution between hydrogen-bonded (HB) and non-hydrogen bonded (non-HB) states, which is affected by a number of factors in the membrane composition. In frozen lipid membranes at 240 GHz *n*-

gxx=2.009410 and 2.008820 is 0.5) rigid limit simulations are shown in red (from 16).

HF ESR, HFHF ESR: High Field ESR, High Field/High Frequency ESR

DMPC: 1,2-dimyristoyl-*sn*-glycero-3-phosphocholine

DPPC: 1,2-dipalmitoyl-*sn*-glycero-3-phosphocholine

EYL: egg yolk lecithin

n-PC spin labels: 1-palmitoyl-2-stearoyl-(n-doxyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholines

TFE: 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

MCH: methylcyclohexane

TEMPO: 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl

TEMPOL, 4-Hydroxy-TEMPO: 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl

TEMPONE, Oxo-TEMPO: 4-oxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl

## **Author details**

Boris Dzikovski and Jack Freed *National Biomedical Center for Advanced ESR Technology (ACERT), Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA* 

## **Acknowledgement**

This work was supported by the National Institute of Health, grants NIH/NIBIB R010EB003150 and NIH/NCRR P41-RR 016292 and NIH/NIGMS P41GM103521.

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