USE OF SOLUBLE LIPIDS FOR BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSES - LINOLEIC ACID-CYCLODEXTRIN INCLUSION COMPLEXES IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS

The equilibria of linoleic acid (LA)-cyclodextrin (CD) complexes were studied to investigate the behaviour of 'soluble lipids' in solution a s a function of factors that typically affect biochemical processes, s uch as pH, temperature and CD structure, The above complexes are forme d with a stoicheiometry of 1:2 in solution, The first CD molecule inte racts with LA through hydrogen bonds when the pH is below the fatty ac id pK; hydrophobic interactions may also play an important role at hig h pH, The second CD molecule makes only hydrophobic contact with the L A hydrocarbon chain, The formation of hydrogen bonds is dependent on t he inner diameter of the CD whereas the strength of the hydrophobic in teractions between CD and LA can be related to the presence of hydroph obic groups in the CD. The first CD molecule interacts more strongly w ith LA at increased temperatures. The quantitative description of the LA-CD interaction allows absolute control of the effects produced by t he lipid on biochemical processes.