EFFECTS OF FARNESOL ON THE THERMOTROPIC BEHAVIOR OF DIMYRISTOYLPHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and DPH fluorescence anisotrop y have been used to investigate the effects of trans-trans farnesol on the physical properties of model membranes and extracted cell lipids. Farnesol was shown to have a significant effect on the gel to liquid- crystal phase transition temperature, the enthalpy of the transition a nd the transition co-operativity for extruded vesicles of dimyristoylp hosphatidylcholine (DMPC). The phase transition of DMPC vesicles was e liminated at 25 mol% farnesol. Farnesol decreased the fluorescence ani sotropy of the lipids extracted from human leukemia line CEM-Cl cells.