Temperature dependence of the fluorescence of pyrene labeled crab nerve membranes

A method, using albumin-pyrene complexes, has been developed for labeling, in a controlled manner, crab leg nerves whose excitability was preserved. The excimer-to-monomer fluorescence intensity ratio of pyrene, embedded in nerve membrane lipids and in their crude lipid extracts, is a fluidity param...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular and cellular biochemistry 1979-11, Vol.27 (3), p.147-153
Main Authors: Georgescauld, D, Desmazes, J P, Duclohier, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Brachyura - physiology
Cell Membrane - physiology
Membrane Fluidity
Neurons - physiology
Pyrenes
Serum Albumin
Spectrometry, Fluorescence
Temperature
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Summary:A method, using albumin-pyrene complexes, has been developed for labeling, in a controlled manner, crab leg nerves whose excitability was preserved. The excimer-to-monomer fluorescence intensity ratio of pyrene, embedded in nerve membrane lipids and in their crude lipid extracts, is a fluidity parameter which displayed the following features with temperatures. a--a temperature-dependent increase of fluidity b--three breaks (6 degrees, 19 degrees and 37 degrees C) in the physiological medium c--In Ca++-depleted sea water, the 37 degrees characteristic temperature vanished. These breaks may reflect some lateral phase separations of the lipid components of nerve membranes. The calcium dependent temperature break may involve a segregation of acidic phospholipids while the other two breaks (6 degrees and 19 degrees C) may be due to neutral lipids phase separation. The relationship of these findings to nerve function is discussed.
ISSN:0300-8177
1573-4919
DOI:10.1007/BF00215363