Kinetics of solubilization with Triton X-100 of egg-yolk lecithin bilayers containing cholesterol

Abstract

The titration solubilization of multilamellar egg-yolk lecithin liposomes (MLV-EYL) with Triton X-100 was studied by rectangular optical diffusimetric measurements as a function of cholesterol (Chol) concentration. It was determinated the variation of optic percentage diffu-sion (per mmol surfactant), DDif%/mmol TX-100, in the course of solubilization of MLV-EYL-Chol system with TX-100 10mM. The statistical analysis of the titration curves can reveal the contribution of cholesterol to the stability of phospholipid bilayer membranes. The solubilization of the lecithin-cholesterol mixtures, with a high cholesterol content, much more bile salt requires.