Structure and stability of vitamin E – lecithin and phytanic acid – lecithin bilayers studied by 13C and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract

¹³C spin–lattice relaxation studies on lecithin bilayers indicate a marked destabilization of the bilayer structure by incorporated vitamin E (d,l-α-tocopherol) and phytanic acid, phytanic acid causing the greatest perturbation.Kinetic analysis of paramagnetic praseodymium infusion into the lecithin vesicles containing various phytyl compounds has been performed using ³¹P nmr. Relative rates of Pr³⁺ leakage through the mixed lecithin – phytyl compound bilayer compared with pure lecithin (relative rate = 1.00) were: phytol = 7.8, vitamin E = 47.7, and phytanic acid = 2897.