Effect of ubiquinone-10 on the stability of biomimetic membranes of relevance for the inner mitochondrial membrane

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Biomembranes
Emma K ErikssonK Edwards

Abstract

Ubiquinone-10 (Q10) plays a pivotal role as electron-carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and is also well known for its powerful antioxidant properties. Recent findings suggest moreover that Q10 could have an important membrane stabilizing function. In line with this, we showed in a previous study that Q10 decreases the permeability to carboxyfluorescein (CF) and increases the mechanical strength of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (POPC) membranes. In the current study we report on the effects exerted by Q10 in membranes having a more complex lipid composition designed to mimic that of the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM). Results from DPH fluorescence anisotropy and permeability measurements, as well as investigations probing the interaction of liposomes with silica surfaces, corroborate a membrane stabilizing effect of Q10 also in the IMM-mimicking membranes. Comparative investigations examining the effect of Q10 and the polyisoprenoid alcohol solanesol on the IMM model and on membranes composed of individual IMM components suggest, moreover, that Q10 improves the membrane barrier properties via different mechanisms depending on the lipid composition of the membrane. Thus, whereas Q10's inhibitory ...Continue Reading

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