-phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Propofol (50–200 
mol/L) lowered the phase transition temperature to fluidize membranes.1. While recent studies about the pharmacological mechanism of the intravenous anaesthetic propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) have focused on its interaction with functional proteins, there is the possibility that propofol alters membrane properties to produce anaesthesia. In the present study, the structure-specific effects of propofol on liposomal model membranes were studied.
2. The effect of propofol on the phase transition of membrane phospholipid was analysed spectrophotometrically using 1,2-dipalmitoyl-L--phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Propofol (50–200 mol/L) lowered the phase transition temperature to fluidize membranes.
3. Membrane fluidization was also analysed by measuring fluorescence polarization of liposomes consisting of 1,2- dipalmitoyl-L--phosphatidylcholine, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-L- -phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol with different probes. Propofol fluidized all liposomal membranes in the concentration range 5–500 mol/L by acting on both the inner and outer layers of the membranes.
4. The membrane effects of propofol were compared with those of 2,6-dialkylphenols, 1,3-dialkylbenzenes, 2-alkylphenols and alkylbenzenes. Although the membrane-fluidizing effects were shared by a series of structural analogues, propofol was most effective in fluidizing membranes, especially liposomal membranes consisting of 20 mol% cholesterol and 80 mol% 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-L--phosphatidylcholine.
5. Lipophilicity was compared between propofol and its structural analogues using their capacity factors, determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The potency of propofol to fluidize membranes was much greater than anticipated from its lipophilicity.
6. At 0.125–1.0 mol/L, almost corresponding to clinically relevant concentrations, propofol significantly enhanced membrane fluidity of cholesterol-containing 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-L--phosphatidylcholine liposomes.
7. These results indicate that propofol fluidizes membranes in a structure-specific manner through an interaction with membrane lipids. Such a membrane effect may be responsible for the mode of anaesthetic action of propofol.
", pages = "292-299(8)", url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/cep/2001/00000028/00000004/art03441" }