Coenzyme-Q10 Promotes Lipid Phases of High Molecular Mobility when Interacting with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphatidylserine: a 13C and 31P Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study

Abstract

Coenzyme Q10, CoQ10, or ubiquinone is composed of ten isoprene units and a quinoid moiety capable of taking part in redox reactions and its reduced form, ubiquinol, is a potent free radical scavenger in lipid membranes. In this study 0, 2, 4 and 10 mol% CoQ10 in 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphatidylserine (POPS) bilayer have been prepared and 13C magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as well as static and MAS 31P NMR experiments have been carried out. The results show that CoQ10 added to the POPS bilayer will modify the properties of the lipid matrix and promote appearance of lipid phases of  higher molecular mobility than what is found in the corresponding pure POPS bilayer. The formation of CoQ10 containing lipid phases of high molecular mobility in membranes can be important for the biological function of CoQ10