Polymorphic phase behaviour of cardiolipin as detected by 31P NMR and freeze-fracture techniques. Effects of calcium, dibucaine and chlorpromazine.

1. The influence of Ca2+ on the polymorphic phase behaviour of cardiolipin has been investigated employing 31P NMR and freeze-fracture techniques. The close correlation between the results obtained here and previous X-ray studies (Rand, R.P. and Sengupta, S. (1972) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 255, 484--492) confirms 31P NMR as a useful analytical procedure for investigating the polymorphic phase behaviour of hydrated phospholipids. 2. Ca2+ induces formation of the hexagonal (H11) phase via an intermediary phase which is observed at Ca2+/cardiolipin ratios of less than 1 (mol/mol). This intermediary appears to consist of "inverted' structure which lies adjacent to regions of bilayer structure. 3. The local anaesthetics dibucaine and chlorpromazine produce similar phase changes for cardiolipin as does Ca2+. It is suggested that the anaesthetics interact with the membrane in their charged form and induce their effects by charge neutralization.