Brandenburg K, Schromm A B, Gutsmann T
Division of Biophysics and Division of Immunbiophysics, Forschungszentrum Borstel, Parkallee 10, D-23845, Borstel, Germany.
Subcell Biochem. 2010;53:53-67. doi: 10.1007/978-90-481-9078-2_3.
Endotoxins as amphiphilic components of the outer layer of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria exert their immunostimulatory activity after release from bacterial cells. Thus, the characterization of the physicochemical properties of this glycolipid in physiological fluids is of utmost importance for an understanding of cell activation processes. Here, the essential physicochemical parameters describing endotoxins such as critical micellar concentration, acyl chain fluidity, intramolecular conformation, supramolecular structures, and size as well as morphology of the aggregates are discussed and assessed with respect to their importance for an understanding of the interaction mechanisms with immunorelevant cells. The reviewed data clearly indicate that knowledge of these parameters is essential for understanding the bioactivity of not only endotoxins, but also endotoxin-like amphiphiles.
内毒素作为革兰氏阴性菌外膜外层的两亲性成分，在从细菌细胞释放后发挥其免疫刺激活性。因此，表征这种糖脂在生理流体中的物理化学性质对于理解细胞活化过程至关重要。本文讨论并评估了描述内毒素的基本物理化学参数，如临界胶束浓度、酰基链流动性、分子内构象、超分子结构、聚集体的大小和形态，以及它们对于理解与免疫相关细胞相互作用机制的重要性。综述数据清楚地表明，了解这些参数不仅对于理解内毒素，而且对于理解内毒素样两亲物的生物活性都是必不可少的。
