Ionic interaction of sulfatide with choline lipids.

Aqueous systems of sphingomyelin-sulfatide and lecithin-sulfatide were compared with aqueous systems of the individual lipids. The acid capacity of the mixed lipids increased, a result of the formation of an ionic bond between the sulfate of one molecule and the positive nitrogen of the other, making the phosphate available for direct titration. Cholesterol reduces this ionic interaction, probably because of the increased spacing of the ionized groups.