Lipid binding to the amphipathic membrane protein cytochrome b5.

The lipid binding properties of the membrane protein cytochrome b(5) (detergent-extracted from calf liver microsomal preparations) were characterized by studying the interaction of spin-labeled lipids (5-, 12-, and 16-doxylstearic acid and 5- and 16-doxylphosphatidyl-choline, where doxyl refers to the nitroxide moiety) with cytochrome b(5), using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The intact cytochrome b(5) molecule immobilizes all of the lipid spin labels, while the segment of cytochrome b(5) released by trypsin does not affect lipid mobility. The immobilization of lipid spin labels on the hydrophobic surface of intact cytochrome b(5) is not appreciably altered by associating the protein with liposomes. Differences in polarity of the lipid binding sites between cytochrome b(5) and phospholipid vesicles were also observed. The lipid binding sites on cytochrome b(5) are hydrophobic by conventional criteria, but are more polar than the interior of fluid phospholipid bilayers.