Spin-labeling study of phosphatidylcholine-cardiolipin binary mixtures.

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the spin-label probe 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy have been used to study the phase behavior of binary mixtures of different phosphatidylcholines (dipalmitoyl, distearoyl, and dioleoyl) with cardiolipin, using either calcium-free or calcium-containing cardiolipin (with a calcium:cardiolipin ratio of 1:2) samples. Results show that the nature of the fatty acid chains of the phosphatidylcholines (chain length and unsaturation) may influence the coexistence of different phases as well as does the nature of the cation linked to the cardiolipin.