Divalent cations and chlorpromazine can induce non-bilayer structures in phosphatidic acid-containing model membranes.

(1) The structural organization of aqueous dispersions of 1,2-dioleoylphosphatidic acid has been investigated by freeze-fracture electron microscopy in relation to variations in pH, divalent cations and the local anaesthetic chlorpromazine. (2) In the pH range 4--8 in the presence of 100 mM Na+, dioleoylphosphatidic acid is organized in bilayers. (3) At pH 6 and not at pH 4 and 8.5 addition of Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+ and chlorpromazine results in the formation of the hexagonal HII phase. (4) Ca2+ and chlorpromazine addition to mixed phosphatidylcholine-dioleoylphosphatidic acid bilayers at pH 6 results in the formation of lipidic particles.