Wavelength dependence of patman equilibration dynamics in phosphatidylcholine bilayers

Assessment of the equilibration kinetics of Patman at the edges of its emission spectra provided additional insights about membrane properties beyond those obtained from end-point fluorescence measurements. Upon introduction of the probe to aqueous suspensions of liposomes, the emission intensity slowly increased about 10-fold (t½ = ~ 100 s). The rate of equilibration depended on emission wavelength, and was usually faster at 500 than at 435 nm. However, this trend was reversed for equilibration with lipids at their phase transition temperature. The apparent rotational motion of the dye also differed between the long and short emission wavelengths but did not display the slow equilibration time dependence observed with intensity measurements. These results suggested that slow equilibration reflects relaxation of the immediate membrane microenvironment around the probe rather than slow insertion into the membrane. The data were rationalized with a model that allows two membrane/probe configurations with distinct microenvironments. The analysis suggests that by monitoring the equilibration pattern of Patman, inferences can be made regarding the polarity of two microenvironments occupied by the probe, the distribution of the probe among those microenvironments, and the kinetics with which they relax to equilibrium.

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► Patman equilibration kinetics are complex.
► The rate of Patman equilibration depends on emission wavelength.
► Equilibration reflects microenvironment relaxation around the probe.
► The complexity identifies at least two microenvironment configurations.
► Analysis of kinetics provides refined observations of membrane microenvironments.