Abstract

Studies were carried out to evaluate structural state of adipose plasma membranes (PM) from mature adult and aged Wistar rats and its possible relation to functional changes in aging. PM lipids were probed by fluorescence of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and pyrene. The data on DPH anisotropy, pyrene excimerization and induction resonance energy transfer (IRET) from PM proteins to pyrene provided the evidence for age-dependent decrease in PM lipid phase fluidity inclusive of that of annular lipid. Interaction between PM lipids and integral proteins also changed in aging. The observed structural changes were due to age-related lipid compositional modification. Evidence for this conclusion was provided by the following data: (i) DPH anisotropy was increased in aging both in PM and liposomes from the same PM lipids; (ii) both saturation/unsaturation fatty acid ratio and relative content of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) increased in aged PM, whereas cholesterol/phospholipid and lipid/protein ratios were age-independent; (iii) PM polypeptide composition remained practically unchanged during aging. Age-related changes of the PM structure were accompanied by a twofold decrease of high affinity insulin binding sites and elevation of their affinity to insulin. It was suggested that age-related changes of physicochemical properties of PM lipid phase might affect protein molecular conformation and function through either changes in bulk lipid fluidity or through specific lipid-protein interactions.