Properties of alkyl β-D-glucoside and alkyl β-D-maltoside micelles

Abstract

Characterization of alkyl β-D-glucoside (C_nG) and alkyl β-D-maltoside (C_nM) micelles has been studied. A (–) to (+) bisignate CD of (4Z, 15Z)-bilirubin-IXα(BR) is induced by C_nG or C_nM micelles, indicating that BR bound to the glycolipid micelles preferentially takes an (S)-helix configuration. The intensity of the CD induced by the C_nM micelle is stronger than that induced by the C_nG micelle. In order to understand such a phenomenon, the characterization of the C_nG and C_nM micelles has been investigated. The fluorescent probe method using 1,3-bis(1-pyrenyl)propane (P3P), pyrene and 1-pyrenecarbaldehyde suggests that C_nM provides less lipophilic and less fluid micelles compared with CG. Such a difference in micelle properties is reflected in the solubilization phenomena of C_nG and C_nM micelles. The C_nG micelles solubilize well the lipophilic solutes such as P3P and 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporhyrin. The less fluid microenvironment and higher microscopic concentration of the glucopyranose unit of the C_nM micelle seems to be preferable for forming an optically active BR–glycolipid complex.