A Scanning Calorimetric Study of the Effect of Clover Saponin on Liposomal Phospholipid Membrane

The effect of clover saponin on the phase transition of liposomal lipid bilayers of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. The thermograms of the liposomal bilayers incorporated with the clover saponin were obtained, and the enthalpy changes and the sizes of cooperative unit of the transition were calculated. The results showed that incorporation of the clover saponin into the liposomal bilayers effectively reduced the transition temperature at which the transition from solid state to liquid-crystalline state occurs, and broadened the thermogram peaks. It also reduced the size of cooperative unit of the transition. These results indicate that the clover saponin might have significant effect on the fluidity of biological membranes.