Comparison of Partitioning Behaviors of L-/D-Trpin Solvent-Water System and Liposome Membrane System

Abstract

The partitioning behaviors of L-/D-Trp in a solvent-water system modified with a phospholipid and a liposome membrane system were compared. Trp was partitioned to the interface of chloroform-water system supplemented with phospholipid. As the methanol ratio in the chloroform phase increased, the Trp was gradually partitioned to the organic phase while the chiral selectivity (the partitioning ratio of L-/D-Trp) was not increased. In contrast, the liposome membrane system was found to induce a significant chiral selectivity of L-Trp against D-Trp during their partitioning from the aqueous phase to the lipid membrane. This result clearly indicates the significance of the liposome membrane, a self-assembly of higher molecular order, as an effective platform for selective separation (or recognition).