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Analysis of the Bonding Location between Cannabidiol and DOPE

Introduction

After numerous trials that investigate the interactions between phospholipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) and Cannabidiol (CBD), there have been shown to be interactions that occur that affect the packing of the phospholipid membrane formed by the DOPE molecules. These interactions affect the packing and qualities of the membrane which affects how it will acts in a true cellular membrane. An understanding of this interaction could aid in understanding the effects cannabinoids such as CBD have on biomolecules and biomolecular structures such as cellular membranes when introduced into the system. This can then be used to improve the understanding of this class of molecules as well as improve the effectiveness in pharmaceuticals. Understanding the bonding location(s) of these two molecules will improve the understanding of the orientation of the molecules when in a system together and their overall impact on the overall system. These factors can affect crucial qualities of membranes such as fluidity.

DOPE-DOPE Interactions

There are two main regions associated with phospholipids, the head group, and the tail group. The head group is the hydrophilic region which is composed of numerous oxygens, a phosphate group, and other R-Groups. This region will orient towards the outside of a cell membrane. The tail group is the hydrophobic region and is composed of long hydrocarbon chains. These can be either saturated or unsaturated which are either fully bonded with hydrogens in the case of a saturated tail or have a double bond in the case of an unsaturated tail. These two regions are the main areas that inter-membraneous interactions occur between adjacent phospholipids and therefore can provide invaluable information about what is happening to a membrane when a compound, such as CBD, is introduced.