Thermal unbinding of highly oriented phospholipid membranes

Phys Rev Lett. 2000 Jan 10;84(2):390-3. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.390.

Abstract

We present a temperature dependent x-ray reflectivity study of highly oriented, fully hydrated multilamellar phospholipid membranes. Both the specular and diffuse (nonspecular) x-ray reflectivity were measured for dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (DMPC) and oleoyl-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (POPC) on silicon substrates in excess water. In this configuration the repeat distance as well as the fluctuation spectra can be determined as a function of temperature. Both model systems studied exhibit a discontinuous unbinding transition from a substrate bound, multilamellar state to a state of freely dispersed bilayers in water. In the unbound phase a single membrane remains on the substrate.

MeSH terms

  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine / chemistry
  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine / metabolism
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry
  • Phosphatidylcholines / metabolism
  • Phospholipids / chemistry*
  • Phospholipids / metabolism*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Silicon
  • Temperature
  • Thermodynamics
  • Water / metabolism
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Phospholipids
  • Water
  • 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine
  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine
  • Silicon