The effect of cholesterol in small amounts on lipid-bilayer softness in the region of the main phase transition |
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Authors: | Jesper Lemmich Kell Mortensen John Hjort Ipsen Thomas Hønger Rogert Bauer O G Mouritsen |
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Institution: | Department of Chemistry, The Technical University of Denmark, Building 206, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark (Fax: +45 45 934808; E-mail: ogmkemi-dtu.dk), DK Condensed Matter Physics and Chemistry Department, Ris? National Laboratory, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark, DK Department of Physics, Royal Danish Agricultural and Veterinary University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark, DK
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Abstract: | The temperature dependence of the small-angle neutron scattering from aqueous multilammellar DMPC lipid bilayers, containing
small amounts of cholesterol, is analyzed near the main phase transition by means of a simple geometric model which yields
the lamellar repeat distance, the hydrophobic thickness of the bilayer, the interlamellar aqueous spacing, as well as fluctuation
parameters. The observation of anomalous swelling behavior in the transition region is interpreted as an indication of bilayer
softening and thermally reduced bending rigidity. Our results indicate that the effect of small amounts of cholesterol, ≲3
mole%, is a softening of the bilayers in the transition region, whereas cholesterol contents above this range lead to the
well-known effect of rigidification. The possible biological relevance of this result is discussed.
Received: 24 October 1996 / Accepted: 9 December 1996 |
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Keywords: | Cholesterol DMPC Small-angle neutron scattering Bilayer rigidity Fluctuations Unbinding transition |
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