Thermotropic and Barotropic Phase Behavior of Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Hitoshi Matsuki¹  Masaki Goto¹  Kaori Tada² 

[1] Department of Life System, Institute of Technology and Science, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minamijosanjima-cho, Tokushima 770-8506, Japan; E-Mails:;Department of Material Science and Technology, Kochi National College of Technology, 200-1 Monobe-otsu, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8508, Japan; E-Mail:

关键词: bilayer;    lipid membrane;    phase diagram;    phase transition;    phosphatidylcholine;    pressure;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms14022282

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Bilayers formed by phospholipids are frequently used as model biological membranes in various life science studies. A characteristic feature of phospholipid bilayers is to undergo a structural change called a phase transition in response to environmental changes of their surroundings. In this review, we focus our attention on phase transitions of some major phospholipids contained in biological membranes, phosphatidylcholines (PCs), depending on temperature and pressure. Bilayers of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), which is the most representative lipid in model membrane studies, will first be explained. Then, the bilayer phase behavior of various kinds of PCs with different molecular structures is revealed from the temperature–pressure phase diagrams, and the difference in phase stability among these PC bilayers is discussed in connection with the molecular structure of the PC molecules. Furthermore, the solvent effect on the phase behavior is also described briefly.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.