Decoupled phase transitions and grain-boundary melting in supported phospholipid bilayers

Two separate liquid-solid phase transitions are detected in the two monolayers of a mica-supported phospholipid bilayer by atomic force microscopy. The phase transitions of the two monolayers are decoupled by the stronger interaction between the lipid headgroups of the proximal monolayer and the mic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 94; no. 2; p. 025701
Main Authors Keller, Danielle, Larsen, Niels B, Møller, Ian M, Mouritsen, Ole G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 21.01.2005
Subjects
1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine - chemistry
Lipid Bilayers - chemistry
Liposomes - chemistry
Membrane Fluidity
Molecular Conformation
Phase Transition
Phosphatidylcholines - chemistry
Phospholipids - chemistry
Temperature
Transition Temperature
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Summary:Two separate liquid-solid phase transitions are detected in the two monolayers of a mica-supported phospholipid bilayer by atomic force microscopy. The phase transitions of the two monolayers are decoupled by the stronger interaction between the lipid headgroups of the proximal monolayer and the mica support. The transition temperature of the proximal monolayer is increased and this transition occurs over a narrower temperature range. Both transitions occur via grain-boundary melting and the variation of the width of the interfacial zone with temperature is consistent with mean-field theory.
ISSN:0031-9007
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.94.025701