title: Electron diffraction studies of human erythrocyte membrane and its lipid extracts. Effects of hydration, temperature and hydrolysis.
abstract: The organization of lipid molecules in individual human erythrocyte ghost membranes and single bilayers of their total lipid extracts were studied by low-dose electron diffraction in a controlled environment. The highest onset temperature (Ts) at which diffraction rings corresponding to a gel state appeared, were found to be in the range of -2 to -4 degrees C for both the whole ghost membrane and bilayers of its total lipid extracts. The onsets were abolished by dehydration before separated crystallizations of cholesterol and phospholipid occurred. Ts increased as a result of free fatty acids accumulation in membranes after phospholipase A2 treatment or storage.
mesh_terms: D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008055:Lipids