X-ray diffraction evidence for the presence of discrete water layers on the surface of membranes.
X-ray diffraction spacings in multilayered membranes obtained from frog sciatic nerves were found to increase in discrete steps of approx. 5 A during swelling. These observed jumps in the repeat period suggest that the lipid bilayers exist in distinct states of hydration, and perhaps the swelling occurs by step-wise addition of water layers between the polar head groups. Our analysis and statistical tests of this hypothesis are presented.
Murthy
N S
NS
Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
Worthington
C R
CR
D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008566:Membranes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000737:chemistry; D011894:Rana pipiens; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000737:chemistry; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D008051:Lipid Bilayers