title: A spin label ESR and saturation transfer ESR study of alpha-tocopherol containing model membranes.
abstract: An investigation into the effect of alpha-tocopherol on phospholipid model membranes has been carried out by electron spin resonance (ESR) and saturation transfer ESR. The use of stearic acid and of perdeutero -di-t-butyl nitroxide spin probes has allowed us to monitor, in particular, the effect of alpha-tocopherol on both the phospholipid chain order and the phospholipid chain mobility. The results obtained are mainly consistent with a differing action of alpha-tocopherol in the gel and in the liquid crystalline phases: in the former it induces a decrease of order and an increase in fluidity; while in the latter phase an indication of a slight increase in ordering and a clear decrease in fluidity are registered.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica dell'Universita, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Severcan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cannistraro
mesh_terms: D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008081:Liposomes; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010743:Phospholipids; D013113:Spin Labels; D013229:Stearic Acids; D013696:Temperature; D014810:Vitamin E
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008081:Liposomes; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010743:Phospholipids; D013113:Spin Labels; D013229:Stearic Acids; D014810:Vitamin E; D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine