title: Quantitative estimation of non-lamellar structures in membranes. A 31P-nmr and electron microscopical study of the influence of linolic acid on the erythrocyte membrane.
abstract: The influence of linolic acid on the phase behaviour of erythrocyte membranes has been studied using the 31P-nmr spectroscopy and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. For untreated membranes a lamellar arrangement is found in the nmr spectra as well as in electron micrographs. Incubation of erythrocytes with vesicles from linolic acid yields dramatic changes in membrane structure. Besides the lamellar structure there are non-lamellar phases of phospholipids. The percentage of lipids arranged in these structures can be estimated from the nmr spectra by computer simulation. A combination of freeze-fracture and nmr experiments indicates that hexagonal and micellar structures are involved in the non-lamellar phase.
mesh_terms: D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D006801:Humans; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008433:Mathematics; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
chemical_list: D008041:Linoleic Acids