title: Alcohol induces interdigitated domains in unilamellar phosphatidylcholine bilayers.
abstract: Using the atomic force microscope (AFM) in situ, we have demonstrated that acyl chain interdigitation can be induced reversibly by alcohol in supported unilamellar phospholipid bilayers. At alcohol concentrations considerably lower than the critical values determined by other experimental techniques, it was found that interdigitated domains can be induced and these domains were stable over a long period of time. The mechanism of such domain formation remains to be elucidated. This work also serves as an example to illustrate the uniqueness of the AFM as a powerful tool in the study of membrane structure and conformation under physiological conditions at high spatial resolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000737:chemistry; D000433:1-Propanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; D000431:Ethanol; D000433:1-Propanol; C010942:1,2-distearoyllecithin