title: Membrane properties of sphingomyelins.
abstract: Sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine are important components in the external leaflet of cellular plasma membranes. In this review we compare the structure of these lipid molecules, with emphasis on the differences in hydrogen bonding capacity and membrane properties that arise from the small but significant differences in molecular structure. The membrane properties of sphingomyelins and the implications that these have, or might have, in biological membranes and for raft function are further discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Abo Akademi University, P.O. Box 66, 20521, Turku, Finland. bodil.ramstedt@abo.fi
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramstedt
authors.forename: J Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Slotte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D013109:Sphingomyelins; D002784:Cholesterol