Molecular motions in lipid bilayers studied by the neutron backscattering technique.
We report a high energy-resolution neutron backscattering study to investigate slow motions on nanosecond time scales in highly oriented solid supported phospholipid bilayers of the model system DMPC-d54 (deuterated 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phoshatidylcholine), hydrated with heavy water. This technique allows to discriminate the onset of mobility at different length scales for the different molecular components, as, e.g., the lipid acyl-chains and the hydration water in between the membrane stacks, respectively, and provides a benchmark test regarding the feasibility of neutron backscattering investigations on these sample systems. We discuss freezing of the lipid acyl-chains, as observed by this technique, and observe a second freezing transition which we attribute to the hydration water.
Rheinstädter
Maikel C
MC
Institut Laue-Langevin, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, BP 156, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France. rheinstaedter@ill.fr
Seydel
Tilo
T
Demmel
Franz
F
Salditt
Tim
T
D001704:Biopolymers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D004058:Diffusion; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009038:Motion; D033363:Neutron Diffraction / Q000379:methods*
D001704:Biopolymers; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008567:Membranes, Artificial