Spontaneous and reversible switch from amphiphilic to oil-like structures.
Current theories assume that the amphiphilicity of biological membranes is always preserved. We observed that two hydrogen-bonding lipid layers in contact can spontaneously and reversibly lose their amphiphilic structure and turn into an assembly of oily complexes. This result opens a new angle for understanding the reorganization of lipids during membrane fusion, since similar complexes could fill the troubling hydrophobic voids displayed in the current models. The unique tribological properties described here may also find application in the development of novel nanolubricants.
Pincet
Frédéric
F
Laboratoire de Physique Statistique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, UMR8550, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Universités Paris 6 et 7, 24, rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
Tareste
David
D
Amar
Martine Ben
MB
Perez
Eric
E
D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009571:Nitrilotriacetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000737:chemistry; D013816:Thermodynamics
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D009821:Oils; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D009571:Nitrilotriacetic Acid; C018525:1,2-dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine