Size and shape of fast-tumbling bicelles as determined by translational diffusion.
In this study, the size and shape of an isotropic bicelle have been determined by measuring the translational diffusion as a function of the volume fraction of the lipids. A linear relation between the diffusion coefficients is obtained for both DMPC and DHPC in the bicelles. The slope of this linear function, which is strongly shape-dependent, is found to be different for the two molecules. This difference is direct evidence that the two molecules are not fully mixed in the bicelle. The shape- combined with the size-dependence of the diffusion coefficient allows us to calculate both the size and shape of the bicelle.
Andersson
August
A
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
Mäler
Lena
L
D004058:Diffusion; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
D008055:Lipids