Viewing the bilayer hydrocarbon core using neutron diffraction.
Membrane proteins fold, assemble and function within their native fluid lipid environment. Structural studies of fluid lipid bilayers are thus critically important for understanding processes in membranes. Here, we propose a simple approach to visualize the hydrocarbon core using neutron diffraction and deuterated lipids that are commercially available. This method should have broad utility in structural studies of the bilayer response to protein insertion and folding in membranes.
Han
Xue
X
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
Hristova
Kalina
K
D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D033363:Neutron Diffraction / Q000379:methods*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry
D006838:Hydrocarbons; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; C028694:1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine