title: Phospholipid membrane protection by sugar molecules during dehydration-insights into molecular mechanisms using scattering techniques.
abstract: Scattering techniques have played a key role in our understanding of the structure and function of phospholipid membranes. These techniques have been applied widely to study how different molecules (e.g., cholesterol) can affect phospholipid membrane structure. However, there has been much less attention paid to the effects of molecules that remain in the aqueous phase. One important example is the role played by small solutes, particularly sugars, in protecting phospholipid membranes during drying or slow freezing. In this paper, we present new results and a general methodology, which illustrate how contrast variation small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and synchrotron-based X-ray scattering (small angle (SAXS) and wide angle (WAXS)) can be used to quantitatively understand the interactions between solutes and phospholipids. Specifically, we show the assignment of lipid phases with synchrotron SAXS and explain how SANS reveals the exclusion of sugars from the aqueous region in the particular example of hexagonal II phases formed by phospholipids.
authors.affiliation: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC NSW 2232, Australia. cjg@ansto.gov.au.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Garvey
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenné
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Koster
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bryant
mesh_terms: D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D003681:Dehydration / Q000378:metabolism; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D033363:Neutron Diffraction; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids