Interdigitated Structures in Phospholipid Membranes

Abstract

Effects of ethanol on phosphatidylcholine dispersions have been investigated with an automated scanning density meter. On increasing the ethanol concentration in the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine dispersions, an interdigitated gel phase appeared between the gel phase and the ripple phase. And substitution effect of hydrogen oxide by deuterium oxide has been examined on thermotropic transition between the interdigitated gel phase and the ripple phase of dihexadecylphosphatidylcholine. The mechanism is also discussed from a thermodynamical viewpoint.