Orientation of tie-lines in the phase diagram of DOPC/DPPC/cholesterol model biomembranes

Langmuir. 2010 Nov 16;26(22):17363-8. doi: 10.1021/la103024f. Epub 2010 Oct 22.

Abstract

We report the direction of tie-lines of coexisting phases in a ternary diagram of DOPC/DPPC/cholesterol lipid bilayers, which has been a system of interest in the discussion of biological rafts. For coexisting Ld and Lo phases, we find that the orientation angle α of the tie-lines increases as the cholesterol concentration increases and it also increases as temperature increases from T = 15 °C to T = 30 °C. Results at lower cholesterol concentrations support the existence of a different two-phase coexistence region of Ld and So phases and the existence of a three-phase region separating the two two-phase regions. Our method uses the X-ray lamellar D-spacings observed in oriented bilayers as a function of varying hydration. Although this method does not obtain the ends of the tie-lines, it gives precise values (±1°) of their angles α in the ternary phase diagram.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / chemistry*
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry*
  • Cholesterol / chemistry*
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry*
  • Temperature
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine
  • Cholesterol
  • 1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine