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Photon correlation spectroscopy as a probe of planar lipid bilayer phase transitions

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Abstract

Photon correlation spectroscopy has been applied to study phase transitions of planar bilayer membranes. The membrane tension and one specific membrane viscosity are probed. Difficulties arising in the measurement of the temperature dependence of these properties are discussed and a servo-control system to overcome them is described. Typical data are presented for monoglyceride bilayers. Membranes incorporating cholesterol display effects below the lipid transition temperature which are interpreted in terms of separation within the membrane into cholesterol-rich fluid regions and regions of lipid in the gel phase. Some of the chlesterol-rich regions are apparently of macroscopic extent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pure and Applied Physics, The Queen's University of Belfast, BT7 1NN, Belfast, Northern Ireland

    G. E. Crawford & J. C. Earnshaw

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  1. G. E. Crawford
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  2. J. C. Earnshaw
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Crawford, G.E., Earnshaw, J.C. Photon correlation spectroscopy as a probe of planar lipid bilayer phase transitions. Eur Biophys J 11, 25–33 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00253855

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00253855

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