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Pigment containing lipid vesicles

I. Preparation and characterization of chlorophylla-lecithin vesicles

The Journal of Membrane Biology volume 27, pages 41–54 (1976)Cite this article

Summary

Vesicles obtained by sonication of chlorophylla-lecithin mixtures dispersed in an aqueous medium closely resemble the well-characterized vesicles similarly prepared from pure lipids. They are bounded by one spherical lipid bilayer which contains the chlorophylla. Appropriate conditions for sonication prevent substantial degradation of the membrane constituents. Up to one chlorophylla molecule per 55 lecithins can be incorporated into the membranes. The average Stokes' radius of the vesicles determined by analytical sieve chromatography is 102±5 Å and independent of the chlorophylla content. The membrane is visible in the electron-microscope when the vesicles are treated with osmium tetroxide prior to negative staining. The osmium fixation is, however, not strong enough to allow for a preparation of the vesicles for thin sectioning (dehydration, embedding in epoxide).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fachbereich Biologie der Universität Konstanz, 7750, Konstanz, Germany

    E. Ritt & D. Walz

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056, Basel, Switzerland

    E. Ritt & D. Walz

Authors
  1. E. Ritt
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  2. D. Walz
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Ritt, E., Walz, D. Pigment containing lipid vesicles. J. Membrain Biol. 27, 41–54 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01869128

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01869128

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