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Lipid-polyethylene glycol interactions: II. Formation of defects in bilayers

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Summary

Polyethylene glycol, a known cell fusogen, is found to induce the formation of structural defects in egg phosphatidylcholine multilamellar vesicles, as shown by freeze-fracture microscopy.31P NMR spectra of these vesicles reveal the existence of a nonbilayer (isotropic) phase. The observed disruption in the bilayers is believed to be associated with an intermediate stage of membrane fusion.

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Abbreviations

PEG:

Polyethylene glycol

IMP:

Intramembranous particle

PC:

Phosphatidylcholine

PS:

Phosphatidylserine

SUV:

Small unilamellar vesicles

MLV:

Multilamellar vesicles

DPPC:

Dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine

DSC:

Differential scanning calorimetry

DMPC:

Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine

T c :

Phase transition temperature

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, 14263, Buffalo, New York

    L. T. Boni, T. P. Stewart, J. L. Alderfer & S. W. Hui

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  1. L. T. Boni
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  2. T. P. Stewart
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  3. J. L. Alderfer
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  4. S. W. Hui
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Boni, L.T., Stewart, T.P., Alderfer, J.L. et al. Lipid-polyethylene glycol interactions: II. Formation of defects in bilayers. J. Membrain Biol. 62, 71–77 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01870201

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01870201

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