Share

LIPID PHASE SEPARATIONS IN BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES AT LOW TEMPERATURES.

Author(s) : QUINN P. J.

Summary

MEMBRANE LIPIDS EXIST IN ONE OF 3 PHASES ACCORDING TO TEMPERATURE: LAMELLAR-GEL, LAMELLAR LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE AND HEXAGONAL-II. MOLECULAR SPECIES OF LIPID THAT, WHEN DISPERSED ALONE IN AQUEOUS MEDIA AT THE GROWTH TEMPERATURE OF AN ORGANISM, CAN BE IDENTIFIED IN MOST MEMBRANES WILL ADOPT ANYONE OF THESE 3 PHASES. THIS OBSERVATION, TOGETHER WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT GOVERN THE PHASE BEHAVIOUR OF LIPID MIXTURES LEADS TO PREDICTIONS OF THE PHASE STRUCTURE AND STABILITY OF MEMBRANES DURING COOLING TO LOW TEMPERATURES. THE ACTION OF CRYOPROTECTIVE AGENTS IN PROTECTING BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES AGAINST LOW-TEMPERATURE INDUCED INJURY IS SAID TO BE MEDIATED BY MODIFYING THE PHASE BEHAVIOUR OF THE MEMBRANE LIPIDS SUCH THAT IRREVERSIBLE LIPID PHASE SEPARATIONS ARE PREVENTED.

Details

  • Original title: LIPID PHASE SEPARATIONS IN BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES AT LOW TEMPERATURES.
  • Record ID : 1988-2089
  • Languages: English
  • Publication date: 1987/08/02
  • Source: Source: Proc. 3rd natl. Sch. Cryobiol. Freeze-drying, Sofia
    89-103; 11 fig.; 2 tabl.; 54 ref.
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

Indexing