Effects of structural variation in β‐monoglycerides and other lipids on ordering in synthetic membranes

Abstract
Studies of β‐monoglyceride multilayers were carried out using a variety of spin probes. Effects of variables such as chain length, unsaturation, and branching on organization of acyl chains in lipids of model membranes were assessed. In addition, effects of added cholesterol on membrane order were determined. Results indicated that pure β‐monolaurin yields highly ordered films, whereas, unsaturated glycerides such as β‐monoolein, β‐monolinolein, and analogous lecithins yield fluid films. Branched monoglycerides behaved similarly to β‐monoolein, suggesting that branching in acyl chains is an effective substitute for unsaturation in maintaining membrane integrity. Multilayers of β‐monoglycerides exhibited similar properties to those of more complex lipids such as phospholipids. β‐Monoglycerides, by virtue of the presence of a single acyl chain, provided a relatively simple and effective alternative to the use of phospholipids in studies of membrane architecture.

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