Electron Diffraction of Wet Biological Membranes

Abstract
Electron diffraction patterns were obtained for the first time from single wet phospholipid bilayers and from wet human erythrocyte membranes by using a temperature-controlled electron microscope hydration stage. Selective area diffraction showed the existence of semicrystalline domains. A structural transition was observed at the transition temperature of the wet dipalmitoyl lecithin bilayer.