High hydrostatic pressure effects investigated by neutron scattering on lipid multilamellar vesicles

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2013 Dec 28;15(48):20951-6. doi: 10.1039/c3cp52762j.

Abstract

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure on the structure and dynamics of model membrane systems were investigated using neutron scattering. Diffraction experiments show shifts of the pre- and main-phase transitions of multilamellar vesicles of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) to higher temperatures with increased pressure which are close to results observed previously by other techniques, namely (10.4 ± 1.0) K kbar(-1) and (20.0 ± 0.5) K kbar(-1) for the two transitions. Backscattering spectroscopy reveals that the mean square displacements in the liquid phase are about 10% smaller at 300 bar and about 20% smaller at 600 bar compared to atmospheric pressure, whereas in the gel phase below the main phase transition the mean square displacements show a smaller difference in the dynamics of the three pressure values within the studied pressure range.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine / chemistry*
  • Hydrostatic Pressure
  • Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Neutron Diffraction*
  • Phase Transition
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Liposomes
  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine