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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes
Published on: March 14, 2021
Phospholipid solubility determined by equilibrium distribution between surface and bulk phases
Jeffrey T Buboltz1, Gerald W Feigenson
1Field of Biophysics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. jbuboltz@colgate.edu
Abstract:
A general strategy is proposed for determining the very low aqueous solubility limits of bilayer-forming phospholipids. The strategy exploits the inherent surface activity of phospholipids and has been termed EDSB, which stands for Equilibrium Distribution between Surface and Bulk phases. In this report, EDSB has been used to determine the critical bilayer concentration of dilauroylphosphatidylycholine (DLPC), a short-chain bilayer-forming phospholipid. At room temperature in neutral pH buffer, CBC(DLPC) = 2.5 x 10(-)(8) M. Using a mole fraction concentration scale, this corresponds to a standard-state free energy change of -12.8 kcal/mol for DLPC bilayer membrane formation.
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