Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Realistic Membrane Modeling Using Complex Lipid Mixtures in Simulation Studies
Published on: September 1, 2023
Photochemical dimerization of parinaric acid in lipid bilayers
C G Morgan1, B Hudson, P K Wolber
1Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305.
Abstract:
Parinaric acid (9,11,13,15-octadecatetraenoic acid), a conjugated tetraene fatty acid, undergoes a second-order photochemical reaction in phospholipid bilayers. The reaction results in the loss of the characteristic absorption of this chromophore and the development of new absorption demonstrating the presence of a triene chromophore. The progress of this reaction is easily monitored by measurement of the decrease in the fluorescence intensity from a uniformly illuminated sample. The reaction rate measured in this way is sensitive to the thermal phase transition of the bilayer and to the presence of cholesterol. The relationship of the second-order rate constant to the lipid diffusion coefficient is discussed. This relationship differs from that previously used for the analysis of similar photochemical processes.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation of Diols and Pinacol Rearrangement
The reaction begins with transferring a proton from the acid catalyst to one of the hydroxyl groups, producing an oxonium ion.
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
Vicinal Diols via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: Pinacol Coupling Overview

