Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Biomembrane Fabrication by the Solvent-assisted Lipid Bilayer (SALB) Method
Published on: December 1, 2015
Effects of cholesterol on dry bilayers: interactions between phosphatidylcholine unsaturation and glycolipid or free
Antoaneta V Popova1, Dirk K Hincha
1Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, D-14424 Potsdam, Germany.
Abstract:
Cholesterol and other sterols are important components of biological membranes and are known to strongly influence the physical characteristics of lipid bilayers. Although this has been studied extensively in fully hydrated membranes, little is known about the effects of cholesterol on the stability of membranes in the dry state. Here, we present a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study on the effects of cholesterol on the phase behavior of dry liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholines with different degrees of fatty acid unsaturation or of mixtures of phosphatidylcholine with a plant galactolipid. In addition, we have analyzed the H-bonding of cholesterol, galactose, and a combination of the two additives to the P=O and C=O groups in dry phosphatidylcholine bilayers. The data indicate a complex balance of interactions between the different components in the dry state and a strong influence of fatty acid unsaturation on the interactions of the diacyl lipids with both cholesterol and galactose.
Related Concept Videos
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...
Membrane Fluidity
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
What are Lipids?
Non-Polar and Hydrophobic Characteristics of Lipids
Lipids are a structurally and functionally diverse group of hydrocarbons—compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds...
What are Lipids?

