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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol
Published on: March 25, 2020
Effects of very small amounts of cholesterol on gel-phase phosphatidylcholine membranes
Abstract:
The mobility of 5-doxyl stearic acid spin label (5-SASL) in the gel phase of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine membranes between the main transition and subtransition temperatures was studied as a function of cholesterol content. Very small amounts of cholesterol (0.01-1 mol%) cause a dramatic increase in the mobility of 5-SASL. Temperature-drop experiments from 38 degrees C to 28 degrees C were made across the pretransition temperature and the rate of approach to equilibrium was measured. Cholesterol at low concentrations also affects this rate. The membrane reached equilibrium after 10 h in the absence of cholesterol, 3 h at 0.01 mol% cholesterol, and less than 10 min at 0.03 mol% cholesterol.
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