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Related Experiment Videos

The phase behavior of hydrated cholesterol.

C R Loomis, G G Shipley, D M Small

    Journal of Lipid Research
    |May 1, 1979
    PubMed
    Summary

    Cholesterol monohydrate exhibits unique phase transitions in water, forming a smectic liquid crystalline phase. This behavior in hydrated cholesterol is linked to its surface activity and membrane presence.

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    Area of Science:

    • Physical Chemistry
    • Materials Science
    • Biophysics

    Background:

    • Cholesterol is a vital lipid in biological membranes.
    • Understanding cholesterol's phase behavior is crucial for membrane biophysics.
    • Anhydrous cholesterol exhibits distinct crystalline transitions.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the thermotropic phase behavior of cholesterol monohydrate in water.
    • To characterize the phase transitions using multiple analytical techniques.
    • To correlate phase behavior with cholesterol's biological functions.

    Main Methods:

    • Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
    • Polarizing Light Microscopy (PLM)
    • X-ray Diffraction (XRD)

    Main Results:

    • Cholesterol monohydrate showed three reversible endothermic transitions at 86, 123, and 157°C.
    • At 86°C, hydration water is lost, forming anhydrous cholesterol polymorphs.
    • A smectic liquid crystalline phase (smectic texture) was observed at 123°C, characterized by XRD, and stable up to 157°C.

    Conclusions:

    • Hydrated cholesterol forms a unique smectic liquid crystalline phase.
    • This phase behavior is linked to cholesterol's high surface activity.
    • The findings help explain cholesterol's high concentration in biological membranes.

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