Raman spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction studies of the effect of temperature and Ca2+ on phosphatidylethanolamine...

Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction are used to study the effect of heat and Ca2+ on dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine dispersions. Unlike phosphatidylcholine dispersions, dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine bilayers (at pH 8) require heating above Tm in order for hydration to occur and apparently bind Ca2+ at very low levels. These results are related to models for membrane fusion.