Membranes undergoing phase transitions are preferentially hydrolyzed by beta-bungarotoxin

beta-Bungarotoxin preferentially hydrolyzes choline phospholipids (dilauroyl, dimyristoyl, dipalmitoyl) at their respective gel to liquid crystalline phase transition temperatures. Cholesterol markedly reduces the rate of phospholipid hydrolysis; at 0.33 mol percent cholesterol:phospholipid, the toxin's phospholipase activity is completely inhibited.