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The Structure of a Model Membrane in Relation to the Viscoelastic Properties of the Red Cell Membrane

The molecular arrangement within a lamellar structure composed of human erythrocyte lipids is determined. The 45 A thick lipid layer, in water, is filled in the interior with a liquid-like configuration of the hydrocarbon chains of phospholipid molecules and is covered on both sides by their hydroph...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Rand, R. P.
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: The Rockefeller University Press 1968
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2225793/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19873620
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author Rand, R. P.
author_facet Rand, R. P.
author_sort Rand, R. P.
collection PubMed
description The molecular arrangement within a lamellar structure composed of human erythrocyte lipids is determined. The 45 A thick lipid layer, in water, is filled in the interior with a liquid-like configuration of the hydrocarbon chains of phospholipid molecules and is covered on both sides by their hydrophilic polar groups. Cholesterol is located so that part of its steroid nucleus is between the polar groups of the phospholipid molecules while the rest of the molecule extends into the inner hydrocarbon layer. This lipid leaflet would be expected to have the mechanical properties of a purely liquid surface, as other authors have shown for the "black" lipid membranes. Data are presented which demonstrate that the intact erythrocyte membrane is a tough viscoelastic substance with a Young's modulus of 10(6)–10(8) dynes/cm(2) and a viscosity of 10(7)–10(10) poises. The parameters and the kinetics of membrane breakdown are incompatible with the model system of pure lipid. Caution must be exercised in applying various data on the model systems to intact membranes.
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spelling pubmed-22257932008-04-23 The Structure of a Model Membrane in Relation to the Viscoelastic Properties of the Red Cell Membrane Rand, R. P. J Gen Physiol Models and Model Membranes The molecular arrangement within a lamellar structure composed of human erythrocyte lipids is determined. The 45 A thick lipid layer, in water, is filled in the interior with a liquid-like configuration of the hydrocarbon chains of phospholipid molecules and is covered on both sides by their hydrophilic polar groups. Cholesterol is located so that part of its steroid nucleus is between the polar groups of the phospholipid molecules while the rest of the molecule extends into the inner hydrocarbon layer. This lipid leaflet would be expected to have the mechanical properties of a purely liquid surface, as other authors have shown for the "black" lipid membranes. Data are presented which demonstrate that the intact erythrocyte membrane is a tough viscoelastic substance with a Young's modulus of 10(6)–10(8) dynes/cm(2) and a viscosity of 10(7)–10(10) poises. The parameters and the kinetics of membrane breakdown are incompatible with the model system of pure lipid. Caution must be exercised in applying various data on the model systems to intact membranes. The Rockefeller University Press 1968-07-01 /pmc/articles/PMC2225793/ /pubmed/19873620 Text en Copyright © 1968 by The Rockefeller University Press This article is distributed under the terms of an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike–No Mirror Sites license for the first six months after the publication date (see http://www.rupress.org/terms). After six months it is available under a Creative Commons License (Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 4.0 Unported license, as described at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).
spellingShingle Models and Model Membranes
Rand, R. P.
The Structure of a Model Membrane in Relation to the Viscoelastic Properties of the Red Cell Membrane
title The Structure of a Model Membrane in Relation to the Viscoelastic Properties of the Red Cell Membrane
title_full The Structure of a Model Membrane in Relation to the Viscoelastic Properties of the Red Cell Membrane
title_fullStr The Structure of a Model Membrane in Relation to the Viscoelastic Properties of the Red Cell Membrane
title_full_unstemmed The Structure of a Model Membrane in Relation to the Viscoelastic Properties of the Red Cell Membrane
title_short The Structure of a Model Membrane in Relation to the Viscoelastic Properties of the Red Cell Membrane
title_sort structure of a model membrane in relation to the viscoelastic properties of the red cell membrane
topic Models and Model Membranes
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2225793/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19873620
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