Date of Award

Spring 1984

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Physics

First Advisor

Collins, Joseph M.

Second Advisor

Feldott, Jeanette

Third Advisor

Burch, Thaddeus J.

Abstract

X-ray diffraction methods were used to investigate the room temperature hydration characteristics of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine bilayers, and of a one-to-one molar ratio of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC). The effects of a divalent metal cation, Ca 2+, on 1DOPE/lDOPC were studied, and the osmotic pressure technique of Rand and co-workers [Nature 259 (1976) 601-603] was used for a force analysis of 1DOPE/ lDOPC. We observed the formation of a hexagonal phase in hydrated DOPE at room temperature. 1DOPE/lDOPC in water resulted in phase separation at greater than 70% lipid, but a single lamellar phase at greater hydration. 1DOPE/1DOPC in 30mM CaCl2 phase separated into two lamellar phases which swelled independently. Application of the osmotic pressure technique to 1DOPE/1DOPC resulted in the formation of two independent lamellar phases exhibiting equal force decay, indicating that the hydration force character is unchanged between the two phases. The above observations support the fusion model expounded by Rand and co-workers.

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