Abstract
The synthetic lipid diphytanoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPhPC) has been commonly used in measurements of ion-channel activities and in studies of peptide-lipid interactions. As opposed to most natural lipids, DPhPC is more chemically stable, and therefore, it can provide for a more robust model of lipid membranes. However, despite its frequent use, DPhPC has been less investigated than other PC lipids. To measure the physical properties of DPhPC membranes we employ a combination of complementary methods that include x-ray scattering, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and osmotic stress. By X-ray scattering, we obtain the repeat distances (D-spacings) of multilamellar structures formed by DPhPC in solution. By applying osmotic stress, we are able to modify and control intermembrane spacings and molecular conformations, the latter measured by NMR. These structural measurements together with ion channel activity measurements using the standard gramicidin A channels allow us to compare DPhPC with more common and better studied PC lipids. In this way, we can help rationalize the use of DPhPC as a model membrane for studies of membrane function.
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