PHOTOSENSITIVITY OF ARTIFICIAL BILAYER MEMBRANES: LIPID-CHLOROPHYLL INTERACTION |
| |
| Authors: | Chang-Hwei Chen Donald S Berns |
| |
| Institution: | Physical Chemistry Laboratories, Division of Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12201, U.S.A. |
| |
| Abstract: | Abstract— The interaction between lipid and chlorophyll in the photosensitive model bilayer membranes was studied by investigating the effects of the hydrocarbon chain length (6–20 carbons), degree of saturation (0–3 double bonds), and head group character of a series of synthetic and natural lipids on the membrane photoresponse. The results suggest, as a general phenomenon, that any stable membrane formed in the lipid-chlorophyll a -β-carotene system is photosensitive regardless of the type of lipid in the membrane. The magnitude of the photoresponse (Δ V ) varies for different lipids, and membranes containing natural phospholipids have a higher Δ V . The presence of chlorophyll a in a lipid solution enhances the lipid membrane stability. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
