| Abstract: | Oriented films of three diacylphosphatidylethanolamines containing 12, 14 and 16 methylene groups in their hydrocarbon chains and one 14 carbon chain lecithin were studied by X-ray fiber diffraction. Their molecular conformations, packing arrangement, crystallographic and physico-chemical parameters as a function of hydration were determined. Basically the four phospholipids exhibit a common bilayer structure. However, they also present some interesting differences which might be relevant to their biological functions. |
