Biomaterial Database

The structure of polyunsaturated lipid bilayers important for rhodopsin function: a neutron diffraction study. 2006

Mihaela Mihailescu, and Klaus Gawrisch

The structure of oriented 1-stearoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine bilayers with perdeuterated stearoyl- or docosahexaenoyl hydrocarbon chains was investigated by neutron diffraction. Experiments were conducted at two different relative humidities, 66 and 86%. At both humidities we observed that the polyunsaturated docosahexaenoyl chain has a preference to reside near the lipid water interface. That leaves voids in the bilayer center that are occupied by saturated stearoyl chain segments. This uneven distribution of saturated- and polyunsaturated chain densities is likely to result in membrane elastic stress that modulates function of integral receptor proteins like rhodopsin.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008051	Lipid Bilayers	Layers of lipid molecules which are two molecules thick. Bilayer systems are frequently studied as models of biological membranes.	Bilayers, Lipid,Bilayer, Lipid,Lipid Bilayer
D008055	Lipids	A generic term for fats and lipoids, the alcohol-ether-soluble constituents of protoplasm, which are insoluble in water. They comprise the fats, fatty oils, essential oils, waxes, phospholipids, glycolipids, sulfolipids, aminolipids, chromolipids (lipochromes), and fatty acids. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Lipid
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D009502	Neutrons	Electrically neutral elementary particles found in all atomic nuclei except light hydrogen; the mass is equal to that of the proton and electron combined and they are unstable when isolated from the nucleus, undergoing beta decay. Slow, thermal, epithermal, and fast neutrons refer to the energy levels with which the neutrons are ejected from heavier nuclei during their decay.	Neutron
D010713	Phosphatidylcholines	Derivatives of PHOSPHATIDIC ACIDS in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to a CHOLINE moiety.	Choline Phosphoglycerides,Choline Glycerophospholipids,Phosphatidyl Choline,Phosphatidyl Cholines,Phosphatidylcholine,Choline, Phosphatidyl,Cholines, Phosphatidyl,Glycerophospholipids, Choline,Phosphoglycerides, Choline
D011522	Protons	Stable elementary particles having the smallest known positive charge, found in the nuclei of all elements. The proton mass is less than that of a neutron. A proton is the nucleus of the light hydrogen atom, i.e., the hydrogen ion.	Hydrogen Ions,Hydrogen Ion,Ion, Hydrogen,Ions, Hydrogen,Proton
D004281	Docosahexaenoic Acids	C22-unsaturated fatty acids found predominantly in FISH OILS.	Docosahexaenoate,Docosahexaenoic Acid,Docosahexenoic Acids,Docosahexaenoic Acid (All-Z Isomer),Docosahexaenoic Acid Dimer (All-Z Isomer),Docosahexaenoic Acid, 3,6,9,12,15,18-Isomer,Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-(All-Z-Isomer),Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-(All-Z-Isomer), Cerium Salt,Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-(All-Z-Isomer), Cesium Salt,Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-(All-Z-Isomer), Potassium Salt,Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-(Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,E-Isomer),Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-Isomer,Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-Isomer, Sodium Salt,Docosahexaenoic Acid, Sodium Salt,Acid, Docosahexaenoic,Acids, Docosahexaenoic,Acids, Docosahexenoic
D006838	Hydrocarbons	Organic compounds that primarily contain carbon and hydrogen atoms with the carbon atoms forming a linear or circular structure.	Hydrocarbon,Saturated Hydrocarbons,Unsaturated Hydrocarbons,Hydrocarbons, Saturated,Hydrocarbons, Unsaturated
D001703	Biophysics	The study of PHYSICAL PHENOMENA and PHYSICAL PROCESSES as applied to living things.	Mechanobiology
D012243	Rhodopsin	A purplish-red, light-sensitive pigment found in RETINAL ROD CELLS of most vertebrates. It is a complex consisting of a molecule of ROD OPSIN and a molecule of 11-cis retinal (RETINALDEHYDE). Rhodopsin exhibits peak absorption wavelength at about 500 nm.	Visual Purple