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Internal Mobility in Phospholipids

Nature volume 223, pages 1057–1059 (1969)Cite this article

Abstract

WORK on optical birefringence1, X-ray diffraction2,3 and, with reservations, electron microscopy of stained and dried particles4,5 indicates that phospholipids in coarse aqueous dispersion, prepared by shaking the phospholipid with water, have a multi-lamellar structure composed of alternate layers of phospholipid and the solvent. The phospholipid lamellae are thought to be molecular bilayers with hydrophilic headgroups on both surfaces and hydrocarbon chains directed towards the centre. When finer dispersions are required it is customary to irradiate the course dispersion with ultrasound, and the purpose here is to comment on the changes which occur during this treatment.

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  1. B. SHEARD

    Present address: Bell Telephone Laboratories Incorporated, Murray Hill, New Jersey, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Department of Physical Chemistry, South Parks Road, Oxford

    B. SHEARD

  2. the Nuffield Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford

    B. SHEARD

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  1. B. SHEARD
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SHEARD, B. Internal Mobility in Phospholipids. Nature 223, 1057–1059 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/2231057a0

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