Effects of structural variation in beta-monoglycerides and other lipids on ordering in synthetic membranes.

Studies of beta-monoglyceride multilayers were carried out using a variety of spin probes. Effects of variables such as chain length, unsaturation, and branching on organization of acyl chains in lipids of model membranes were assessed. In addition, effects of added cholesterol on membrane order were determined. Results indicated that pure beta-monolaurin yields highly ordered films, whereas, unsaturated glycerides such as beta-monoolein, beta-monolinolein, and analogous lecithins yield fluid films. Branched monoglycerides behaved similarly to beta-monoolein, suggesting that branching in acyl chains is an effective substitute for unsaturation in maintaining membrane integrity. Multilayers of beta-monoglycerides exhibited similar properties to those of more complex lipids such as phospholipids. beta-Monoglycerides, by virtue of the presence of a single acyl chain, provided a relatively simple and effective alternative to the use of phospholipids in studies of membrane architecture.