Determination of DMPC hydration in the L(alpha) and L(beta') phases by 2H solid state NMR of D2O.

The number of water molecules bound to the dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) interface was investigated both in the fluid (L(alpha)) and gel (L(beta')) phases by solid state deuterium NMR of D2O. We determined that each DMPC molecule binds 9.7 +/- 0.5 and less than 4.3 +/- 0.5 D2O in the fluid and gel phases respectively. These results are accounted for by considering the number of DMPC binding sites as well as the molecular organization in each phase.