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Cholesterol and phospholipids in membranes: The hydrogen bonding problem
Author(s) -
Lala Anil K.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
international journal of quantum chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.484
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-461X
pISSN - 0020-7608
DOI - 10.1002/qua.560200110
Subject(s) - membrane , phospholipid , cholesterol , chemistry , hydrogen bond , biological membrane , nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy , molecule , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Cholesterol and phospholipids are major components of biological membranes. The role of cholesterol in membranes is not metabolic and is known to be a regulator of membrane fluidity which in turn regulates various biological phenomena. We have studied the nature of cholesterol and phospholipid interaction in artificial membranes using 13 C NMR spectroscopy. This involved preparation of phospholipids specifically labeled with 13 C in the ester carbonyl group. Though the chemical shift data did not provide very useful information the T 1 and T 2 measurements indicated that previously proposed H bonding between the ester carbonyl group and hydroxyl group of cholesterol seems unprobable.