arXiv subjects

P. Lesieur

Publications and source records attributed to P. Lesieur.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2001

A Sucrose Solution Application to the Study of Model Biological Membranes

The small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering, time resolved X-ray small-angle and wide-angle diffraction coupled with differential scanning calorimetry have been applied to the investigation of unilamellar and multilamellar dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) vesicles in sucrose buffers with sucrose concentrations from 0 to 60%. Sucrose buffer decreased vesicle size and polydispersity and increased an X-ray contrast between phospholipid membrane and bulk solvent sufficiently. No influence of sucrose on the membrane thickness or mutual packing of hydrocarbon chains has been detected. The region of sucrose concentrations 30%-40% created the best experimental conditions for X-ray small-angle experiments with phospholipid vesicles.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2001

Sucrose Solutions as Prospective Medium to Study the Vesicle Structure: SAXS and SANS study

The possibility to use sucrose solutions as medium for X-ray and neutron small-angle scattering experiments has been explored for dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) vesicles and mixed DMPC/C_(12)E_(8) aggregates. The influence of sucrose concentration on phospholipid vesicles size and polydispersity has been investigated by complimentary X-ray and neutron scattering. Sucrose solutions decreased vesicle size and polydispersity and increased a contrast between phospholipid membrane and bulk solvent sufficiently for X-rays. 40% sucrose in H2O increased X-ray contrast by up to 10 times compared to pure H2O. The range of sucrose concentration 30%-40% created the best experimental conditions for the X-ray small-angle experiment with phospholipid vesicles.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2001

Ice Formation in Model Biological Membranes in the Presence of Cryoprotectors

Ice formation in model biological membranes is studied by SAXS and WAXS in the presence of cryoprotectors: dimethyl sulfoxide and glycerol. Three types of phospholipid membranes: DPPC, DMPC, DSPC are chosen for the investigation as well-studied model biological membranes. A special cryostat is used for sample cooling from 14.1C to -55.4C. The ice formation is only detected by WAXS in binary phospholipid/water and ternary phospholipid/cryoprotector/water systems in the condition of excess solvent. Ice formation in a binary phospholipid/water system creates an abrupt decrease of the membrane repeat distance by delta-d, so-called ice-induced dehydration of intermembrane space. The value of delta-d decreases as the cryoprotector concentration increases. The formation of ice does not influence the membrane structure (delta-d = 0) for cryoprotector mole fractions higher than 0.05.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2001

DMSO-Induced Dehydration of DPPC Membranes Studied by X-ray Diffraction, Small-Angle Neutron Scattering, and Calorimetry

The influence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on membrane thickness, multilamellar repeat distance, and phase transitions of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) was investigated by X-ray diffraction and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study of water freezing and ice melting was performed in the ternary DPPC /DMSO /water and binary DMSO /water systems. The methods applied demonstrated the differences in membrane structure in three sub-regions of the DMSO mole fraction (X_dmso): from 0.0 to 0.3 for the first, from 0.3 to 0.8 for the second, and from 0.9 to 1.0 for the third sub-region. The thickness of the intermembrane solvent at T =20C decreases from 14.4 +/- 1.8 A at X_dmso =0.0 to 7.8 +/- 1.8 A at X_dmso =0.1. The data were used to determine the number of free water molecules in the intermembrane space in the presence of DMSO. The results for 0.0 < X_dmso < 0.3 were explained in the framework of DMSO-induced dehydration of the intermembrane space.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2001

Model of separated form factors for unilamellar vesicles

New model of separated form factors is proposed for the evaluation of small-angle neutron scattering curves from large unilamellar vesicles. The validity of the model was checked by comparison to the model of hollow sphere. The model of separated form factors and hollow sphere model give reasonable agreement in the evaluation of vesicle parameters.

physics.bio-ph↗