Publication Date:
2015-11-03
Description:
Publication date: Available online 23 October 2015 Source: FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Yuki Numakura, Takashi Miura Resonance Raman spectra of azobenzene derivatives were examined in the presence of lipid membranes to find a probe that can distinguish different membrane phases. The NO 2 symmetric stretching band of 4-(4-nitrophenylazo)aniline, also known as Disperse Orange 3 (DO3), is downshifted by about 4 cm −1 on the phase transition of phosphatidylcholine membranes from the liquid crystalline to the gel phase. A comparable downshift also occurs when DO3 is bound to cholesterol-containing membranes in the liquid-ordered phase. Our results demonstrate that Raman spectrum of DO3 is a unique tool for measuring the molecular order of lipids in membranes.
Electronic ISSN:
2211-5463
Topics:
Biology
