Sugar/Steroid/Sugar Conjugates: Sensitivity of Lipid Binding to Sugar Structure

Abstract

[structure: see text]. Three steroids, each bearing a sugar on rings A and D, have been synthesized. Their effect on the "melting" behavior of a lipid bilayer depends on whether the sugar is glucose, galactose, or mannose. Packing constraints dictate how the lipid bilayer responds to the sugars.