Periodic structures in lipid monolayer phase transitions

Abstract

Periodic patterns are observed when supported lipid monolayers doped with low concentrations of fluorescent lipid probes are observed with epi-fluorescence microscopy. Monolayers of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine were examined on air-water interfaces and also on alkylated glass coverslips. The patterns are formed by periodic arrays of solid-phase lipid domains in equilibrium with fluid-phase lipid under specified conditions of temperature and two-dimensional lipid pressure. Electrostatic forces may stabilize the periodic ordering of the solid domains.