| Abstract | The lipid components of the plasma membrane of the microorganism A. laidlawii B undergo a temperature induced phase transition. The biosynthetic incorporation of deuterated fatty acids into these membranes has allowed, via the C-D stretching vibrations, a detailed study of the lipid organization and dynamics, and the effect of the intrinsic membrane proteins on the transition. A number of fatty acids, of different chain lengths, have been incorporated biosynthetically in the presence or absence of avidin, a fatty acid synthesis inhibitor. In this manner the membranes are enriched solely in the added deuterated fatty acid up to high levels of homogeneity, providing an excellent system for the study of lipid-protein interactions. Detailed data regarding the lipid thermal behaviour will be presented and compared with results obtained by means of other techniques. |
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