[Review] Contemporary Physical Methods in Studies of Lipid Phase Polymorphism

Abstract

Lipid polymorphism is a well-documented phenomenon reported both in model lipid membranes and biological membranes. Elucidation of the role of lipid polymorphism and the role of non-bilayer lipid structures is a rapidly developing field of research studies focused on structure and function relationships in membranes of cells and intracellular organelles. The development of this area of research largely depends on application of powerful physical methods which allow one to ‘see’ dynamic transitions in structure of lipid phase at various time scales. In this review we describe the application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and luminescence spectroscopy, and differential scanning microcalorimetry in analysis of polymorphic transitions in lipid phase of model and biological membranes.