A refinement analysis of the crystallography of the phospholipid, 1,2-dilauroyl-DL-phosphatidylethanolamine, and some remarks on lipid—lipid and lipid-protein interactions

Abstract

A least-squares refinement analysis of atomic positional and thermal parameters in a single crystal of 1,2-dilauroyl-DL-phosphatidylethanolamine: acetic acid has been based on the X-ray diffraction intensities of 1132 independent reflexions, assessed by automatic microdensitometry. The final unweighted discrepancy index is 0.16 with e.s.ds of the bond lengths ranging from 0.02 to 0.12 A. The general features of our earlier, lessprecise analysis are confirmed. The close-packed arrangement of the phospholipid molecules is discussed in relation to electron microscopy and diffraction studies of the structures of membranes from Acholeplasma laidlawii and Halobacterium halobium.