Jx. Mou et al., TRIS(HYDROXYMETHYL)AMINOMETHANE (C4H11NO3) INDUCED A RIPPLE PHASE IN SUPPORTED UNILAMELLAR PHOSPHOLIPID-BILAYERS, Biochemistry, 33(15), 1994, pp. 4439-4443
A commonly used buffer compound, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (C4H1
1NO3), was found to induce a ripple phase in supported unilamellar pho
spholipid bilayers at room temperature. The ripple structure showed va
rious types of domains that could extend to several micrometers in len
gth with many well-defined bendings of either 120 degrees or 60 degree
s. Two different periodic ripples were found to coexist in 2-dipentade
canoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine bilayers. Some intermediate st
ates during the transition to the ripple phase were also observed.