DISK-LIKE ASSEMBLIES OF A SYNTHETIC GLYCOLIPID AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH CONCANAVALIN-A

A synthetic glycolipid, 1,5-bis-O-octadecyl-N-maltopentaonoyl-L-glutam ate (1), was dispersed in aqueous media above its phase transition tem perature to form sheet-like assemblies. They were changed to disk- and ellipsoid-like assemblies by extrusion and sonication, respectively. The structures, stabilities, and thermal properties were studied with microscopic, optical, and calorimetric methods. The disk-like assembli es were homogeneous and the most stable. They formed a unique complex with Concanavalin A (ConA) to become a rouleaux-like structure. (C) 19 98 Elsevier Science Limited.