Relevance of the chlorophyll phytyl chain on lamellar phase formation and organisation

A series of modified chlorophylls (chlorophyll a, pyrochlorophyll a, Zn-phe ophytin a and Zn-pheophorbide a) have been inserted into lamellar phases of sodium bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-sulfosuccinate (AOT). The role played by the dif ferent functional groups in affecting the bilayer formation and organisatio n has been investigated by means of the NMR quadrupolar splitting technique . Evidence is reported for the first time on the capacity of the phytyl cha in of the chlorophylls to anchor the tetrapyrroles into the bilayer, favour ing at the same time the regular formation of the lamellae. (C) 2000 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.