Large unilamellar vesicles composed of a nonionic synthetic glycolipid, 1,3
-di-0-phytanyl-2-0-(beta -maltotriosyl)glycerol show pH-dependent aggregati
on - dissociation process, that is, vesicle aggregation occurs in the lower
pH region and vesicle dissociation occurs in the higher pH region. This pr
ocess is almost reversible and the aggregation threshold pH is dependent on
NaCl concentration. Fluorescence technique has been applied to study wheth
er the vesicle fusion occurs or not during the aggregation-dissociation pro
cess. It is concluded pH can only induce the aggregation of this nonionic g
lycolipid vesicle.