Solid state NMR of lipid model membranes

Abstract

In this chapter we describe the use of solid state nuclear magnetic spectroscopy to study the structure of lyotropic phases and lipid model membranes and show its ability to probe, site specifically, at a sub-Ångstrom resolution. Here, we demonstrate the immense versatility of the technique and its ability to provide information on the different liquid crystalline phases present. A multinuclear for example 31P, 1H, and 13C approach is able to elucidate both the structure and dynamics over a wide variety of timescales. This coupled with a non-perturbing label 2H is able to provide information such as the order parameters for a wide variety of different liquid phases.