Permeability of water through a raft model membrane clarified by time-resolved SANS and SAXS

Abstract

We have characterized the structures of ganglioside (GD3) micelle and GD3/cholesterol mixtures, and have determined the permeability of water across a membrane of GD3/cholesterol/ phospholipid uni-lamellar vesicle. We have found that monovalent Na+ and K+ cations affect the permeability of water differently. We have found also that the permeability of water is greatly enhanced by the K + ion, suggesting the function of the GD3/cholesterol rich clusters on neuronal excitations by K+. The complimentary use of small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering techniques is useful to determine the permeability of water across a vesicle membrane. © International Union of Crystallography 2007.