Molecular weight, shape and structure of mixed micelles of Triton X-100 and sphingomyelin

S. Yedgar*, Y. Barenholz, V. G. Cooper

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

101 Scopus citations

Abstract

The sedimentation coefficients of mixed micelles of Triton X-100 and sphingomyelin have been measured for Triton molar fractions between 0.32 and 0.79. These measurements, together with previously reported diffusion coefficients, are used to calculate the molecular weights of the mixed micelles, and their aggregation numbers. It is found that the molecular weight decreases steadily with increasing Triton molar fraction. However, the Triton aggregation number remains nearly constant at about 196, so that the decreasing molecular weight is reflected in the sphingomyelin aggregation number, which decreases from 442 to 50 as the Triton molar fraction increases from 0.32-0.79. Intrinsic viscosities of the mixed micelle solutions are found to be independent of Triton molar fractions, with a value of 5.5 ml/g. From these measurements a number of inferences are drawn regarding the micellar shape and structure.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)98-111
Number of pages14
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
Volume363
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Aug 1974

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