Effects of sugars on the structures and dynamics of lipid membranes

Masui, Tomomi; Fujiwara, Satoru; Nakagawa, Hiroshi   ; Kataoka, Mikio

Keeping cells in aqueous environment is essential for organisms to be alive. Desiccation damages the cells severely, and causes death of most organisms. Some organisms, however, known to survive under such arid conditions. This desiccation tolerance has been known to be related to the production of sugars in these organisms. In this study, we investigate the effect of trehalose on the structure and dynamics of lipid membranes in the solution condition by employing small and wide angle X-ray scattering and neutron spin echo technique. These experimental data represent the trehalose disorder the lamellar structure and decrease the bending rigidity of membrane.