Methanol Accelerates DMPC Flip-Flop and Transfer: A SANS Study on Lipid Dynamics

Methanol is a common solubilizing agent used to study of transmembrane proteins/peptides in biological and synthetic membranes. Using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and a strategic contrast matching scheme, we show that methanol has a major impact on lipid dynamics. Under increasing methanol concentrations, isotopically-distinct 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) large unilamellar vesicle (LUV) populations exhibit increased mixing. Specifically, DMPC transfer and flip-flop kinetics display linear and exponential rate enhancements, respectively.

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