Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Structure of the Cubic Phase of Lipid-Water Systems

Abstract

IN the course of the structure analysis of the mesomorphic phases occurring in lipid–water systems1–4 we have observed an optically isotropic phase, the X-ray reflexions of which can be indexed on a face-centred cubic lattice2,3. We assumed that its structure consists of spherical particles, packed in a face-centred cubic lattice. We further postulated that the spheres consist of micelles containing lipid2,3; but we pointed out that the alternative model, formed by water spheres embedded in a hydrocarbon matrix, could not be discarded solely on the basis of the X-ray data5. We intend to show in this communication that the latter structure is in fact more satisfactory, when other lines of evidence are taken into account.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Luzzati, V., Mustacchi, H., and Skoulios, A., Disc. Faraday Soc., 25, 43 (1958).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Luzzati, V., Mustacchi, H., Skoulios, A., and Husson, F., Acta Cryst., 13, 660 (1960).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Husson, F., Mustacchi, H., and Luzzati, V., Acta Cryst., 13, 668 (1960).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Luzzati, V., and Husson, F., J. Cell Biol., 12, 207 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Mustacchi, H., thesis, Univ. Strasbourg (1958).

  6. Clunie, J. S., Corkill, J. M., and Goodman, J. F., Proc. Roy. Soc, A, 285, 520 (1965).

    CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Luzzati, V., Reiss-Husson, F., Rivas, E., and Gulik-Krzywicki, T., in Symposium on Biological Membranes (New York Academy of Sciences, in the press).

  8. Reiss-Husson, F. (unpublished observations).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

LUZZATI, V., REISS-HUSSON, F. Structure of the Cubic Phase of Lipid-Water Systems. Nature 210, 1351–1352 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/2101351a0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2101351a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing