Transbilayer complementarity of phospholipids. Proof of principle.

A series of nearest-neighbor recognition (NNR) experiments have been carried out, which provide a rigorous test of the existence of transbilayer complementarity of phospholipids, that is, the ability of phospholipids to select complementary phospholipids from an adjoining monolayer as nearest neighbors. The application of this test to membranes derived from exchangeable phospholipids bearing myristoyl groups (A), stearoyl groups (B), and one stearoyl and one n-dodecyl group (C) in the presence of analogous nonexchangeable templates made from A', B' and C' provides compelling evidence for such complementarity in the physiologically relevant fluid phase.