We employ diffraction studies  to  look  at  the  molecular  arrangements  within  membranes.  Diffraction  methods  can  readily  be  used  to  assign  the  phase  of  a  lipid  mixture  and  to  calculate  the  size  of the  lattice.  Furthermore  for more  complex  mixtures  it  is  possible  to   specifically  locate a d eutrerium  atom  in  the  structure  because  of  the  widely  differing   neutron  scattering  power  of  the   ¹H  and  ²H  isotopes.  We have  found  this  particularly   useful  for studying  the  degree  and  mode  of   insertion  of  peptides  in  membranes.

References:

J. Pencer, S. Krueger, R. M. Epand, and J. Katsaras 2005. Detection of Submicron-Sized Domains, or So-Called Rafts, in Membranes by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering. European Biophysics Journal, in press.

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