Evidence for transbilayer, tail-to-tail cholesterol dimers in dipalmitoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes

Differential scanning calorimetric analysis of multilamellar liposomes of 2,3-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphocholine (DPPC) suggests that cholesterol exists as interlamellar tail-to-tail dimer in the DPPC bilayers. In the fully extended state, solid cholesterol is interspersed with solid-ordered domains. Cholesterol enhances the stability of the bilayer and the dissolution of lipids in the phospholipid bilayer.