Conformational order of specific phospholipids in human erythrocytes: correlations with changes in cell shape

The acyl chain conformational order of acyl chain perdeuterated dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC-d(sub 54)) and dimyristoylphosphatidylserine (DMPS-d(sub 54)) changes with alteration in human erythrocyte morphology. The erythrocytes become either echinocytic or stomatocytic depending upon whether they are incubated with DMPC-d(sub 54) or DMPS-d(sub 54). The deuterated species incubated in 1:1 mixture of DMPC/DMPS-d(sub 54) and DMPS/DMPC-d(sub 54) remain discocytic. The species show chain order intermediate between the gel and liquid-crystal states.