β-Acetyl-γ-O-alkyl-L-α-phosphatidylcholine (CAS 65154-06-5)

β-Acetyl-γ-O-alkyl-L-α-phosphatidylcholine is a synthetically modified phospholipid notable for its unique structural alterations, including acetylation at the beta position and alkylation at the gamma position on the glycerol backbone. These modifications confer distinct physicochemical properties that are leveraged in biophysical research to explore membrane dynamics and architecture. This chemical is particularly valuable for constructing and studying model lipid membranes, offering insights into how such structural alterations affect lipid bilayer behavior, including phase transitions, fluidity, and stability. Researchers utilize β-Acetyl-γ-O-alkyl-L-α-phosphatidylcholine to simulate the complexities of natural lipid membranes, facilitating studies on membrane curvature, domain formation, and the organization of lipids around integral membrane proteins. By manipulating the lipid composition in these model systems, scientists can observe the effects on membrane properties such as thickness, permeability, and mechanical strength, which are crucial for understanding fundamental cellular processes related to membrane structure and function. This synthetic lipid thus serves as an essential tool in membrane biophysics, helping to explain the roles of specific lipid modifications in the broader context of lipid-mediated cellular phenomena without the interference of biological variability.