Anomalous Phase Behavior of Long Chain Saturated Lecithin Bilayers

X-ray scattering has been performed on fully hydrated unoriented multilamellar vesicles of lecithins with even chain lengths n from 16 to 24 as a function of temperature in chain ordered phases. The longer chain lengths, n > or = 20, show anomalous behavior compared to the shorter chain lengths, n < 20. This report concentrates on n = 24. Although the history and time dependence shows that equilibrium was not always achieved, it appears that there is a second gel-like phase G2 below 40 degrees C. The G2 phase has a small tilt angle and opposite hexagonal symmetry breaking from the usual G1 gel phase. Also, as T is raised above 45 degrees C, the wide-angle data suggest the appearance of a phase with hexagonal chain packing and small chain tilt angle.