X-Message-Number: 15088
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 05:14:26 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: membrane effects of carbohydrates

Title
  Effects of sugar alcohols and disaccharides in inducing the hexagonal phase
  and altering membrane properties: implications for diabetes
  mellitus.
Source
  Biochimica et Biophysica Acta.  943(3):485-92, 1988 Sep 1.
Abstract
  A number of sugars lowered the bilayer to hexagonal phase
  transition temperature of dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine. Disaccharides
  had the greatest effect followed by sugar alcohols. The monosaccharides,
  glucose and galactose had no effect on this phase transition temperature. The
  sugars promoted vesicle leakage only under conditions where
  the lipid was near its hexagonal phase transition temperature. Leakage from
  lipids in the bilayer state was inhibited by the sugars.
  Polyols, such as sorbitol, promote hexagonal phase formation and alter
  membrane permeability. These
  membrane effects may contribute to the damage caused by
  sorbitol accumulation in certain tissues of diabetic patients.

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