Normal vibrations of ternary DOPC/DPPC/cholesterol lipid bilayers by low-frequency Raman spectroscopy.

A lipid bilayer containing a ternary mixture of low- and high-melting lipids and cholesterol (Chol) can give rise to domain formation, referred to as lipid rafts. Low-frequency Raman spectroscopy at reduced temperatures allows detection of normal membrane mechanical vibrations. In this work, Raman spectra were obtained in the spectral range between 5 and 90 cm for bilayers prepared from dioleoyl--phosphocholine (DOPC), dipalmitoyl--phosphocholine (DPPC) and Chol.