1,2-ditetradecylphosphatidylcholine

Description

## 1,2-Ditetradecylphosphatidylcholine: A Model Lipid

1,2-Ditetradecylphosphatidylcholine (DTPC) is a synthetic phospholipid, specifically a **phosphatidylcholine** (PC) with **tetradecanoyl (myristoyl)** chains at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions. It's a commonly used **model lipid** in various research areas, particularly:

**1. Membrane Studies:**

* **Model membranes:** DTPC is frequently used to create **artificial membranes** like liposomes and lipid bilayers. These mimic the structure and function of biological cell membranes, allowing researchers to study:
* **Membrane fluidity:** How easily molecules move within the membrane.
* **Lipid phase transitions:** Changes in the physical state of the membrane with temperature.
* **Membrane protein interactions:** How proteins associate with and interact with lipid membranes.
* **Drug delivery:** Liposomes made with DTPC can encapsulate and deliver drugs to specific cells or tissues, enhancing drug efficacy and reducing side effects.
* **Biophysical studies:** DTPC provides a simplified model system to understand the fundamental properties of lipid membranes and their interactions with other molecules.

**2. Biophysical Characterization:**

* **Calorimetry:** DTPC is well-characterized in terms of its **thermal behavior** and **phase transitions**, making it a valuable tool for calorimetric studies of membrane properties.
* **Spectroscopy:** DTPC's simplicity and well-defined structure make it suitable for various spectroscopic techniques, like fluorescence, NMR, and infrared spectroscopy, to investigate membrane structure and dynamics.

**3. Studying Lipid-Protein Interactions:**

* **Understanding protein function:** DTPC is used to create model membranes that allow researchers to study how proteins interact with lipids and how these interactions influence protein function.
* **Drug discovery:** DTPC-based systems can be used to screen for drugs that target membrane proteins or modulate their activity.

**4. Other Applications:**

* **Surface chemistry:** DTPC is used as a building block in the construction of **functionalized surfaces** for various applications like biosensing and biocompatibility studies.
* **Nanotechnology:** DTPC can be incorporated into nanoparticles for drug delivery and other biomedical applications.

**Why is DTPC important for research?**

* **Simplicity and Well-defined Structure:** DTPC's relatively simple structure allows for easier interpretation of experimental data and provides a consistent, predictable model system.
* **High Purity and Availability:** DTPC is commercially available in high purity, ensuring reliable and reproducible results.
* **Versatile Applications:** Its versatile nature enables its use in diverse research areas, from basic membrane studies to advanced drug development.

While DTPC is a valuable tool, it is crucial to remember that it represents a simplified model system. While providing insights into the fundamental properties of membranes and lipid-protein interactions, it might not perfectly reflect the complexity of real biological membranes. Nevertheless, DTPC remains an essential tool for researchers working in various fields related to membrane biology, biophysics, and drug discovery.

1,2-ditetradecylphosphatidylcholine: RN given in first source [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]