The application of synchrotron X-radiation for the study of phase transitions in lipid model membrane systems

The use of real-time X-ray diffraction techniques to characterize phase transitions in lipid systems is reviewed. Information such as transition mechanism and thermodynamic order can be correlated with thermodynamic data from scanning calorimetry or densitometry to describe completely the measured thermodynamic quantities in terms of structural phenomena. Dynamic phase information can also be used to produce dynamic phase diagrams which define the parameters for creation of metastable phases in these systems. Examples involving changing lipid and solvent composition are provided to illustrate the utility of the approach.