Liquid crystalline state of some fatty acids and mixtures

The role of the fatty acids in the biological membrane structure and properties is partially known. They can exhibit a mesogenic feature and behaviour in terms of the temperature, the presence of many acids. of cholesterol, or other important substances for the metabolism of external stimuli etc. We studied the arachidic, lauric, elaidic, arachidonic and butiric acids. The most important seems to be the arachidonic acid, a forerunner of phospholipids.. This is an unsaturated fatty acid, with four double bonds (Delta 5,9,11,14). We found that it displayed liquid crystalline properties between 4-20 grades centigrades; in mixture with other fatty acids or cholesterol, these properties change. The paper presents considerations on the biological role of the fatty acids and mixtures, in interactions with some physical fields. experimental results and some theoretical considerations.