The objective of this award is to compile data on the thermodynamic characteristics of lipids, with a view to providing ready access to the data itself and to the appropriate literature. An intact, selectively permeable membrane or system of membranes is an essential feature of the living cell. The membrane is in essence a bimolecular lipid leaflet in and on which are situated a variety of proteins and other molecules. There exists a wealth of information on lipid phase behavior much of which is scattered throughout the literature in a variety of journals, books and proceedings both foreign and domestic. The intention is to compile the data in a single, continuously revised relational database. The database will be accessed on- line. Disk, CD-ROM as well as hard copies of the data will be released periodically. The compilation will include a tabulation of all known mesomorphic and polymorphic phase transition temperatures and enthalpies for synthetic and biologically- derived lipids in the dry and in the partially and fully hydrated states.
