Static magnetic fields enhance lipid order in native plant plasma membrane

Abstract

We studied molecular order in native plant plasma membranes in the presence of static magnetic fields. Plasma membranes of seeds of the tomato plant were purified, extracted, and applied to a silicon substrate in a buffer suspension and their molecular structure was studied using X-ray diffraction. We observed correlation peaks that we assigned to the lipid and protein components of the plasma membrane. Two field strengths were available: B = 0.126 T and B = 0.208 T. While magnetic fields had no observable effect on protein structure, enhanced lipid order was observed, leading to an increase in the gel components and a decrease in the fluid component of the lipids.