Phosphatidylcholine bilayer (PC bilayer)

The phosphatidylcholine bilayer is the fundamental structural matrix of eukaryotic cell membranes, composed of amphiphilic phospholipids with a choline head group. It serves as a semi-permeable barrier that compartmentalizes cellular processes and provides a specialized environment for the function of membrane-bound proteins (Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell). Beyond its structural role, phosphatidylcholine is a critical precursor for signaling molecules like diacylglycerol and is a major component of pulmonary surfactant and bile (Van Meer et al., Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2008). In therapeutic contexts, the bilayer is targeted by antimicrobial peptides and certain antibiotics that disrupt membrane integrity to induce cell death in pathogens (Makovitzki et al., PNAS, 2006). Additionally, alterations in the composition and fluidity of the phosphatidylcholine bilayer are associated with various pathologies, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and ulcerative colitis, making its modulation a focus for nutritional and pharmacological interventions (Stremmel et al., Digestion, 2010).

Other names

Lecithin bilayerPhospholipid bilayerGlycerophosphocholine bilayer1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine bilayer

Direct binding and disruption of membrane integrity, formation of transmembrane pores, or modulation of membrane-associated protein activity through changes in lipid environment and lateral pressure (Makovitzki et al., 2006, PNAS).