Miscibility gap in fluid dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine:cholesterol as “seen” by x rays

A binary mixture of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and cholesterol displays a fluid miscibility gap under excess water conditions. Effects due to the imperfect miscibility of the two amphiphiles are studied near to and far from thermodynamic equilibrium by time-resolved small angle x-ray diffraction. The experiment discloses that this mixture phase separates when leaving the miscibility gap upon heating, a transition that is not included...