Fig. 3.

Natamycin increases mixing of sphingolipids and ergosterol in model membranes.

²H NMR spectra of PSM-d₃₁ in PSM/sterol (4/1) membranes (left for ergosterol, right for cholesterol) in the presence of natamycin (red) or for comparison in the absence (black) of 10 mol% natamycin. Without natamycin two different sets of quadrupolar splittings are observed in the spectrum of PSM-d₃₁/ergosterol (arrows), indicating larger membrane domains. In the presence of natamycin, these splittings are averaged, showing that significant lipid exchange takes now place on the timescale of ²H NMR experiments. The measurements were carried out at 37 °C.