Figure 3.

Schematic illustration of consequences of different interleaflet coupling strengths in vesicles containing high T_m lipids in the outer leaflet and low T_m lipids (with a T_m below the experimental temperature range) in the inner leaflet. (A) Very weak coupling. The outer leaflet (solid line) and inner leaflet (dashed line) melt independently and at similar temperatures to those made of pure high T_m or low T_m lipid, respectively. (B) Very strong coupling. Outer and inner leaflet melt simultaneously at an intermediate T_m. (C) Intermediate coupling. At lower temperatures, coupling that increases inner leaflet lipid T_m is present at lower temperatures, but this coupling is lost as the temperature approaches the T_m of the outer leaflet, whereas outer leaflet T_m is similar to that in vesicles composed of pure high T_m lipid.