Coacervate Formation from Natural Glycolipid:  One Acetyl Group on the Headgroup Triggers Coacervate-to-Vesicle Transition

Coacervate (L3 phase) formation of the single component "natural" glycoliped biosurfactant, MEL-A, was observed for the first time by using an optical microscope, a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), and a freeze-fracture electron microscope (FF-TEM). It was also found that only a slight decrease in spontaneous curvature resulting from the absence of one acetyl group on the headgroup induced a drastic morphological change in the 3D self-assembled structure from coacervates (L3 phase) to ordered vesicles (Lalpha phase).