Very long lipid tubules with uniform widths, spirals, and spirals nested in tubular superstructures are formed rapidly from a lipid analogue made by acylating 1-(N,N-1-dimethylamino)ethyl-2,3-dihydroxybutyramide with two molecules of pentacosa-10,12-diynoic acid. The high propensity of this molecule for tubule formation is attributed to the large carbonyl dipole in the headgroup. The tubules formed from the pure lipid are hollow and can be gold-plated by vapor deposition without collapsing. The superstructures can also be metallized by adsorption of nickel(II) or copper(II) ions followed by reduction with borohydride. The nickel-metallized tubules can be oriented in very modest magnetic fields. Tubules can be over 1000 mu m in length and have a wide diameter. The unusual length, stability, and ease of preparation of these tubules should be of great utility in the construction of microstructures.