On kinetics of phase transitions in cell membranes.
Phase transitions in a bicomponent lipid membrane are considered. It is shown that in this case metastable states practically do not arise and phase transitions are smooth and hysteresisless. An elastic frame on the surface of the membrane changes the character of phase transitions: they become sharp and hysteretic. The role of membrane phase transitions for regulation of cell processes is considered.
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D013500:Surface Tension; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014783:Viscosity