title: Structure of symmetric and asymmetric "ripple" phases in lipid bilayers.
abstract: We reproduce the symmetric and asymmetric "rippled" P(beta') states of lipid membranes by Monte Carlo simulations of a coarse-grained molecular model for lipid-solvent mixtures. The structure and properties compare favorably with experiments. The asymmetric ripple state is characterized by a periodic array of fully interdigitated "defect" lines. The symmetric ripple state maintains a bilayer structure, but is otherwise structurally similar. The main force driving the formation of both ripple states is the propensity of lipid molecules with large head groups to exhibit splay.
authors.affiliation: Fakultät für Physik, Universität Bielefeld, D-33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schmid
mesh_terms: D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009010:Monte Carlo Method
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers