title: Large-scale simulations of fluctuating biological membranes.
abstract: We present a simple, and physically motivated, coarse-grained model of a lipid bilayer, suited for micron scale computer simulations. Each approximately 25 nm(2) patch of bilayer is represented by a spherical particle. Mimicking forces of hydrophobic association, multiparticle interactions suppress the exposure of each sphere's equator to its implicit solvent surroundings. The requirement of high equatorial density stabilizes two-dimensional structures without necessitating crystalline order, allowing us to match both the elasticity and fluidity of natural lipid membranes. We illustrate the model's versatility and realism by characterizing a membrane's response to a prodding nanorod.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pasqua
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maibaum
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oster
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Phillip L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Geissler
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004548:Elasticity; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008567:Membranes, Artificial