title: A Molecular Look at Membranes.
abstract: Due to the recent advances in computer hardware and software, we can now use molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo computer simulation techniques to study systems with large conformational spaces. It is demonstrated here that computer simulations allow us to get a glimpse at the structural and dynamical properties of membranes and also at the interaction of membranes with other molecules. Specifically two examples are considered: (1) structural properties of lipid rafts in model membranes and (2) interaction of model membranes with an antimicrobial peptide, melittin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Electronic address: maxb@unc.edu.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008555:Melitten / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D008555:Melitten
keywords: Antimicrobial peptides; Computer simulations; Lipid membranes; Lipid rafts; Melittin; Molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo