Physics – Condensed Matter – Soft Condensed Matter
Scientific paper
2012-03-27
Physics
Condensed Matter
Soft Condensed Matter
10 pages, 10 figures
Scientific paper
The structure of the ripple phase of phospholipid membranes remains poorly understood in spite of a large number of theoretical studies, with many experimentally established structural features of this phase unaccounted for. In this article we present a phenomenological theory of phase transitions in single- and two-component achiral lipid membranes in terms of two coupled order parameters -- a scalar order parameter describing {\it lipid chain melting}, and a vector order parameter describing the {\it tilt of the hydrocarbon chains} below the chain-melting transition. This model reproduces all the salient structural features of the ripple phase, providing a unified description of the phase diagram and microstructure. In addition, it predicts a variant of this phase which does not seem to have been experimentally observed. Using this model we have calculated generic phase diagrams of two-component membranes. We have also determined the phase diagram of a two-component lipid membrane from x-ray diffraction studies on aligned multilayers. This phase diagram is found to be in good agreement with that calculated from the model.
Kamal Arif Md.
Pal Antara
Raghunathan V. A.
Rao Madan
No associations
LandOfFree
Phase behavior of two-component lipid membranes: theory and experiments does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Phase behavior of two-component lipid membranes: theory and experiments, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Phase behavior of two-component lipid membranes: theory and experiments will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-639970