Molecular structure of the lecithin ripple phase

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Apr 12;102(15):5392-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0408249102. Epub 2005 Apr 4.

Abstract

Molecular dynamics simulations of lecithin lipid bilayers in water as they are cooled from the liquid crystalline phase show the spontaneous formation of rippled bilayers. The ripple consists of two domains of different length and orientation, connected by a kink. The organization of the lipids in one domain of the ripple is found to be that of a splayed gel; in the other domain the lipids are gel-like and fully interdigitated. In the concave part of the kink region between the domains the lipids are disordered. The results are consistent with the experimental information available and provide an atomic-level model that may be tested by further experiments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / chemistry
  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / metabolism
  • Computer Simulation
  • Gels / chemistry
  • Gels / metabolism
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism
  • Models, Chemical
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry*
  • Phosphatidylcholines / metabolism
  • Static Electricity
  • Water / chemistry
  • Water / metabolism

Substances

  • Gels
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Water
  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine