Lateral organization of cholesterol molecules in lipid-cholesterol assemblies

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2004 Aug;70(2 Pt 1):021902. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.70.021902. Epub 2004 Aug 9.

Abstract

We present results of an off-lattice simulation of a two-component planar system, as a model for lateral organization of cholesterol molecules in lipid-cholesterol assemblies. We explore the existence of "superlattice" structures even in fluid systems, in the absence of an underlying translational long-range order, and study their coupling to hexatic or bond-orientational order. We discuss our results in context of geometric superlattice theories and "condensation complexes" in understanding a variety of experiments in artificial lipid-cholesterol assemblies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biophysics / methods*
  • Cholesterol / chemistry*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Computers
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry
  • Lipids / chemistry*
  • Models, Statistical
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Lipids
  • Cholesterol