Inverse lyotropic phases of lipids and membrane curvature.
J Phys Condens Matter
; 18(28): S1105-24, 2006 Jul 19.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21690832
ABSTRACT
In recent years it has become evident that many biological functions and processes are associated with the adoption by cellular membranes of complex geometries, at least locally. In this paper, we initially discuss the range of self-assembled structures that lipids, the building blocks of biological membranes, may form, focusing specifically on the inverse lyotropic phases of negative interfacial mean curvature. We describe the roles of curvature elasticity and packing frustration in controlling the stability of these inverse phases, and the experimental determination of the spontaneous curvature and the curvature elastic parameters. We discuss how the lyotropic phase behaviour can be tuned by the addition of compounds such as long-chain alkanes, which can relieve packing frustration. The latter section of the paper elaborates further on the structure, geometric properties, and stability of the inverse bicontinuous cubic phases.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
J Phys Condens Matter
Journal subject:
BIOFISICA
Year:
2006
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom