Model Plasma Membrane Exhibits a Microemulsion in Both Leaves Providing a Foundation for "Rafts".

ABSTRACT: We consider a model lipid plasma membrane, one that describes the outer leaf as consisting of sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, and cholesterol and the inner leaf of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, and cholesterol. Their relative compositions are taken from experiment; the cholesterol freely interchanges between leaves. Fluctuations in local composition are coupled to fluctuations in the local membrane curvature, as in the Leibler-Andelman mechanism. Structure factors of components in both leaves display a peak at nonzero wavevector. This indicates that the disordered fluid membrane is characterized by structure of the corresponding wavelength. The scale is given by membrane properties: its bending modulus and its surface tension, which arises from the

SUBMITTER: Allender DW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7063444 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature