A theoretical study of micro-domain formation in mixed lipid membranes |
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Authors: | Antonio Raudino |
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Institution: |
a Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, University of Catania, Catania, Italy |
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Abstract: | The thermodynamic stability of micro-clusters in a membrane built-up by charged and uncharged lipid molecules is discussed. A simple variational function is proposed in order to describe the essential structure of such lipid domains. Solvent-screened electrostatic repulsion between the lipid ionic head groups, short-range forces between the lipid hydrophobic taisl and entropic effects are taken into account. The stability conditions as well as the composition and the size of the lipid micro-domains are calculated and expressed as a function of molecular parameters for the membrane and its environment (for example, short-range forces, surface charge density of the lipid bilayer, ion concentration of the electrolyte solution in contact with the lipid membrane and temperature). As an application, the effect of micro-domain formation on the number of adsorbed ions on a charged lipid membrane has been calculated. |
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