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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties
Published on: November 3, 2008
The role of molecular shape in bilayer elasticity and phase behavior
Grace Brannigan1, Adele C Tamboli, Frank L H Brown
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106, USA.
Abstract:
A previously developed molecular level model for lipid bilayers [G. Brannigan and F. L. H. Brown, J. Chem. Phys. 120, 1059 (2004)] is extended to allow for variations in lipid length and simulations under constant surface tension conditions. The dependence of membrane elasticity on bilayer thickness is obtained by adjusting lipid length at constant temperature and surface tension. Additionally, bilayer fluidity at various lipid lengths is quantified by analysis of a length versus temperature phase diagram at vanishing tension. Regions of solid, gel-like (hexatic) and fluid bilayer behavior are established by identification of phase boundaries. The main melting transition is found to be density driven; the melting temperature scales inversely with lipid length since thermal expansion increases with lipid aspect ratio.
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