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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging and Force Spectroscopy of Supported Lipid Bilayers
Published on: July 22, 2015
Structure of symmetric and asymmetric "ripple" phases in lipid bilayers
1Fakultät für Physik, Universität Bielefeld, D-33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
Abstract:
We reproduce the symmetric and asymmetric "rippled" P(beta') states of lipid membranes by Monte Carlo simulations of a coarse-grained molecular model for lipid-solvent mixtures. The structure and properties compare favorably with experiments. The asymmetric ripple state is characterized by a periodic array of fully interdigitated "defect" lines. The symmetric ripple state maintains a bilayer structure, but is otherwise structurally similar. The main force driving the formation of both ripple states is the propensity of lipid molecules with large head groups to exhibit splay.
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