Monte Carlo simulations of lipid bilayers and lipid protein interactions in the light of recent experiments

Statistical thermodynamics simulations in recent years have considerably al tered the view of biological and model membranes. Fluctuations in concentra tion and state, as well as in area and volume, have led to the prediction o f a domain structure and anomalies in the elastic constants. New experiment s support the predictions made from these models. Domains have been found a nd elasticities have been measured, both in model and in biological systems . The concept of hydrophobic matching, underlying the simulations, has expe rimentally been shown to be relevant for the function of membrane proteins. The growing interaction of theoreticians with biologists will soon lead to a wide acceptance of the importance of these theoretical concepts. (C) 200 0 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.