COMPUTER-SIMULATION OF THE ORIENTATION OF LIPID HEADGROUPS

Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to study the influence of electrostatic interactions on the orientation of lipid headgroups. The se simulations were based on a lipid model with simplified interaction potentials. The minimum effects of the electrostatic interaction are the lateral orientational order of the headgroups, the formation of ch ain-like structures along the membrane plane and the tendency of the h eadgroups to tilt down and to lie in the membrane plane. (C) 1997 Publ ished by Elsevier Science B.V.