Lipid phase transitions in membranes involving intrinsic periodic curvature

Abstract

A conformation of the lipid bilayer of membranes is proposed, with periodic curvature corresponding to the minimal surface structure of cubic lipid phases. Evidence is given indicating that activiteis of lipid synthesis/modification enzymes embedded in the membrane are controlled by the lateral “packing-pressure”, so that the lipid bilayer is close to a transition from the lamellar (L α) type of conformation to this periodically curved conformation. Such a phase transition mechanism is assumed to be involved in numerous cooperative membrane functions.