On defects in different phases of two-dimensional lipid bilayers

D. Ruppel , E. Sackmann

The phospholipid bilayer is the basic structure of biological membranes as well as a suitable model of a two-dimensional system. Defects within these bilayers are studied electron microscopically by application of the freeze fracture method Topological and non-topological defects can be distinguished The first type is analysed in terms of the homotopy theory. Two defect systems, an Abelian and a non-Abelian, are found which are a consequence of a symmetry breaking. The effect of small amounts of impurities on the defect structure is studied An outline of the possible biological relevance of defects is given in the last part.

Keywords: biomembranes; electron microscope examination of materials; impurity defect interactions; lipid bilayers; liquid crystals

Domains: Physics archives

D. Ruppel, E. Sackmann. On defects in different phases of two-dimensional lipid bilayers. Journal de Physique, 1983, 44 (9), pp.1025-1034. ⟨10.1051/jphys:019830044090102500⟩. ⟨jpa-00209687⟩