--- trunk/mdRipple/mdripple.tex 2007/07/13 22:01:52 3174 +++ trunk/mdRipple/mdripple.tex 2007/10/19 18:40:38 3265 @@ -1,405 +1,861 @@ %\documentclass[aps,pre,twocolumn,amssymb,showpacs,floatfix]{revtex4} -\documentclass[aps,pre,preprint,amssymb,showpacs]{revtex4} +%\documentclass[aps,pre,preprint,amssymb]{revtex4} +\documentclass[12pt]{article} +\usepackage{times} +\usepackage{mathptm} +\usepackage{tabularx} +\usepackage{setspace} +\usepackage{amsmath} +\usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{graphicx} +\usepackage[ref]{overcite} +\pagestyle{plain} +\pagenumbering{arabic} +\oddsidemargin 0.0cm \evensidemargin 0.0cm +\topmargin -21pt \headsep 10pt +\textheight 9.0in \textwidth 6.5in +\brokenpenalty=10000 +\renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{1.2} +\renewcommand\citemid{\ } % no comma in optional reference note \begin{document} -\renewcommand{\thefootnote}{\fnsymbol{footnote}} -\renewcommand{\theequation}{\arabic{section}.\arabic{equation}} +%\renewcommand{\thefootnote}{\fnsymbol{footnote}} +%\renewcommand{\theequation}{\arabic{section}.\arabic{equation}} -%\bibliographystyle{aps} +\bibliographystyle{achemso} -\title{Dipolar Ordering of the Ripple Phase in Lipid Membranes} -\author{Xiuquan Sun and J. Daniel Gezelter} -\email[E-mail:]{gezelter@nd.edu} -\affiliation{Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,\\ -University of Notre Dame, \\ +\title{Dipolar ordering in the ripple phases of molecular-scale models +of lipid membranes} +\author{Xiuquan Sun and J. Daniel Gezelter \\ +Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,\\ +University of Notre Dame, \\ Notre Dame, Indiana 46556} +%\email[E-mail:]{gezelter@nd.edu} + \date{\today} -\begin{abstract} +\maketitle +\begin{abstract} +Symmetric and asymmetric ripple phases have been observed to form in +molecular dynamics simulations of a simple molecular-scale lipid +model. The lipid model consists of an dipolar head group and an +ellipsoidal tail. Within the limits of this model, an explanation for +generalized membrane curvature is a simple mismatch in the size of the +heads with the width of the molecular bodies. The persistence of a +{\it bilayer} structure requires strong attractive forces between the +head groups. One feature of this model is that an energetically +favorable orientational ordering of the dipoles can be achieved by +out-of-plane membrane corrugation. The corrugation of the surface +stabilizes the long range orientational ordering for the dipoles in the +head groups which then adopt a bulk anti-ferroelectric state. We +observe a common feature of the corrugated dipolar membranes: the wave +vectors for the surface ripples are always found to be perpendicular +to the dipole director axis. \end{abstract} -\pacs{} -\maketitle +%\maketitle +\newpage \section{Introduction} \label{sec:Int} +Fully hydrated lipids will aggregate spontaneously to form bilayers +which exhibit a variety of phases depending on their temperatures and +compositions. Among these phases, a periodic rippled phase +($P_{\beta'}$) appears as an intermediate phase between the gel +($L_\beta$) and fluid ($L_{\alpha}$) phases for relatively pure +phosphatidylcholine (PC) bilayers. The ripple phase has attracted +substantial experimental interest over the past 30 years. Most +structural information of the ripple phase has been obtained by the +X-ray diffraction~\cite{Sun96,Katsaras00} and freeze-fracture electron +microscopy (FFEM).~\cite{Copeland80,Meyer96} Recently, Kaasgaard {\it +et al.} used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to observe ripple phase +morphology in bilayers supported on mica.~\cite{Kaasgaard03} The +experimental results provide strong support for a 2-dimensional +hexagonal packing lattice of the lipid molecules within the ripple +phase. This is a notable change from the observed lipid packing +within the gel phase.~\cite{Cevc87} The X-ray diffraction work by +Katsaras {\it et al.} showed that a rich phase diagram exhibiting both +{\it asymmetric} and {\it symmetric} ripples is possible for lecithin +bilayers.\cite{Katsaras00} -As one of the most important components in the formation of the -biomembrane, lipid molecules attracted numerous studies in the past -several decades. Due to their amphiphilic structure, when dispersed in -water, lipids can self-assemble to construct a bilayer structure. The -phase behavior of lipid membrane is well understood. The gel-fluid -phase transition is known as main phase transition. However, there is -an intermediate phase between gel and fluid phase for some lipid (like -phosphatidycholine (PC)) membranes. This intermediate phase -distinguish itself from other phases by its corrugated membrane -surface, therefore this phase is termed ``ripple'' ($P_{\beta '}$) -phase. The phase transition between gel-fluid and ripple phase is -called pretransition. Since the pretransition usually occurs in room -temperature, there might be some important biofuntions carried by the -ripple phase for the living organism. +A number of theoretical models have been presented to explain the +formation of the ripple phase. Marder {\it et al.} used a +curvature-dependent Landau-de~Gennes free-energy functional to predict +a rippled phase.~\cite{Marder84} This model and other related continuum +models predict higher fluidity in convex regions and that concave +portions of the membrane correspond to more solid-like regions. +Carlson and Sethna used a packing-competition model (in which head +groups and chains have competing packing energetics) to predict the +formation of a ripple-like phase. Their model predicted that the +high-curvature portions have lower-chain packing and correspond to +more fluid-like regions. Goldstein and Leibler used a mean-field +approach with a planar model for {\em inter-lamellar} interactions to +predict rippling in multilamellar phases.~\cite{Goldstein88} McCullough +and Scott proposed that the {\em anisotropy of the nearest-neighbor +interactions} coupled to hydrophobic constraining forces which +restrict height differences between nearest neighbors is the origin of +the ripple phase.~\cite{McCullough90} Lubensky and MacKintosh +introduced a Landau theory for tilt order and curvature of a single +membrane and concluded that {\em coupling of molecular tilt to membrane +curvature} is responsible for the production of +ripples.~\cite{Lubensky93} Misbah, Duplat and Houchmandzadeh proposed +that {\em inter-layer dipolar interactions} can lead to ripple +instabilities.~\cite{Misbah98} Heimburg presented a {\em coexistence +model} for ripple formation in which he postulates that fluid-phase +line defects cause sharp curvature between relatively flat gel-phase +regions.~\cite{Heimburg00} Kubica has suggested that a lattice model of +polar head groups could be valuable in trying to understand bilayer +phase formation.~\cite{Kubica02} Bannerjee used Monte Carlo simulations +of lamellar stacks of hexagonal lattices to show that large head groups +and molecular tilt with respect to the membrane normal vector can +cause bulk rippling.~\cite{Bannerjee02} -The ripple phase is observed experimentally by x-ray diffraction -~\cite{Sun96,Katsaras00}, freeze-fracture electron microscopy -(FFEM)~\cite{Copeland80,Meyer96}, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) -recently~\cite{Kaasgaard03}. The experimental studies suggest two -kinds of ripple structures: asymmetric (sawtooth like) and symmetric -(sinusoidal like) ripple phases. Substantial number of theoretical -explaination applied on the formation of the ripple -phases~\cite{Marder84,Carlson87,Goldstein88,McCullough90,Lubensky93,Misbah98,Heimburg00,Kubica02,Bannerjee02}. -In contrast, few molecular modelling have been done due to the large -size of the resulting structures and the time required for the phases -of interest to develop. One of the interesting molecular simulations -was carried out by De Vries and Marrink {\it et -al.}~\cite{deVries05}. According to their dynamic simulation results, -the ripple consists of two domains, one is gel bilayer, and in the -other domain, the upper and lower leaves of the bilayer are fully -interdigitated. The mechanism of the formation of the ripple phase in -their work suggests the theory that the packing competition between -head group and tail of lipid molecules is the driving force for the -formation of the ripple phase~\cite{Carlson87}. Recently, the ripple -phase is also studied by using monte carlo simulation~\cite{Lenz07}, -the ripple structure is similar to the results of Marrink except that -the connection of the upper and lower leaves of the bilayer is an -interdigitated line instead of the fully interdigitated -domain. Furthermore, the symmetric ripple phase was also observed in -their work. They claimed the mismatch between the size of the head -group and tail of the lipid molecules is the driving force for the -formation of the ripple phase. +In contrast, few large-scale molecular modeling studies have been +done due to the large size of the resulting structures and the time +required for the phases of interest to develop. With all-atom (and +even unified-atom) simulations, only one period of the ripple can be +observed and only for time scales in the range of 10-100 ns. One of +the most interesting molecular simulations was carried out by de~Vries +{\it et al.}~\cite{deVries05}. According to their simulation results, +the ripple consists of two domains, one resembling the gel bilayer, +while in the other, the two leaves of the bilayer are fully +interdigitated. The mechanism for the formation of the ripple phase +suggested by their work is a packing competition between the head +groups and the tails of the lipid molecules.\cite{Carlson87} Recently, +the ripple phase has also been studied by Lenz and Schmid using Monte +Carlo simulations.\cite{Lenz07} Their structures are similar to the De +Vries {\it et al.} structures except that the connection between the +two leaves of the bilayer is a narrow interdigitated line instead of +the fully interdigitated domain. The symmetric ripple phase was also +observed by Lenz {\it et al.}, and their work supports other claims +that the mismatch between the size of the head group and tail of the +lipid molecules is the driving force for the formation of the ripple +phase. Ayton and Voth have found significant undulations in +zero-surface-tension states of membranes simulated via dissipative +particle dynamics, but their results are consistent with purely +thermal undulations.~\cite{Ayton02} -Although the organizations of the tails of lipid molecules are -addressed by these molecular simulations, the ordering of the head -group in ripple phase is still not settlement. We developed a simple -``web of dipoles'' spin lattice model which provides some physical -insight in our previous studies~\cite{Sun2007}, we found the dipoles -on head groups of the lipid molecules are ordered in an -antiferroelectric state. The similiar phenomenon is also observed by -Tsonchev {\it et al.} when they studied the formation of the -nanotube\cite{Tsonchev04}. +Although the organization of the tails of lipid molecules are +addressed by these molecular simulations and the packing competition +between head groups and tails is strongly implicated as the primary +driving force for ripple formation, questions about the ordering of +the head groups in ripple phase have not been settled. -In this paper, we made a more realistic coarse-grained lipid model to -understand the primary driving force for membrane corrugation and to -elucidate the organization of the anisotropic interacting head group -via molecular dynamics simulation. We will talk about our model and -methodology in section \ref{sec:method}, and details of the simulation -in section \ref{sec:experiment}. The results are shown in section -\ref{sec:results}. At last, we will discuss the results in section +In a recent paper, we presented a simple ``web of dipoles'' spin +lattice model which provides some physical insight into relationship +between dipolar ordering and membrane buckling.\cite{Sun2007} We found +that dipolar elastic membranes can spontaneously buckle, forming +ripple-like topologies. The driving force for the buckling of dipolar +elastic membranes is the anti-ferroelectric ordering of the dipoles. +This was evident in the ordering of the dipole director axis +perpendicular to the wave vector of the surface ripples. A similar +phenomenon has also been observed by Tsonchev {\it et al.} in their +work on the spontaneous formation of dipolar peptide chains into +curved nano-structures.\cite{Tsonchev04,Tsonchev04II} + +In this paper, we construct a somewhat more realistic molecular-scale +lipid model than our previous ``web of dipoles'' and use molecular +dynamics simulations to elucidate the role of the head group dipoles +in the formation and morphology of the ripple phase. We describe our +model and computational methodology in section \ref{sec:method}. +Details on the simulations are presented in section +\ref{sec:experiment}, with results following in section +\ref{sec:results}. A final discussion of the role of dipolar heads in +the ripple formation can be found in section \ref{sec:discussion}. -\section{Methodology and Model} +\section{Computational Model} \label{sec:method} -Our idea for developing a simple and reasonable lipid model to study -the ripple phase of lipid bilayers is based on two facts: one is that -the most essential feature of lipid molecules is their amphiphilic -structure with polar head groups and non-polar tails. Another fact is -that dominant numbers of lipid molecules are very rigid in ripple -phase which allows the details of the lipid molecules neglectable. The -lipid model is shown in Figure \ref{fig:lipidMM}. Figure -\ref{fig:lipidMM}a shows the molecular strucure of a DPPC molecule. The -hydrophilic character of the head group is the effect of the strong -dipole composed by a positive charge sitting on the nitrogen and a -negative charge on the phosphate. The hydrophobic tail consists of -fatty acid chains. In our model shown in Figure \ref{fig:lipidMM}b, -lipid molecules are represented by rigid bodies made of one head -sphere with a point dipole sitting on it and one ellipsoid tail, the -direction of the dipole is fixed to be perpendicular to the tail. The -breadth and length of tail are $\sigma_0$, $3\sigma_0$. The diameter -of heads varies from $1.20\sigma_0$ to $1.41\sigma_0$. The model of -the solvent in our simulations is inspired by the idea of ``DPD'' -water. Every four water molecules are reprsented by one sphere. - \begin{figure}[htb] \centering -\includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{lipidMM} -\caption{The molecular structure of a DPPC molecule and the -coars-grained model for PC molecules.\label{fig:lipidMM}} +\includegraphics[width=4in]{lipidModels} +\caption{Three different representations of DPPC lipid molecules, +including the chemical structure, an atomistic model, and the +head-body ellipsoidal coarse-grained model used in this +work.\label{fig:lipidModels}} \end{figure} -Spheres interact each other with Lennard-Jones potential -\begin{eqnarray*} -V_{ij} = 4\epsilon \left[\left(\frac{\sigma_0}{r_{ij}}\right)^{12} - -\left(\frac{\sigma_0}{r_{ij}}\right)^6\right] -\end{eqnarray*} -here, $\sigma_0$ is diameter of the spherical particle. $r_{ij}$ is -the distance between two spheres. $\epsilon$ is the well depth. -Dipoles interact each other with typical dipole potential -\begin{eqnarray*} -V_{ij} = \frac{|\mu|^2}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r_{ij}^3} -\left[ \hat{\bf u}_i \cdot \hat{\bf u}_j - 3 (\hat{\bf u}_i \cdot -\hat{\bf r}_{ij})(\hat{\bf u}_j \cdot \hat{\bf r}_{ij}) \right] -\end{eqnarray*} -In this potential, $\mathbf{\hat u}_i$ is the unit vector pointing -along dipole $i$ and $\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}$ is the unit vector -pointing along the inter-dipole vector $\mathbf{r}_{ij}$. Identical -ellipsoids interact each other with Gay-Berne potential. -\begin{eqnarray*} +Our simple molecular-scale lipid model for studying the ripple phase +is based on two facts: one is that the most essential feature of lipid +molecules is their amphiphilic structure with polar head groups and +non-polar tails. Another fact is that the majority of lipid molecules +in the ripple phase are relatively rigid (i.e. gel-like) which makes +some fraction of the details of the chain dynamics negligible. Figure +\ref{fig:lipidModels} shows the molecular structure of a DPPC +molecule, as well as atomistic and molecular-scale representations of +a DPPC molecule. The hydrophilic character of the head group is +largely due to the separation of charge between the nitrogen and +phosphate groups. The zwitterionic nature of the PC headgroups leads +to abnormally large dipole moments (as high as 20.6 D), and this +strongly polar head group interacts strongly with the solvating water +layers immediately surrounding the membrane. The hydrophobic tail +consists of fatty acid chains. In our molecular scale model, lipid +molecules have been reduced to these essential features; the fatty +acid chains are represented by an ellipsoid with a dipolar ball +perched on one end to represent the effects of the charge-separated +head group. In real PC lipids, the direction of the dipole is +nearly perpendicular to the tail, so we have fixed the direction of +the point dipole rigidly in this orientation. + +The ellipsoidal portions of the model interact via the Gay-Berne +potential which has seen widespread use in the liquid crystal +community. Ayton and Voth have also used Gay-Berne ellipsoids for +modeling large length-scale properties of lipid +bilayers.\cite{Ayton01} In its original form, the Gay-Berne potential +was a single site model for the interactions of rigid ellipsoidal +molecules.\cite{Gay81} It can be thought of as a modification of the +Gaussian overlap model originally described by Berne and +Pechukas.\cite{Berne72} The potential is constructed in the familiar +form of the Lennard-Jones function using orientation-dependent +$\sigma$ and $\epsilon$ parameters, +\begin{equation*} V_{ij}({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j}, {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}}) = 4\epsilon ({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j}, {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}})\left[\left(\frac{\sigma_0}{r_{ij}-\sigma({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j}, {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}})+\sigma_0}\right)^{12} -\left(\frac{\sigma_0}{r_{ij}-\sigma({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j}, {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}})+\sigma_0}\right)^6\right] -\end{eqnarray*} -where $\sigma_0 = \sqrt 2\sigma_s$, and orietation-dependent range -parameter is given by -\begin{eqnarray*} -\sigma({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j}, {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}}) = -{\sigma_{0}} \left(1-\frac{1}{2}\chi\left[\frac{({\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} -\cdot {\mathbf{\hat u}_i} + {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} \cdot {\mathbf{\hat -u}_j})^2}{1+\chi({\mathbf{\hat u}_i} \cdot {\mathbf{\hat u}_j})} + -\frac{({\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} \cdot {\mathbf{\hat u}_i} - {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} -\cdot {\mathbf{\hat u}_j})^2}{1-\chi({\mathbf{\hat u}_i} \cdot -{\mathbf{\hat u}_j})} \right] \right)^{-\frac{1}{2}} -\end{eqnarray*} -and the strength anisotropy function is, -\begin{eqnarray*} -\epsilon ({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j}, {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}}) = -{\epsilon^\nu}({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat -u}_j}){\epsilon'^\mu}({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j}, -{\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}}) -\end{eqnarray*} -with $\nu$ and $\mu$ being adjustable exponent, and -$\epsilon({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j})$, -$\epsilon'({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j}, {\mathbf{\hat -r}_{ij}})$ defined as -\begin{eqnarray*} -\epsilon({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j}) = -\epsilon_0\left[1-\chi^2({\mathbf{\hat u}_i} \cdot {\mathbf{\hat -u}_j})^2\right]^{-\frac{1}{2}} +\label{eq:gb} +\end{equation*} + +The range $(\sigma({\bf \hat{u}}_{i},{\bf \hat{u}}_{j},{\bf +\hat{r}}_{ij}))$, and strength $(\epsilon({\bf \hat{u}}_{i},{\bf +\hat{u}}_{j},{\bf \hat{r}}_{ij}))$ parameters +are dependent on the relative orientations of the two molecules (${\bf +\hat{u}}_{i},{\bf \hat{u}}_{j}$) as well as the direction of the +intermolecular separation (${\bf \hat{r}}_{ij}$). $\sigma$ and +$\sigma_0$ are also governed by shape mixing and anisotropy variables, +\begin {eqnarray*} +\sigma_0 & = & \sqrt{d_i^2 + d_j^2} \\ \\ +\chi & = & \left[ \frac{\left( l_i^2 - d_i^2 \right) \left(l_j^2 - +d_j^2 \right)}{\left( l_j^2 + d_i^2 \right) \left(l_i^2 + +d_j^2 \right)}\right]^{1/2} \\ \\ +\alpha^2 & = & \left[ \frac{\left( l_i^2 - d_i^2 \right) \left(l_j^2 + +d_i^2 \right)}{\left( l_j^2 - d_j^2 \right) \left(l_i^2 + +d_j^2 \right)}\right]^{1/2}, \end{eqnarray*} -\begin{eqnarray*} -\epsilon'({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j}, {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}}) = -1-\frac{1}{2}\chi'\left[\frac{({\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} \cdot {\mathbf{\hat -u}_i} + {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} \cdot {\mathbf{\hat -u}_j})^2}{1+\chi'({\mathbf{\hat u}_i} \cdot {\mathbf{\hat u}_j})} + -\frac{({\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} \cdot {\mathbf{\hat u}_i} - {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} -\cdot {\mathbf{\hat u}_j})^2}{1-\chi'({\mathbf{\hat u}_i} \cdot -{\mathbf{\hat u}_j})} \right] +where $l$ and $d$ describe the length and width of each uniaxial +ellipsoid. These shape anisotropy parameters can then be used to +calculate the range function, +\begin{equation*} +\sigma({\bf \hat{u}}_{i},{\bf \hat{u}}_{j},{\bf \hat{r}}_{ij}) = \sigma_{0} + \left[ 1- \left\{ \frac{ \chi \alpha^2 ({\bf \hat{u}}_i \cdot {\bf +\hat{r}}_{ij} ) + \chi \alpha^{-2} ({\bf \hat{u}}_j \cdot {\bf +\hat{r}}_{ij} ) - 2 \chi^2 ({\bf \hat{u}}_i \cdot {\bf +\hat{r}}_{ij} )({\bf \hat{u}}_j \cdot {\bf +\hat{r}}_{ij} ) ({\bf \hat{u}}_i \cdot {\bf \hat{u}}_j)}{1 - \chi^2 +\left({\bf \hat{u}}_i \cdot {\bf \hat{u}}_j\right)^2} \right\} +\right]^{-1/2} +\end{equation*} + +Gay-Berne ellipsoids also have an energy scaling parameter, +$\epsilon^s$, which describes the well depth for two identical +ellipsoids in a {\it side-by-side} configuration. Additionally, a well +depth aspect ratio, $\epsilon^r = \epsilon^e / \epsilon^s$, describes +the ratio between the well depths in the {\it end-to-end} and +side-by-side configurations. As in the range parameter, a set of +mixing and anisotropy variables can be used to describe the well +depths for dissimilar particles, +\begin {eqnarray*} +\epsilon_0 & = & \sqrt{\epsilon^s_i * \epsilon^s_j} \\ \\ +\epsilon^r & = & \sqrt{\epsilon^r_i * \epsilon^r_j} \\ \\ +\chi' & = & \frac{1 - (\epsilon^r)^{1/\mu}}{1 + (\epsilon^r)^{1/\mu}} +\\ \\ +\alpha'^2 & = & \left[1 + (\epsilon^r)^{1/\mu}\right]^{-1} \end{eqnarray*} -the diameter dependent parameter $\chi$ is given by -\begin{eqnarray*} -\chi = \frac{({\sigma_s}^2 - -{\sigma_e}^2)}{({\sigma_s}^2 + {\sigma_e}^2)} -\end{eqnarray*} -and the well depth dependent parameter $\chi'$ is given by -\begin{eqnarray*} -\chi' = \frac{({\epsilon_s}^{\frac{1}{\mu}} - -{\epsilon_e}^{\frac{1}{\mu}})}{({\epsilon_s}^{\frac{1}{\mu}} + -{\epsilon_e}^{\frac{1}{\mu}})} -\end{eqnarray*} -$\sigma_s$ is the side-by-side width, and $\sigma_e$ is the end-to-end -length. $\epsilon_s$ is the side-by-side well depth, and $\epsilon_e$ -is the end-to-end well depth. For the interaction between -nonequivalent uniaxial ellipsoids (in this case, between spheres and -ellipsoids), the range parameter is generalized as\cite{Cleaver96} -\begin{eqnarray*} -\sigma({\mathbf{\hat u}_i}, {\mathbf{\hat u}_j}, {\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}}) = -{\sigma_{0}} \left(1-\frac{1}{2}\chi\left[\frac{(\alpha{\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} -\cdot {\mathbf{\hat u}_i} + \alpha^{-1}{\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} \cdot {\mathbf{\hat -u}_j})^2}{1+\chi({\mathbf{\hat u}_i} \cdot {\mathbf{\hat u}_j})} + -\frac{(\alpha{\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} \cdot {\mathbf{\hat u}_i} - \alpha^{-1}{\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}} -\cdot {\mathbf{\hat u}_j})^2}{1-\chi({\mathbf{\hat u}_i} \cdot -{\mathbf{\hat u}_j})} \right] \right)^{-\frac{1}{2}} -\end{eqnarray*} -where $\alpha$ is given by -\begin{eqnarray*} -\alpha^2 = -\left[\frac{\left({\sigma_e}_i^2-{\sigma_s}_i^2\right)\left({\sigma_e}_j^2+{\sigma_s}_i^2\right)}{\left({\sigma_e}_j^2-{\sigma_s}_j^2\right)\left({\sigma_e}_i^2+{\sigma_s}_j^2\right)} -\right]^{\frac{1}{2}} -\end{eqnarray*} -the strength parameter is adjusted by the suggestion of -\cite{Cleaver96}. All potentials are truncated at $25$ \AA\ and -shifted at $22$ \AA. +The form of the strength function is somewhat complicated, +\begin {eqnarray*} +\epsilon({\bf \hat{u}}_{i}, {\bf \hat{u}}_{j},{\bf \hat{r}}_{ij}) & = & +\epsilon_{0} \epsilon_{1}^{\nu}({\bf \hat{u}}_{i}.{\bf \hat{u}}_{j}) + \epsilon_{2}^{\mu}({\bf \hat{u}}_{i},{\bf \hat{u}}_{j},{\bf +\hat{r}}_{ij}) \\ \\ +\epsilon_{1}({\bf \hat{u}}_{i},{\bf \hat{u}}_{j}) & = & +\left[1-\chi^{2}({\bf \hat{u}}_{i}.{\bf +\hat{u}}_{j})^{2}\right]^{-1/2} \\ \\ +\epsilon_{2}({\bf \hat{u}}_{i},{\bf \hat{u}}_{j},{\bf \hat{r}}_{ij}) & += & + 1 - \left\{ \frac{ \chi' \alpha'^2 ({\bf \hat{u}}_i \cdot {\bf +\hat{r}}_{ij} ) + \chi' \alpha'^{-2} ({\bf \hat{u}}_j \cdot {\bf +\hat{r}}_{ij} ) - 2 \chi'^2 ({\bf \hat{u}}_i \cdot {\bf +\hat{r}}_{ij} )({\bf \hat{u}}_j \cdot {\bf +\hat{r}}_{ij} ) ({\bf \hat{u}}_i \cdot {\bf \hat{u}}_j)}{1 - \chi'^2 +\left({\bf \hat{u}}_i \cdot {\bf \hat{u}}_j\right)^2} \right\}, +\end {eqnarray*} +although many of the quantities and derivatives are identical with +those obtained for the range parameter. Ref. \citen{Luckhurst90} +has a particularly good explanation of the choice of the Gay-Berne +parameters $\mu$ and $\nu$ for modeling liquid crystal molecules. An +excellent overview of the computational methods that can be used to +efficiently compute forces and torques for this potential can be found +in Ref. \citen{Golubkov06} -\section{Experiment} +The choices of parameters we have used in this study correspond to a +shape anisotropy of 3 for the chain portion of the molecule. In +principle, this could be varied to allow for modeling of longer or +shorter chain lipid molecules. For these prolate ellipsoids, we have: +\begin{equation} +\begin{array}{rcl} +d & < & l \\ +\epsilon^{r} & < & 1 +\end{array} +\end{equation} +A sketch of the various structural elements of our molecular-scale +lipid / solvent model is shown in figure \ref{fig:lipidModel}. The +actual parameters used in our simulations are given in table +\ref{tab:parameters}. + +\begin{figure}[htb] +\centering +\includegraphics[width=4in]{2lipidModel} +\caption{The parameters defining the behavior of the lipid +models. $l / d$ is the ratio of the head group to body diameter. +Molecular bodies had a fixed aspect ratio of 3.0. The solvent model +was a simplified 4-water bead ($\sigma_w \approx d$) that has been +used in other coarse-grained (DPD) simulations. The dipolar strength +(and the temperature and pressure) were the only other parameters that +were varied systematically.\label{fig:lipidModel}} +\end{figure} + +To take into account the permanent dipolar interactions of the +zwitterionic head groups, we have placed fixed dipole moments $\mu_{i}$ at +one end of the Gay-Berne particles. The dipoles are oriented at an +angle $\theta = \pi / 2$ relative to the major axis. These dipoles +are protected by a head ``bead'' with a range parameter ($\sigma_h$) which we have +varied between $1.20 d$ and $1.41 d$. The head groups interact with +each other using a combination of Lennard-Jones, +\begin{equation} +V_{ij}(r_{ij}) = 4\epsilon_h \left[\left(\frac{\sigma_h}{r_{ij}}\right)^{12} - +\left(\frac{\sigma_h}{r_{ij}}\right)^6\right], +\end{equation} +and dipole-dipole, +\begin{equation} +V_{ij}({\bf \hat{u}}_{i},{\bf \hat{u}}_{j},{\bf +\hat{r}}_{ij})) = \frac{|\mu|^2}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r_{ij}^3} +\left[ \hat{\bf u}_i \cdot \hat{\bf u}_j - 3 (\hat{\bf u}_i \cdot +\hat{\bf r}_{ij})(\hat{\bf u}_j \cdot \hat{\bf r}_{ij}) \right] +\end{equation} +potentials. +In these potentials, $\mathbf{\hat u}_i$ is the unit vector pointing +along dipole $i$ and $\mathbf{\hat r}_{ij}$ is the unit vector +pointing along the inter-dipole vector $\mathbf{r}_{ij}$. + +For the interaction between nonequivalent uniaxial ellipsoids (in this +case, between spheres and ellipsoids), the spheres are treated as +ellipsoids with an aspect ratio of 1 ($d = l$) and with an well depth +ratio ($\epsilon^r$) of 1 ($\epsilon^e = \epsilon^s$). The form of +the Gay-Berne potential we are using was generalized by Cleaver {\it +et al.} and is appropriate for dissimilar uniaxial +ellipsoids.\cite{Cleaver96} + +The solvent model in our simulations is identical to one used by +Marrink {\it et al.} in their dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) +simulation of lipid bilayers.\cite{Marrink04} This solvent bead is a +single site that represents four water molecules (m = 72 amu) and has +comparable density and diffusive behavior to liquid water. However, +since there are no electrostatic sites on these beads, this solvent +model cannot replicate the dielectric properties of water. + +\begin{table*} +\begin{minipage}{\linewidth} +\begin{center} +\caption{Potential parameters used for molecular-scale coarse-grained +lipid simulations} +\begin{tabular}{llccc} +\hline + & & Head & Chain & Solvent \\ +\hline +$d$ (\AA) & & varied & 4.6 & 4.7 \\ +$l$ (\AA) & & $= d$ & 13.8 & 4.7 \\ +$\epsilon^s$ (kcal/mol) & & 0.185 & 1.0 & 0.8 \\ +$\epsilon_r$ (well-depth aspect ratio)& & 1 & 0.2 & 1 \\ +$m$ (amu) & & 196 & 760 & 72.06 \\ +$\overleftrightarrow{\mathsf I}$ (amu \AA$^2$) & & & & \\ +\multicolumn{2}c{$I_{xx}$} & 1125 & 45000 & N/A \\ +\multicolumn{2}c{$I_{yy}$} & 1125 & 45000 & N/A \\ +\multicolumn{2}c{$I_{zz}$} & 0 & 9000 & N/A \\ +$\mu$ (Debye) & & varied & 0 & 0 \\ +\end{tabular} +\label{tab:parameters} +\end{center} +\end{minipage} +\end{table*} + +\section{Experimental Methodology} \label{sec:experiment} -To make the simulations less expensive and to observe long-time -behavior of the lipid membranes, all simulations were started from two -separate monolayers in the vaccum with $x-y$ anisotropic pressure +The parameters that were systematically varied in this study were the +size of the head group ($\sigma_h$), the strength of the dipole moment +($\mu$), and the temperature of the system. Values for $\sigma_h$ +ranged from 5.5 \AA\ to 6.5 \AA\ . If the width of the tails is taken +to be the unit of length, these head groups correspond to a range from +$1.2 d$ to $1.41 d$. Since the solvent beads are nearly identical in +diameter to the tail ellipsoids, all distances that follow will be +measured relative to this unit of distance. Because the solvent we +are using is non-polar and has a dielectric constant of 1, values for +$\mu$ are sampled from a range that is somewhat smaller than the 20.6 +Debye dipole moment of the PC head groups. + +To create unbiased bilayers, all simulations were started from two +perfectly flat monolayers separated by a 26 \AA\ gap between the +molecular bodies of the upper and lower leaves. The separated +monolayers were evolved in a vacuum with $x-y$ anisotropic pressure coupling. The length of $z$ axis of the simulations was fixed and a constant surface tension was applied to enable real fluctuations of -the bilayer. Periodic boundaries were used. There were $480-720$ lipid -molecules in the simulations depending on the size of the head -beads. All the simulations were equlibrated for $100$ ns at $300$ -K. The resulting structures were solvated in water ($6$ DPD -water/lipid molecule). These configurations were relaxed for another -$30$ ns relaxation. All simulations with water were carried out at -constant pressure ($P=1$ atm) by $3$D anisotropic coupling, and -constant surface tension ($\gamma=0.015$). Given the absence of fast -degrees of freedom in this model, a timestep of $50$ fs was -utilized. Simulations were performed by using OOPSE -package\cite{Meineke05}. - -\section{Results and Analysis} +the bilayer. Periodic boundary conditions were used, and $480-720$ +lipid molecules were present in the simulations, depending on the size +of the head beads. In all cases, the two monolayers spontaneously +collapsed into bilayer structures within 100 ps. Following this +collapse, all systems were equilibrated for $100$ ns at $300$ K. + +The resulting bilayer structures were then solvated at a ratio of $6$ +solvent beads (24 water molecules) per lipid. These configurations +were then equilibrated for another $30$ ns. All simulations utilizing +the solvent were carried out at constant pressure ($P=1$ atm) with +$3$D anisotropic coupling, and constant surface tension +($\gamma=0.015$ N/m). Given the absence of fast degrees of freedom in +this model, a time step of $50$ fs was utilized with excellent energy +conservation. Data collection for structural properties of the +bilayers was carried out during a final 5 ns run following the solvent +equilibration. All simulations were performed using the OOPSE +molecular modeling program.\cite{Meineke05} + +A switching function was applied to all potentials to smoothly turn +off the interactions between a range of $22$ and $25$ \AA. + +\section{Results} \label{sec:results} -Snapshots in Figure \ref{fig:phaseCartoon} show that the membrane is -more corrugated increasing size of the head groups. The surface is -nearly flat when $\sigma_h=1.20\sigma_0$. With -$\sigma_h=1.28\sigma_0$, although the surface is still flat, the -bilayer starts to splay inward; the upper leaf of the bilayer is -connected to the lower leaf with an interdigitated line defect. Two -periodicities with $100$ \AA\ width were observed in the -simulation. This structure is very similiar to the structure observed -by de Vries and Lenz {\it et al.}. The same basic structure is also -observed when $\sigma_h=1.41\sigma_0$, but the wavelength of the -surface corrugations depends sensitively on the size of the ``head'' -beads. From the undulation spectrum, the corrugation is clearly -non-thermal. +The membranes in our simulations exhibit a number of interesting +bilayer phases. The surface topology of these phases depends most +sensitively on the ratio of the size of the head groups to the width +of the molecular bodies. With heads only slightly larger than the +bodies ($\sigma_h=1.20 d$) the membrane exhibits a flat bilayer. + +Increasing the head / body size ratio increases the local membrane +curvature around each of the lipids. With $\sigma_h=1.28 d$, the +surface is still essentially flat, but the bilayer starts to exhibit +signs of instability. We have observed occasional defects where a +line of lipid molecules on one leaf of the bilayer will dip down to +interdigitate with the other leaf. This gives each of the two bilayer +leaves some local convexity near the line defect. These structures, +once developed in a simulation, are very stable and are spaced +approximately 100 \AA\ away from each other. + +With larger heads ($\sigma_h = 1.35 d$) the membrane curvature +resolves into a ``symmetric'' ripple phase. Each leaf of the bilayer +is broken into several convex, hemicylinderical sections, and opposite +leaves are fitted together much like roof tiles. There is no +interdigitation between the upper and lower leaves of the bilayer. + +For the largest head / body ratios studied ($\sigma_h = 1.41 d$) the +local curvature is substantially larger, and the resulting bilayer +structure resolves into an asymmetric ripple phase. This structure is +very similar to the structures observed by both de~Vries {\it et al.} +and Lenz {\it et al.}. For a given ripple wave vector, there are two +possible asymmetric ripples, which is not the case for the symmetric +phase observed when $\sigma_h = 1.35 d$. + \begin{figure}[htb] \centering -\includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{phaseCartoon} -\caption{A sketch to discribe the structure of the phases observed in -our simulations.\label{fig:phaseCartoon}} +\includegraphics[width=4in]{phaseCartoon} +\caption{The role of the ratio between the head group size and the +width of the molecular bodies is to increase the local membrane +curvature. With strong attractive interactions between the head +groups, this local curvature can be maintained in bilayer structures +through surface corrugation. Shown above are three phases observed in +these simulations. With $\sigma_h = 1.20 d$, the bilayer maintains a +flat topology. For larger heads ($\sigma_h = 1.35 d$) the local +curvature resolves into a symmetrically rippled phase with little or +no interdigitation between the upper and lower leaves of the membrane. +The largest heads studied ($\sigma_h = 1.41 d$) resolve into an +asymmetric rippled phases with interdigitation between the two +leaves.\label{fig:phaseCartoon}} \end{figure} -When $\sigma_h=1.35\sigma_0$, we observed another corrugated surface -morphology. This structure is different from the asymmetric rippled -surface; there is no interdigitation between the upper and lower -leaves of the bilayer. Each leaf of the bilayer is broken into several -hemicylinderical sections, and opposite leaves are fitted together -much like roof tiles. Unlike the surface in which the upper -hemicylinder is always interdigitated on the leading or trailing edge -of lower hemicylinder, the symmetric ripple has no prefered direction. -The corresponding cartoons are shown in Figure -\ref{fig:phaseCartoon} for elucidation of the detailed structures of -different phases. Figure \ref{fig:phaseCartoon} (a) is the flat phase, -(b) is the asymmetric ripple phase corresponding to the lipid -organization when $\sigma_h=1.28\sigma_0$ and $\sigma_h=1.41\sigma_0$, -and (c) is the symmetric ripple phase observed when -$\sigma_h=1.35\sigma_0$. In symmetric ripple phase, the bilayer is -continuous everywhere on the whole membrane, however, in asymmetric -ripple phase, the bilayer is intermittent domains connected by thin -interdigitated monolayer which consists of upper and lower leaves of -the bilayer. +Sample structures for the flat ($\sigma_h = 1.20 d$), symmetric +($\sigma_h = 1.35 d$, and asymmetric ($\sigma_h = 1.41 d$) ripple +phases are shown in Figure \ref{fig:phaseCartoon}. + +It is reasonable to ask how well the parameters we used can produce +bilayer properties that match experimentally known values for real +lipid bilayers. Using a value of $l = 13.8$ \AA for the ellipsoidal +tails and the fixed ellipsoidal aspect ratio of 3, our values for the +area per lipid ($A$) and inter-layer spacing ($D_{HH}$) depend +entirely on the size of the head bead relative to the molecular body. +These values are tabulated in table \ref{tab:property}. Kucera {\it +et al.} have measured values for the head group spacings for a number +of PC lipid bilayers that range from 30.8 \AA (DLPC) to 37.8 (DPPC). +They have also measured values for the area per lipid that range from +60.6 +\AA$^2$ (DMPC) to 64.2 \AA$^2$ +(DPPC).\cite{NorbertKucerka04012005,NorbertKucerka06012006} Only the +largest of the head groups we modeled ($\sigma_h = 1.41 d$) produces +bilayers (specifically the area per lipid) that resemble real PC +bilayers. The smaller head beads we used are perhaps better models +for PE head groups. + \begin{table*} \begin{minipage}{\linewidth} \begin{center} -\caption{} -\begin{tabular}{lccc} +\caption{Phase, bilayer spacing, area per lipid, ripple wavelength +and amplitude observed as a function of the ratio between the head +beads and the diameters of the tails. Ripple wavelengths and +amplitudes are normalized to the diameter of the tail ellipsoids.} +\begin{tabular}{lccccc} \hline -$\sigma_h/\sigma_0$ & type of phase & $\lambda/\sigma_0$ & $A/\sigma_0$\\ +$\sigma_h / d$ & type of phase & bilayer spacing (\AA) & area per +lipid (\AA$^2$) & $\lambda / d$ & $A / d$\\ \hline -1.20 & flat & N/A & N/A \\ -1.28 & asymmetric flat & 21.7 & N/A \\ -1.35 & symmetric ripple & 17.2 & 2.2 \\ -1.41 & asymmetric ripple & 15.4 & 1.5 \\ +1.20 & flat & 33.4 & 49.6 & N/A & N/A \\ +1.28 & flat & 33.7 & 54.7 & N/A & N/A \\ +1.35 & symmetric ripple & 42.9 & 51.7 & 17.2 & 2.2 \\ +1.41 & asymmetric ripple & 37.1 & 63.1 & 15.4 & 1.5 \\ \end{tabular} \label{tab:property} \end{center} \end{minipage} \end{table*} -The membrane structures and the reduced wavelength $\lambda/\sigma_0$, -reduced amplitude $A/\sigma_0$ of the ripples are summerized in Table -\ref{tab:property}. The wavelength range is $15~21$ and the amplitude -is $1.5$ for asymmetric ripple and $2.2$ for symmetric ripple. These -values are consistent to the experimental results. Note, the -amplitudes are underestimated without the melted tails in our -simulations. +The membrane structures and the reduced wavelength $\lambda / d$, +reduced amplitude $A / d$ of the ripples are summarized in Table +\ref{tab:property}. The wavelength range is $15 - 17$ molecular bodies +and the amplitude is $1.5$ molecular bodies for asymmetric ripple and +$2.2$ for symmetric ripple. These values are reasonably consistent +with experimental measurements.\cite{Sun96,Katsaras00,Kaasgaard03} +Note, that given the lack of structural freedom in the tails of our +model lipids, the amplitudes observed from these simulations are +likely to underestimate of the true amplitudes. -The $P_2$ order paramters (for molecular bodies and head group -dipoles) have been calculated to clarify the ordering in these phases -quantatively. $P_2=1$ means a perfectly ordered structure, and $P_2=0$ -implies orientational randomization. Figure \ref{fig:rP2} shows the -$P_2$ order paramter of the dipoles on head group rising with -increasing head group size. When the heads of the lipid molecules are -small, the membrane is flat. The dipolar ordering is essentially -frustrated on orientational ordering in this circumstance. Another -reason is that the lipids can move independently in each monolayer, it -is not nessasory for the direction of dipoles on one leaf is -consistant to another layer, which makes total order parameter is -relatively low. With increasing head group size, the surface is -corrugated, and dipoles do not move as freely on the -surface. Therefore, the translational freedom of lipids in one layer -is dependent upon the position of lipids in another layer, as a -result, the symmetry of the dipoles on head group in one layer is tied -to the symmetry in the other layer. Furthermore, as the membrane -deforms from two to three dimensions due to the corrugation, the -symmetry of the ordering for the dipoles embedded on each leaf is -broken. The dipoles then self-assemble in a head-tail configuration, -and the order parameter increases dramaticaly. However, the total -polarization of the system is still close to zero. This is strong -evidence that the corrugated structure is an antiferroelectric -state. The orientation of the dipolar is always perpendicular to the -ripple wave vector. These results are consistent with our previous -study on dipolar membranes. +\begin{figure}[htb] +\centering +\includegraphics[width=4in]{topDown} +\caption{Top views of the flat (upper), symmetric ripple (middle), +and asymmetric ripple (lower) phases. Note that the head-group +dipoles have formed head-to-tail chains in all three of these phases, +but in the two rippled phases, the dipolar chains are all aligned {\it +perpendicular} to the direction of the ripple. Note that the flat +membrane has multiple vortex defects in the dipolar ordering, and the +ordering on the lower leaf of the bilayer can be in an entirely +different direction from the upper leaf.\label{fig:topView}} +\end{figure} -The ordering of the tails is essentially opposite to the ordering of -the dipoles on head group. The $P_2$ order parameter decreases with -increasing head size. This indicates the surface is more curved with -larger head groups. When the surface is flat, all tails are pointing -in the same direction; in this case, all tails are parallel to the -normal of the surface,(making this structure remindcent of the -$L_{\beta}$ phase. Increasing the size of the heads, results in +The principal method for observing orientational ordering in dipolar +or liquid crystalline systems is the $P_2$ order parameter (defined +as $1.5 \times \lambda_{max}$, where $\lambda_{max}$ is the largest +eigenvalue of the matrix, +\begin{equation} +{\mathsf{S}} = \frac{1}{N} \sum_i \left( +\begin{array}{ccc} + u^{x}_i u^{x}_i-\frac{1}{3} & u^{x}_i u^{y}_i & u^{x}_i u^{z}_i \\ + u^{y}_i u^{x}_i & u^{y}_i u^{y}_i -\frac{1}{3} & u^{y}_i u^{z}_i \\ + u^{z}_i u^{x}_i & u^{z}_i u^{y}_i & u^{z}_i u^{z}_i -\frac{1}{3} +\end{array} \right). +\label{eq:opmatrix} +\end{equation} +Here $u^{\alpha}_i$ is the $\alpha=x,y,z$ component of the unit vector +for molecule $i$. (Here, $\hat{\bf u}_i$ can refer either to the +principal axis of the molecular body or to the dipole on the head +group of the molecule.) $P_2$ will be $1.0$ for a perfectly-ordered +system and near $0$ for a randomized system. Note that this order +parameter is {\em not} equal to the polarization of the system. For +example, the polarization of a perfect anti-ferroelectric arrangement +of point dipoles is $0$, but $P_2$ for the same system is $1$. The +eigenvector of $\mathsf{S}$ corresponding to the largest eigenvalue is +familiar as the director axis, which can be used to determine a +privileged axis for an orientationally-ordered system. Since the +molecular bodies are perpendicular to the head group dipoles, it is +possible for the director axes for the molecular bodies and the head +groups to be completely decoupled from each other. + +Figure \ref{fig:topView} shows snapshots of bird's-eye views of the +flat ($\sigma_h = 1.20 d$) and rippled ($\sigma_h = 1.35, 1.41 d$) +bilayers. The directions of the dipoles on the head groups are +represented with two colored half spheres: blue (phosphate) and yellow +(amino). For flat bilayers, the system exhibits signs of +orientational frustration; some disorder in the dipolar head-to-tail +chains is evident with kinks visible at the edges between differently +ordered domains. The lipids can also move independently of lipids in +the opposing leaf, so the ordering of the dipoles on one leaf is not +necessarily consistent with the ordering on the other. These two +factors keep the total dipolar order parameter relatively low for the +flat phases. + +With increasing head group size, the surface becomes corrugated, and +the dipoles cannot move as freely on the surface. Therefore, the +translational freedom of lipids in one layer is dependent upon the +position of the lipids in the other layer. As a result, the ordering of +the dipoles on head groups in one leaf is correlated with the ordering +in the other leaf. Furthermore, as the membrane deforms due to the +corrugation, the symmetry of the allowed dipolar ordering on each leaf +is broken. The dipoles then self-assemble in a head-to-tail +configuration, and the dipolar order parameter increases dramatically. +However, the total polarization of the system is still close to zero. +This is strong evidence that the corrugated structure is an +anti-ferroelectric state. It is also notable that the head-to-tail +arrangement of the dipoles is always observed in a direction +perpendicular to the wave vector for the surface corrugation. This is +a similar finding to what we observed in our earlier work on the +elastic dipolar membranes.\cite{Sun2007} + +The $P_2$ order parameters (for both the molecular bodies and the head +group dipoles) have been calculated to quantify the ordering in these +phases. Figure \ref{fig:rP2} shows that the $P_2$ order parameter for +the head-group dipoles increases with increasing head group size. When +the heads of the lipid molecules are small, the membrane is nearly +flat. Since the in-plane packing is essentially a close packing of the +head groups, the head dipoles exhibit frustration in their +orientational ordering. + +The ordering trends for the tails are essentially opposite to the +ordering of the head group dipoles. The tail $P_2$ order parameter +{\it decreases} with increasing head size. This indicates that the +surface is more curved with larger head / tail size ratios. When the +surface is flat, all tails are pointing in the same direction (normal +to the bilayer surface). This simplified model appears to be +exhibiting a smectic A fluid phase, similar to the real $L_{\beta}$ +phase. We have not observed a smectic C gel phase ($L_{\beta'}$) for +this model system. Increasing the size of the heads results in rapidly decreasing $P_2$ ordering for the molecular bodies. + \begin{figure}[htb] \centering \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{rP2} -\caption{The $P_2$ order parameter as a funtion of the ratio of -$\sigma_h$ to $\sigma_0$.\label{fig:rP2}} +\caption{The $P_2$ order parameters for head groups (circles) and +molecular bodies (squares) as a function of the ratio of head group +size ($\sigma_h$) to the width of the molecular bodies ($d$). \label{fig:rP2}} \end{figure} -We studied the effects of the interactions between head groups on the -structure of lipid bilayer by changing the strength of the dipole. -Figure \ref{fig:sP2} shows how the $P_2$ order parameter changes with -increasing strength of the dipole. Generally the dipoles on the head -group are more ordered by increase in the strength of the interaction -between heads and are more disordered by decreasing the interaction -stength. When the interaction between the heads is weak enough, the -bilayer structure does not persist; all lipid molecules are solvated -directly in the water. The critial value of the strength of the dipole -depends on the head size. The perfectly flat surface melts at $5$ -debye, the asymmetric rippled surfaces melt at $8$ debye, the -symmetric rippled surfaces melt at $10$ debye. The ordering of the -tails is the same as the ordering of the dipoles except for the flat -phase. Since the surface is already perfect flat, the order parameter -does not change much until the strength of the dipole is $15$ -debye. However, the order parameter decreases quickly when the -strength of the dipole is further increased. The head groups of the -lipid molecules are brought closer by stronger interactions between -them. For a flat surface, a large amount of free volume between the -head groups is available, but when the head groups are brought closer, -the tails will splay outward, forming an inverse micelle. For rippled -surfaces, there is less free volume available between the head -groups. Therefore there is little effect on the structure of the -membrane due to increasing dipolar strength. Unlike other systems that -melt directly when the interaction is weak enough, for -$\sigma_h=1.41\sigma_0$, part of the membrane melts into itself -first. The upper leaf of the bilayer becomes totally interdigitated -with the lower leaf. This is different behavior than what is exhibited -with the interdigitated lines in the rippled phase where only one -interdigitated line connects the two leaves of bilayer. +In addition to varying the size of the head groups, we studied the +effects of the interactions between head groups on the structure of +lipid bilayer by changing the strength of the dipoles. Figure +\ref{fig:sP2} shows how the $P_2$ order parameter changes with +increasing strength of the dipole. Generally, the dipoles on the head +groups become more ordered as the strength of the interaction between +heads is increased and become more disordered by decreasing the +interaction strength. When the interaction between the heads becomes +too weak, the bilayer structure does not persist; all lipid molecules +become dispersed in the solvent (which is non-polar in this +molecular-scale model). The critical value of the strength of the +dipole depends on the size of the head groups. The perfectly flat +surface becomes unstable below $5$ Debye, while the rippled +surfaces melt at $8$ Debye (asymmetric) or $10$ Debye (symmetric). + +The ordering of the tails mirrors the ordering of the dipoles {\it +except for the flat phase}. Since the surface is nearly flat in this +phase, the order parameters are only weakly dependent on dipolar +strength until it reaches $15$ Debye. Once it reaches this value, the +head group interactions are strong enough to pull the head groups +close to each other and distort the bilayer structure. For a flat +surface, a substantial amount of free volume between the head groups +is normally available. When the head groups are brought closer by +dipolar interactions, the tails are forced to splay outward, first forming +curved bilayers, and then inverted micelles. + +When $\sigma_h=1.28 d$, the $P_2$ order parameter decreases slightly +when the strength of the dipole is increased above $16$ Debye. For +rippled bilayers, there is less free volume available between the head +groups. Therefore increasing dipolar strength weakly influences the +structure of the membrane. However, the increase in the body $P_2$ +order parameters implies that the membranes are being slightly +flattened due to the effects of increasing head-group attraction. + +A very interesting behavior takes place when the head groups are very +large relative to the molecular bodies ($\sigma_h = 1.41 d$) and the +dipolar strength is relatively weak ($\mu < 9$ Debye). In this case, +the two leaves of the bilayer become totally interdigitated with each +other in large patches of the membrane. With higher dipolar +strength, the interdigitation is limited to single lines that run +through the bilayer in a direction perpendicular to the ripple wave +vector. + \begin{figure}[htb] \centering \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{sP2} -\caption{The $P_2$ order parameter as a funtion of the strength of the -dipole.\label{fig:sP2}} +\caption{The $P_2$ order parameters for head group dipoles (a) and +molecular bodies (b) as a function of the strength of the dipoles. +These order parameters are shown for four values of the head group / +molecular width ratio ($\sigma_h / d$). \label{fig:sP2}} \end{figure} -Figure \ref{fig:tP2} shows the dependence of the order parameter on -temperature. The behavior of the $P_2$ order paramter is -straightforward. Systems are more ordered at low temperature, and more -disordered at high temperatures. When the temperature is high enough, -the membranes are instable. Since our model lacks the detailed -information on lipid tails, we can not simulate the fluid phase with -melted fatty acid chains. Moreover, the formation of the tilted -$L_{\beta'}$ phase also depends on the organization of fatty groups on -tails. +Figure \ref{fig:tP2} shows the dependence of the order parameters on +temperature. As expected, systems are more ordered at low +temperatures, and more disordered at high temperatures. All of the +bilayers we studied can become unstable if the temperature becomes +high enough. The only interesting feature of the temperature +dependence is in the flat surfaces ($\sigma_h=1.20 d$ and +$\sigma_h=1.28 d$). Here, when the temperature is increased above +$310$K, there is enough jostling of the head groups to allow the +dipolar frustration to resolve into more ordered states. This results +in a slight increase in the $P_2$ order parameter above this +temperature. + +For the rippled surfaces ($\sigma_h=1.35 d$ and $\sigma_h=1.41 d$), +there is a slightly increased orientational ordering in the molecular +bodies above $290$K. Since our model lacks the detailed information +about the behavior of the lipid tails, this is the closest the model +can come to depicting the ripple ($P_{\beta'}$) to fluid +($L_{\alpha}$) phase transition. What we are observing is a +flattening of the rippled structures made possible by thermal +expansion of the tightly-packed head groups. The lack of detailed +chain configurations also makes it impossible for this model to depict +the ripple to gel ($L_{\beta'}$) phase transition. + \begin{figure}[htb] \centering \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{tP2} -\caption{The $P_2$ order parameter as a funtion of -temperature.\label{fig:tP2}} +\caption{The $P_2$ order parameters for head group dipoles (a) and +molecular bodies (b) as a function of temperature. +These order parameters are shown for four values of the head group / +molecular width ratio ($\sigma_h / d$).\label{fig:tP2}} \end{figure} +Fig. \ref{fig:phaseDiagram} shows a phase diagram for the model as a +function of the head group / molecular width ratio ($\sigma_h / d$) +and the strength of the head group dipole moment ($\mu$). Note that +the specific form of the bilayer phase is governed almost entirely by +the head group / molecular width ratio, while the strength of the +dipolar interactions between the head groups governs the stability of +the bilayer phase. Weaker dipoles result in unstable bilayer phases, +while extremely strong dipoles can shift the equilibrium to an +inverted micelle phase when the head groups are small. Temperature +has little effect on the actual bilayer phase observed, although higher +temperatures can cause the unstable region to grow into the higher +dipole region of this diagram. + +\begin{figure}[htb] +\centering +\includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{phaseDiagram} +\caption{Phase diagram for the simple molecular model as a function +of the head group / molecular width ratio ($\sigma_h / d$) and the +strength of the head group dipole moment +($\mu$).\label{fig:phaseDiagram}} +\end{figure} + +We have computed translational diffusion coefficients for lipid +molecules from the mean square displacement, +\begin{eqnarray} +\langle {|\left({\bf r}_{i}(t) - {\bt r}_{i}(0) \right)|}^2 \rangle \\ \\ +& = & 6Dt +\end{eqnarray} +of the lipid bodies. The values of the translational diffusion +coefficient for different head-to-tail size ratio are shown in table +\ref{tab:relaxation}. + +We have also computed orientational diffusion constants for the head +groups from the relaxation of the second-order Legendre polynomial +correlation function, +\begin{eqnarray} +C_{\ell}(t) & = & \langle P_{\ell}\left({\bf \mu}_{i}(t) \cdot {\bf +\mu}_{i}(0) \right) \rangle \\ \\ +& \approx & e^{-\ell(\ell + 1) \theta t}, +\end{eqnarray} +of the head group dipoles. In this last line, we have used a simple +``Debye''-like model for the relaxation of the correlation function, +specifically in the case when $\ell = 2$. The computed orientational +diffusion constants are given in table \ref{tab:relaxation}. The +notable feature we observe is that the orientational diffusion +constant for the head group exhibits an order of magnitude decrease +upon entering the rippled phase. Our orientational correlation times +are substantially in excess of those provided by... + + +\begin{table*} +\begin{minipage}{\linewidth} +\begin{center} +\caption{Rotational diffusion constants for the head groups +($\theta_h$) and molecular bodies ($\theta_b$) as well as the +translational diffusion coefficients for the molecule as a function of +the head-to-body width ratio. The orientational mobility of the head +groups experiences an {\it order of magnitude decrease} upon entering +the rippled phase, which suggests that the rippling is tied to a +freezing out of head group orientational freedom. Uncertainties in +the last digit are indicated by the values in parentheses.} +\begin{tabular}{lccc} +\hline +$\sigma_h / d$ & $\theta_h (\mu s^{-1})$ & $\theta_b (1/fs)$ & $D ( +\times 10^{-11} m^2 s^{-1} \\ +\hline +1.20 & $0.206(1) $ & $0.0175(5) $ & $0.43(1)$ \\ +1.28 & $0.179(2) $ & $0.055(2) $ & $5.91(3)$ \\ +1.35 & $0.025(1) $ & $0.195(3) $ & $3.42(1)$ \\ +1.41 & $0.023(1) $ & $0.024(3) $ & $7.16(1)$ \\ +\end{tabular} +\label{tab:relaxation} +\end{center} +\end{minipage} +\end{table*} + \section{Discussion} \label{sec:discussion} +Symmetric and asymmetric ripple phases have been observed to form in +our molecular dynamics simulations of a simple molecular-scale lipid +model. The lipid model consists of an dipolar head group and an +ellipsoidal tail. Within the limits of this model, an explanation for +generalized membrane curvature is a simple mismatch in the size of the +heads with the width of the molecular bodies. With heads +substantially larger than the bodies of the molecule, this curvature +should be convex nearly everywhere, a requirement which could be +resolved either with micellar or cylindrical phases. + +The persistence of a {\it bilayer} structure therefore requires either +strong attractive forces between the head groups or exclusionary +forces from the solvent phase. To have a persistent bilayer structure +with the added requirement of convex membrane curvature appears to +result in corrugated structures like the ones pictured in +Fig. \ref{fig:phaseCartoon}. In each of the sections of these +corrugated phases, the local curvature near a most of the head groups +is convex. These structures are held together by the extremely strong +and directional interactions between the head groups. + +Dipolar head groups are key for the maintaining the bilayer structures +exhibited by this model. The dipoles are likely to form head-to-tail +configurations even in flat configurations, but the temperatures are +high enough that vortex defects become prevalent in the flat phase. +The flat phase we observed therefore appears to be substantially above +the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperature for a planar system of +dipoles with this set of parameters. For this reason, it would be +interesting to observe the thermal behavior of the flat phase at +substantially lower temperatures. + +One feature of this model is that an energetically favorable +orientational ordering of the dipoles can be achieved by forming +ripples. The corrugation of the surface breaks the symmetry of the +plane, making vortex defects somewhat more expensive, and stabilizing +the long range orientational ordering for the dipoles in the head +groups. Most of the rows of the head-to-tail dipoles are parallel to +each other and the system adopts a bulk anti-ferroelectric state. We +believe that this is the first time the organization of the head +groups in ripple phases has been addressed. + +Although the size-mismatch between the heads and molecular bodies +appears to be the primary driving force for surface convexity, the +persistence of the bilayer through the use of rippled structures is a +function of the strong, attractive interactions between the heads. +One important prediction we can make using the results from this +simple model is that if the dipole-dipole interaction is the leading +contributor to the head group attractions, the wave vectors for the +ripples should always be found {\it perpendicular} to the dipole +director axis. This echoes the prediction we made earlier for simple +elastic dipolar membranes, and may suggest experimental designs which +will test whether this is really the case in the phosphatidylcholine +$P_{\beta'}$ phases. The dipole director axis should also be easily +computable for the all-atom and coarse-grained simulations that have +been published in the literature.\cite{deVries05} + +Although our model is simple, it exhibits some rich and unexpected +behaviors. It would clearly be a closer approximation to reality if +we allowed bending motions between the dipoles and the molecular +bodies, and if we replaced the rigid ellipsoids with ball-and-chain +tails. However, the advantages of this simple model (large system +sizes, 50 fs time steps) allow us to rapidly explore the phase diagram +for a wide range of parameters. Our explanation of this rippling +phenomenon will help us design more accurate molecular models for +corrugated membranes and experiments to test whether or not +dipole-dipole interactions exert an influence on membrane rippling. +\newpage \bibliography{mdripple} \end{document}