Thermal fluctuations in shape, thickness, and molecular orientation in lipid bilayers

We present a unified continuum-level model for bilayer energetics that includes the effects of bending, compression, lipid orientation (tilting relative to the monolayer surface normal), and microscopic noise (protrusions). Expressions for thermal fluctuation amplitudes of several physical quantities are derived. These predictions are shown to be in good agreement with molecular simulations. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3660673]