Speaker
Description
Lipids are the defining building blocks of biological membranes. The mechanical properties of membranes and the formation of functional domains are governed by the lipids’ in-plane organization, which is sensitive to the molecular composition, to the presence of ions, and to other parameters like temperature and pH. Here, we integrate surface-sensitive x-ray scattering techniques with atomistic molecular dynamics simulations for the comprehensive characterization and description of the in-plane organization of non-crystalline lipid layers at air/water interfaces that mimic the surfaces of biological membranes. This combined experiment/simulation approach serves for the mechanistic interpretation of experimental results and for the validation and optimization of simulation force fields.