PHASE TRANSITIONS IN LIPID BILAYERS: A BIOPHYSICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Lipid bilayers constitute the fundamental structural framework of biological membranes and play a crucial role in maintaining cellular integrity and functionality. The physical state of lipid bilayers is not static but undergoes temperature-dependent phase transitions that significantly influence membrane fluidity, permeability, and protein activity. These transitions involve changes between ordered gel phases and disordered liquid-crystalline phases, driven by variations in thermal energy and intermolecular interactions among lipid molecules. This article examines the biophysical mechanisms underlying phase transitions in lipid bilayers, with particular emphasis on the role of temperature, lipid composition, and molecular packing. Experimental approaches commonly used to investigate membrane phase behavior, as well as the biological implications of lipid phase transitions, are also discussed. Understanding lipid bilayer phase transitions is essential for elucidating membrane dynamics, cellular adaptation to thermal stress, and the functional regulation of membrane-associated processes