Computer simulation of the orientation of lipid headgroups

Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to study the influence of electrostatic interactions on the orientation of lipid headgroups. These simulations were based on a lipid model with simplified interaction potentials. The minimum effects of the electrostatic interaction are the lateral orientational order of the headgroups, the formation of chain-like structures along the membrane plane and the tendency of the headgroups to tilt down and to lie in the membrane plane.