Lateral depletion effect on two-dimensional ordering of bacteriorhodopsins in a lipid bilayer: A theoretical study based on a binary hard-disk model

The two-dimensional ordering of bacteriorhodopsins in a lipid bilayer was studied using binary hard-disk model. phase diagrams were calculated, taking into account the lateral depletion effects. critical concentrations protein for monomers and trimers obtained from diagrams. concentration ratio agreed well with experiment when repulsive core interaction between depletants, namely lipids, taken account. results suggest that effect plays an important role association behaviors transmembrane proteins.