Large-scale simulations of fluctuating biological membranes.

We present a simple, and physically motivated, coarse-grained model of a lipid bilayer, suited for micron scale computer simulations. Each approximately 25 nm(2) patch of bilayer is represented by a spherical particle. Mimicking forces of hydrophobic association, multiparticle interactions suppress the exposure of each sphere's equator to its implicit solvent surroundings. The requirement of high equatorial density stabilizes two-dimensional structures without necessitating crystalline order, allowing us to match both the elasticity and fluidity of natural lipid membranes. We illustrate the model's versatility and realism by characterizing a membrane's response to a prodding nanorod.