Theoretical models of phospholipid phase transitions.

A brief review is given of the theoretical models and calculational methods used to study the main phase transition in phospholipid membranes with particular emphasis on recent progress. The models are discussed in terms of the mechanical variables and the various interactions which are necessary to describe the phase transition. Theoretical results are presented for the transitional properties and how the phase equilibria are affected by "impurities" such as cholesterol, proteins and anaesthetics.