Figure 7.
(a) Radial distribution functions between lipid CH=CH and the central CH3 group on the β face of cholesterols for POPC (red) and DOPC (green). (b) Snapshot illustrating the juxtapositions of the lipid double bonded carbons with the smooth α and methylated β faces of cholesterol. Portions of four unsaturated chains are shown surrounding a cholesterol. More distant carbons are displayed in smaller perspective. The closest member of an unsaturated chain is shown in the foreground in close proximity to a cholesterol methyl on the beta side. None of the other unsaturated carbon atoms approach the cholesterol this closely. The snapshot also suggests that the carbons below the double bond can indeed fold under the ring portion of the cholesterol as discussed in the text.