Biogenesis of cubic membranes

It is now well established that proteins can induce phase transitions in lipid membranes, resulting in new structures not found in pure lipid-water systems (c/. section 5.1). However, this property is not peculiar to proteins the same effect can be induced by virtually any amphiphilic molecule. Depending on the structure and nature of proteins, their interactions with lipid bilayers can be manifested in very different ways. We may further assume that the role of proteins in the biogenesis of cubic membranes is analogous to that in condensed systems, and lipids are necessary for the formation of a cubic membrane. This assumption is supported by studies of membrane oxidation, which induce a structure-less proteinaceous mass [113]. However, the existence of a lipid bilayer by itself does not guarantee the formation of a cubic membrane, as proteins may also play an essential role in setting the membrane curvature. In this context, note that the presence of chiral components e.g. proteins) may induce saddle-shaped structures characteristic of cubic membranes. (This feature of chiral packings has been discussed briefly in section 4.14)... 

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