Mechanism of action of aromatic compounds.

(a) Lipid and solute lateral distribution at 325 K, with high concentration of solute, expressed as relative DLiPC density normalized solute density. Aromatic solutes co-localize with unsaturated lipids. (b) Close-up view of the membrane centered on the L_d phase, in a system without solute (left) and in the presence of benzene (gray); cholesterol molecules are highlighted in orange. Benzene is found approximately at the same location as cholesterol.