We have located links that may give you full text access.
Journal Article
Review
Analytical approaches to study domain formation in biomimetic membranes.
Analyst 2017 August 22
Domains in biological membranes are linked to a range of biochemical life functions and thus understanding the fundamental physico-chemical drivers of domain formation is one of the key problems of biophysics and chemical biology. The phospholipid bilayer that is the structural basis of the biomembrane is a complex multicomponent mixture, and hence domain formation may be the result of thermodynamic phase equilibria, or specific sequestration of certain lipids; possibly both. There are several obstacles in the way of studying domains and thermodynamic phases in biomembranes: the complexity of the lipid mixture, the two dimensional nature of the membrane and the variety of superstructures the lipid membrane can fold into. Complexity is addressed by the introduction of biomimetic membranes, simplified mixtures of synthetic lipids. Most studies of lipid phase equilibria have been conducted using a biomimetic membrane. This review is intended to address the challenges posed to analytical methodology by the membrane dimensions, while also discussing the question of the reference state. Four key methods are assessed for their strengths and weaknesses in identifying domains and thermodynamic phases in membranes: differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy and quartz crystal microbalance. It is demonstrated that, while these methods provide complementary information and thus should be used in tandem, quartz crystal microbalance based nano-viscosimetry measurements offer a breakthrough in measuring phase transition temperatures, and allow the compilation of phase diagrams, of single bilayers of lipid mixtures. By comparing the structural phases of the lipids used for the different methods, it is also shown that the membrane curvature in vesicular lipid samples inhibits the formation of domains which are only observed in flat lamellar membranes, or giant unilamellar liposomes where the role of curvature is negligible.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Challenges in Septic Shock: From New Hemodynamics to Blood Purification Therapies.Journal of Personalized Medicine 2024 Februrary 4
Molecular Targets of Novel Therapeutics for Diabetic Kidney Disease: A New Era of Nephroprotection.International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024 April 4
The 'Ten Commandments' for the 2023 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of endocarditis.European Heart Journal 2024 April 18
A Guide to the Use of Vasopressors and Inotropes for Patients in Shock.Journal of Intensive Care Medicine 2024 April 14
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app