Editorial: Molecular Organization of Membranes: Where Biology Meets Biophysics

0483310 - ÚFCH JH 2018 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Cebecauer, Marek - Holowka, D.
Editorial: Molecular Organization of Membranes: Where Biology Meets Biophysics.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. Roč. 5, č. 113 (2017), s. 1-3. ISSN 2296-634X. E-ISSN 2296-634X
Institutional support: RVO:61388955
Keywords : nanodomains * membrane properties * cell membrane
OECD category: Biochemistry and molecular biology
Method of publishing: Open access

Membranes delimit the shapes of cells and their internal compartments, form a passive barrier between interior and exterior, but function also as organizing platforms for cellular processes. These highly diverse structures are formed by a large number of lipid and protein species. It is now generally accepted that both lipids and proteins are heterogeneously distributed in cell membranes (Cebecauer et al., 2010, Holowka and Baird, 2015, Sezgin et al., 2017). Such non-homogeneous organization of membranes linked to cellular functions attracts attention of scientists from fields as diverse as physiology, cell biology and biophysics. Indeed, the presence of various nanodomains in membranes forms a unifying link between the articles of this Research Topic.

The Research Topic collects 11 articles from authors with a broad background and focuses mainly on three issues resonating in membrane biology and biophysics: (i) physical properties of membranes contributing to cell membrane organization in molecular assemblies and domains, (ii) emerging role of tetraspanins, an evolutionarily conserved superfamily of membrane structural proteins, as critical players in membrane organization and (iii) novel tools to study cell membranes.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0278667