Lipid polymorphism and biomembrane function

• Published in: Current opinion in chemical biology Vol. 1; no. 4; pp. 564 - 569
• Main Author: Kruijff, Ben de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.1997
• Subjects: Bacteriorhodopsins - chemistry; Escherichia coli - chemistry; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Lipid Bilayers - chemistry; Lipids - chemistry; Membrane Lipids - chemistry; Membrane Lipids - metabolism; Membrane Proteins - chemistry; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Membranes, Artificial; Models, Molecular; Molecular Conformation; PG phosphatidylglycerol; SIV simian immunodeficiency virus; PC phosphatidylcholine; PE phosphatidylethanolamine; CL cardiolipin; DG diacylglycerol; PKC protein kinase C; 3D three-dimensional
• ISSN: 1367-5931; 1879-0402
• DOI: 10.1016/S1367-5931(97)80053-1

In recent years, several major developments have taken place in the biology, physical chemistry and technology of polymorphism of membrane lipids. These include the identification of polymorphic regulation of membrane lipid composition in Escherichia coli, the importance of nonbilayer lipids for protein functioning, the special packing properties of bilayers containing these lipids, and the crystalization of a membrane protein out of three dimensional bilayer networks (lipid cubic phases). These exciting developments bring us closer to understanding the paradox of the lipid bilayer structure of biomembranes and the molecular basis of membrane protein structure and function.