Lipids molecules exhibit a number of strange
properties, integral to a cell s ability to
separate self from non-self in a chemically diverse
environment. At the mesoscopic scale, membranes
exhibit mechanical effects that serve to organize
lipids and proteins. In a number of case studies,
the physics of elastic bilayers suggests how
lipids and proteins organize in a membrane when
bilayer deformation is present. This text
systematically describes how one dissects the
deformations of a bilayer that are induced either by
the presence of membrane proteins, multiple lipid
phases, or membrane vesicle adhesion. A mix of new
experimental research, as well as support from the
existing literature is used to discuss the relevance
of such elastic theories in both model membrane
systems and their biological counterparts. These
elastic theories are used to examine
membrane-mediated protein-protein interactions,
morphological transitions and organization of lipid
domains, membrane adhesion, membrane crowding, and
mechanosensation and osmoregulation in bacteria and
model systems. The text and appendices fully outline
all relevant theory and experimental methods.
properties, integral to a cell s ability to
separate self from non-self in a chemically diverse
environment. At the mesoscopic scale, membranes
exhibit mechanical effects that serve to organize
lipids and proteins. In a number of case studies,
the physics of elastic bilayers suggests how
lipids and proteins organize in a membrane when
bilayer deformation is present. This text
systematically describes how one dissects the
deformations of a bilayer that are induced either by
the presence of membrane proteins, multiple lipid
phases, or membrane vesicle adhesion. A mix of new
experimental research, as well as support from the
existing literature is used to discuss the relevance
of such elastic theories in both model membrane
systems and their biological counterparts. These
elastic theories are used to examine
membrane-mediated protein-protein interactions,
morphological transitions and organization of lipid
domains, membrane adhesion, membrane crowding, and
mechanosensation and osmoregulation in bacteria and
model systems. The text and appendices fully outline
all relevant theory and experimental methods.