Membrane Organization and Dynamics

This volume brings together information on membrane organization and dynamics from a variety of spectroscopic, microscopic and simulation approaches, spanning a broad range of time scales. The implication of such dynamic information on membrane function in health and disease is a topic of contemporary interest. The chapters cover various aspects of membrane lipid and protein dynamics, explored using a battery of experimental and theoretical approaches. The synthesis of information and knowledge gained by utilizing multiple approaches will provide the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the underlying membrane dynamics and function, which will help to develop robust dynamic models for the understanding of membrane function in healthy and diseased states.

In the last few years, crystal structures of an impressive number of membrane proteins have been reported, thanks to tremendous advances in membrane protein crystallization techniques. Some of these recently solved structures belong to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, which are particularly difficult to crystallize due to their intrinsic flexibility. Nonetheless, these static structures do not provide the necessary information to understand the function of membrane proteins in the complex membrane milieu. This volume will address the dynamic nature of membrane proteins within the membrane and will provide the reader with an up-to date overview of the theory and practical approaches that can be used.

This volume will be invaluable to researchers working in a wide range of scientific areas, from biochemistry and molecular biology to biophysics and protein science. Students of these fields will also find this volume very useful. This book will also be of great use to those who are interested in the dynamic nature of biological processes.

Inhalt

What is so Unique About Biomembrane Organization and Dynamics.- Dynamics and Organization of Archaeal TetraetherLipid Membranes.- Effects of Oxidative Stress, Hyperglycemia, and Hypercholesterolemia on Membrane Structural Organization and the Interactions of Omega-3 Fatty Acids.- Interaction of Amphiphilic Molecules with LipidBilayers: Kinetics of Insertion, Desorption andTranslocation.- Multidimensional Microscopy: Application to membrane protein structure.- Investigating the Dynamics and Organization ofMembrane Proteins and Lipids using ImagingFluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy.- Probing Membrane Heterogeneity with k-spaceImage Correlation Spectroscopy.- Determining Oligomerization of Membrane Proteins by Single Molecule Methods.- Spatiotemporal dynamics of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and lipid platforms.- Dynamics of Membrane Proteins.- G-protein-coupled Receptors: Membrane Diffusion and Organization matter.- Role of Membrane Microdomains in Serotonin Receptor Functions.- Rotation of Single Cell Surface Receptors Examined by Quantum Dot Probes.- Combining NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics Simulations toInvestigate the Structure and Dynamics of Membrane-Associated Proteins.- Computer Simulation of Membrane Proteins.- Hydrophobic Mismatch: When the Tail Matters.