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Research Article

From mosaic to patchwork: Matching lipids and proteins in membrane organization

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Pages 186-196 | Received 26 Jan 2012, Accepted 15 Apr 2012, Published online: 18 May 2012
 

Abstract

Biological membranes encompass and compartmentalize cells and organelles and are a prerequisite to life as we know it. One defining feature of membranes is an astonishing diversity of building blocks. The mechanisms and principles organizing the thousands of proteins and lipids that make up membrane bilayers in cells are still under debate. Many terms and mechanisms have been introduced over the years to account for certain phenomena and aspects of membrane organization and function. Recently, the different viewpoints – focusing on lipids vs. proteins or physical vs. molecular driving forces for membrane organization – are increasingly converging. Here we review the basic properties of biological membranes and the most common theories for lateral segregation of membrane components before discussing an emerging model of a self-organized, multi-domain membrane or ‘patchwork membrane'.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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