The Structure of Biological Membranes

Completely revised and updated to reflect advances in the study of biological membranes, this third edition provides an integrated view of membrane structure and function. Introductory chapters focus on the fundamentals of lipid bilayers and membrane proteins for those new to the field. The second part of the book presents in-depth analyses of current topics, including the phase behavior of lipid bilayers; cholesterol’s role in cell biology; the lateral organization of membranes; the role of lipids in membrane protein folding; membrane protein synthesis, stability, and transport; and interactions between proteins and lipids. It offers a valuable resource for researchers and students alike.

Biological membranes provide the fundamental structure of cells and viruses. Because much of what happens in a cell or in a virus occurs on, in, or across biological membranes, the study of membranes has rapidly permeated the fields of biology, pharmaceutical chemistry, and materials science. The Structure of Biological Membranes, Third Edition provides readers with an understanding of membrane structure and function that is rooted in the history of the field and brought to the forefront of current knowledge.

The first part of the book focuses on the fundamentals of lipid bilayers and membrane proteins. Three introductory chapters supply those new to the field with the tools and conceptual framework with which to approach the state-of-the-art chapters that follow. The second part of the book presents in-depth analyses of focused subjects within the study of membranes, covering topics that include:

• Phase behavior of lipid bilayers
• Lipid bilayers as an isolated structure
• Cholesterol’s role in cell biology
• Lateral organization of membranes
• The role of membrane lipids in initial membrane protein folding
• Membrane protein synthesis and assembly of oligomeric membrane proteins
• Membrane protein stability with relationships to function and protein turnover
• Membrane protein function using a transport protein
• Interactions between membrane proteins and membrane lipids

A final chapter pulls together many of the topics, examining in detail the complexity inherent in the synthesis and assembly of lipids and proteins in mitochondrial membranes. With contributions from leading researchers, this completely revised and updated third edition reflects recent advances in the field of biological membranes. It offers a valuable resource for students, as well as structural biologists, biophysicists, cell biologists, biochemists, and researchers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

What’s New in This Edition:

• Three accessible chapters introduce students to the field of biological membranes
• Completely revised and updated chapters present current topics in membrane research