Introduction to Biological Membranes: Composition, Structure and Function, Second Edition is a greatly expanded revision of the first edition that integrates many aspects of complex biological membrane functions with their composition and structure. A single membrane is composed of hundreds of proteins and thousands of lipids, all in constant flux. Every aspect of membrane structural studies involves parameters that are very small and fast. Both size and time ranges are so vast that multiple instrumentations must be employed, often simultaneously. As a result, a variety of highly specialized and esoteric biochemical and biophysical methodologies are often utilized. This book addresses the salient features of membranes at the molecular level, offering cohesive, foundational information for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, biochemists, and membranologists who seek a broad overview of membrane science. - Significantly expanded coverage on function, composition, and structure - Brings together complex aspects of membrane research in a universally understandable manner - Features profiles of membrane pioneers detailing how contemporary studies originated - Includes a timeline of important discoveries related to membrane science

An Introduction to Biological Membranes: From Bilayers to Rafts covers many aspects of membrane structure/function that bridges membrane biophysics and cell biology. Offering cohesive, foundational information, this publication is valuable for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students and membranologists who seek a broad overview of membrane science. - Brings together different facets of membrane research in a universally understandable manner - Emphasis on the historical development of the field - Topics include membrane sugars, membrane models, membrane isolation methods, and membrane transport

This book mainly focuses on key aspects of biomembranes that have emerged over the past 15 years. It covers static and dynamic descriptions, as well as modeling for membrane organization and shape at the local and global (at the cell level) scale. It also discusses several new developments in non-equilibrium aspects that have not yet been covered elsewhere. Biological membranes are the seat of interactions between cells and the rest of the world, and internally, they are at the core of complex dynamic reorganizations and chemical reactions. Despite the long tradition of membrane research in biophysics, the physics of cell membranes as well as of biomimetic or synthetic membranes is a rapidly developing field. Though successful books have already been published on this topic over the past decades, none include the most recent advances. Additionally, in this domain, the traditional distinction between biological and physical approaches tends to blur. This book gathers the most recent advances in this area, and will benefit biologists and physicists alike.

Structure and Function of Biological Membranes explains the membrane phenomena at the molecular level through the use of biochemical and biophysical approaches. The book is an in-depth study of the structure and function of membranes. It is divided into three main parts. The first part provides an overview of the study of the biological membrane at the molecular level. Part II focuses on the detailed description of the overall molecular organization of membranes. The third part covers the relationship of the molecular organization of membranes to specific membrane functions; discusses catalytic membrane proteins; presents the role of membranes in important cellular functions; and looks at the membrane systems in eukaryotic cells. Biochemists, cell physiologists, biologists, researchers, and graduate and postdoctoral students in the field of biology will find the text a good reference material.

This volume focuses on the modulation of biological membranes by specific biophysical properties. The readers are introduced to emerging biophysical approaches that mimick specific states (like membrane lipid asymmetry, membrane curvature, lipid flip-flop, lipid phase separation) that are relevant to the functioning of biological membranes. The first chapter describes innovative methods to mimic the prevailing asymmetry in biological membranes by forming asymmetrical membranes made of monolayers with different compositions. One of the chapters illustrates how physical parameters, like curvature and elasticity, can affect and modulate the interactions between lipids and proteins. This volume also describes the sensitivity of certain ion channels to mechanical forces and it presents an analysis of how cell shape is determined by both the cytoskeleton and the lipid domains in the membrane. The last chapter provides evidence that liposomes can be used as a minimal cellular model to reconstitute processes related to the origin of life. Each topic covered in this volume is presented by leading experts in the field who are able to present clear, authoritative and up-to-date reviews. The novelty of the methods proposed and their potential for a deeper molecular description of membrane functioning are particularly relevant experts in the areas of biochemistry, biophysics and cell biology, while also presenting clear and thorough introductions, making the material suitable for students in these fields as well.

The study of membranes has become of high importance in the fields of biology, pharmaceutical chemistry and medicine, since much of what happens in a cell or in a virus involves biological membranes. The current book is an excellent introduction to the area, which explains how modern analytical methods can be applied to study biological membranes and membrane proteins and the bioprocesses they are involved to.

A comprehensive discussion of biological mass transfer and bioelectrical phenomena, written by a leading authority in the field.

Energy Transduction in Biological Membranes was primarily designed for graduate courses in bioenergetics. Not only does it discuss basic principles and concepts central to modern membrane biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, but also (1) the components and pathways for electron transport and hydrogen ion translocation, and (2) the utilization of electrochemical ion gradients. The book is unique in presenting a comparative treatment of respiratory and photosynthetic energy transduction, and in using protein sequence data coupled with physical concepts to discuss the mechanisms of energy transducing proteins.

This book deals with biological membranes, focuses on permeabilization and pays particular attention to reversible permeabilization to maintain the viability and physiological conditions of the cells. Selective permeability of biological membranes also known as semipermeability, partial permeability or differential permeability allows molecules to diffuse, pass by passive and active or by other types of transport processes mediated by proteins. The first chapter of the book deals with the composition of biological membranes, characterizes cellular membranes of prokaryotic, eukaryotic cells, membranes of cellular organelles and the function of biological membranes. The second chapter provides an overview of bilayer permeability, selectivity of permeabilization and cellular transport processes. Chapter 3 overviews different cell manipulations that aim to make cells permeable while maintaining not only the structural but also the functional integrity of cells. The last chapter deals with applications, particularly with reversible permeabilization to study macromolecular (DNA, RNA, poly-ADP ribose) biosynthetic processes, replication, gene expression, visualization of replicons, intermediates of chromosome condensation, genotoxic chromatin changes, upon treatment with heavy metals and different types of irradiation. The interdisciplinary aspects of the book contribute to the understanding of the structure of nucleic acids, replicative intermediates, Okazaki fragments, RNA primer mechanism, subphases of replication and repair synthesis, replicons, gene expression, chromosome condensation generated a wealth of information that will attract a wide readership. The natural audience engaged in DNA research, including genetics, cell and molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, medicine, pharmacy will find essential material in the book.