This volume expands upon the previous edition with current, detailed protocols for investigating membranes and their component lipids in artificial membranes, cells, and in silico. Chapters focus on properties of the component lipids, membranes and their biophysical properties, fluorescent probes for studying membranes, sample preparation, physical techniques to study membrane composition, properties , and function, behavior of cholesterol within a bilayer and examination of cholesterol-dependent phase separation. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Methods in Membrane Lipids, Second Edition seeks to aid scientist in further study into membrane lipids.

This detailed book explores examples of current in vitro and in silico techniques that are at the forefront of lipid membrane research today. Beginning with methods and strategies associated with the creation and use of lipid membrane models in various research settings, the volume continues with electrical impedance spectroscopy strategies and methods to identify how ions and proteins interact with model lipid bilayers, guidance on lipid bilayer in silico molecular dynamics modeling, novel techniques to explore lipid bilayer characteristics using neutron scattering, IR spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM), as well as unique fluorescence techniques. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series style, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Membrane Lipids: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal guide for researchers seeking to further investigate the often complicated world of lipid membrane biophysics.

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

Biochemistry of Lipids: Lipoproteins and Membranes, Volume Six, contains concise chapters that cover a wide spectrum of topics in the field of lipid biochemistry and cell biology. It provides an important bridge between broad-based biochemistry textbooks and more technical research publications, offering cohesive, foundational information. It is a valuable tool for advanced graduate students and researchers who are interested in exploring lipid biology in more detail, and includes overviews of lipid biology in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, while also providing fundamental background on the subsequent descriptions of fatty acid synthesis, desaturation and elongation, and the pathways that lead the synthesis of complex phospholipids, sphingolipids, and their structural variants. Also covered are sections on how bioactive lipids are involved in cell signaling with an emphasis on disease implications and pathological consequences. - Serves as a general reference book for scientists studying lipids, lipoproteins and membranes and as an advanced and up-to-date textbook for teachers and students who are familiar with the basic concepts of lipid biochemistry - References from current literature will be included in each chapter to facilitate more in-depth study - Key concepts are supported by figures and models to improve reader understanding - Chapters provide historical perspective and current analysis of each topic

Membrane proteins and membrane lipids form complex interactive systems that are highly dynamic and able to be studied only by combinations of different in vivo and in vitro techniques. In Membrane Biogenesis: Methods and Protocols, experts in the field present a broad collection of methods to study the biogenesis and function of cellular membranes. Beginning with how membrane lipids or membrane proteins can be studied, this detailed volume continues with sections covering different procedures to investigate the interaction of membrane proteins among each other or with membrane lipids, methods to study the biogenesis of membrane proteins and the dynamics of organelles, as well as protocols for the analyses of the functions or complex organization of membrane proteins. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Extensive and easily applicable, Membrane Biogenesis: Methods and Protocols provides readers with a comprehensive but still concise collection including both basic protocols of rather general application and more specialized methods for specific and novel techniques.

A Top 25 CHOICE 2016 Title, and recipient of the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title (OAT) Award. How much energy is released in ATP hydrolysis? How many mRNAs are in a cell? How genetically similar are two random people? What is faster, transcription or translation?Cell Biology by the Numbers explores these questions and dozens of others provid

This book presents a compendium of methodologies for the study of membrane lipids, varying from traditional lab bench experimentation to computer simulation and theoretical models. The volume provides a comprehensive set of techniques for studying membrane lipids with a strong biophysical emphasis. It compares the various available techniques including the pros and cons as seen by the experts.

Lipids are the most abundant organic compounds found in the brain, accounting for up to 50% of its dry weight. The brain lipidome includes several thousands of distinct biochemical structures whose expression may greatly vary according to age, gender, brain region, cell type, as well as subcellular localization. In synaptic membranes, brain lipids specifically interact with neurotransmitter receptors and control their activity. Moreover, brain lipids play a key role in the generation and neurotoxicity of amyloidogenic proteins involved in the pathophysiology of neurological diseases. The aim of this book is to provide for the first time a comprehensive overview of brain lipid structures, and to explain the roles of these lipids in synaptic function, and in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Creutzfeldt-Jakob's and Parkinson's. To conclude the book, the authors present new ideas that can drive innovative therapeutic strategies based on the knowledge of the role of lipids in brain disorders. - Written to provide a "hands-on" approach for readers - Biochemical structures explained with molecular models, and molecular mechanisms explained with simple drawings - Step-by-step guide to memorize and draw lipid structures - Each chapter features a content summary, up-to-date references for additional study, and a key experiment with an explanation of the technique

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.