Domains in biological membranes

Exp Cell Res. 2009 Oct 15;315(17):2871-8. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2009.07.020. Epub 2009 Jul 23.

Abstract

Our current view on biological membranes has gradually evolved from the influential fluid mosaic model of the early 1970s to a distinctively more complex picture. Biological membranes are now assumed to encompass multiple membrane domains and a plethora of protein-lipid and protein-protein interactions that compartmentalize and temporarily order what has originally been envisioned to be mostly random. In this minireview, we will first highlight some structural principles that govern membrane domain formation and permit a classification of membrane domains. We will then focus on the still controversial issue of lipid-based membrane domains, or lipid rafts, and discuss recent advances in detecting these enigmatic structures in living cells. Finally we will evaluate biochemical approaches to characterize lipid rafts and discuss their contribution to the emerging topic of lipid raft diversity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / analysis
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane / physiology*
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Clathrin-Coated Vesicles / chemistry
  • Cytoplasm / physiology
  • Membrane Lipids / analysis
  • Membrane Microdomains / chemistry
  • Membrane Microdomains / physiology
  • Membrane Microdomains / ultrastructure
  • Membrane Proteins / analysis
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Cholesterol