In this lecture, I explore new ideas about how lipid components of the plasma membrane may be organized by active processes, rather than by... » More

In this lecture, I explore new ideas about how lipid components of the plasma membrane may be organized by active processes, rather than by passive mechanisms involving thermodynamic phase separation. I introduce the idea that the structure of the cell membrane at different length scales may arise as a result of the composite nature of the membrane bilayer and the underlying actin-cytoskeleton. Once again, it appears that the secret of the organization of membranes and membrane components in living cells will only be revealed by a renewed interdisciplinary exploration by physicists, chemists and biologists. Acknowledgements: A special mention for the efforts of our extraordinary students, who have had to become dedicated cell biologists and physicists at different times, and often both at once, and without whose collective efforts none of this work would have been possible.

« Hide