Structural and Functional Aspects of Nonbilayer Lipids

摘要: The bilayer model of the lipid part biological membranes has been very popular over past few decades owing to fact that it provided a rationale for many observations made in field membrane biology. In recent years, however, become increasingly clear this is incomplete as does not explain two basic properties membranes. first next bilayer-forming lipids there an abundant occurrence after isolation and dispersion at physiological temperatures aqueous buffers do adopt organization (nonbilayer lipids). Second, during processes like fusion flip-flop, (part of) will (temporarily) leave processes). hypothesis nonbilayer structures they form are actively involved had lead proposal alternative (for reviews see Cullis de Kruijff, 1979; Kruijff et al., 1980a). article we summarize present knowledge structural functional these lipids.