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Formation and regulation of lipid microdomains in cell membranes: Theory, modeling, and speculation
Author(s) -
Fan Jun,
Sammalkorpi Maria,
Haataja Mikko
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.10.051
Subject(s) - lipid raft , lipid microdomain , membrane , raft , biophysics , chemistry , speculation , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , economics , organic chemistry , copolymer , polymer , macroeconomics
Compositional lipid microdomains (“lipid rafts”) in plasma membranes are believed to be important components of many cellular processes. The biophysical mechanisms by which cells regulate the size, lifetime, and spatial localization of these domains are rather poorly understood at the moment. Over the years, experimental studies of raft formation have inspired several phenomenological theories and speculations incorporating a wide variety of thermodynamic assumptions regarding lipid–lipid and lipid–protein interactions, and the potential role of active cellular processes on membrane structure. Here we critically review and discuss these theories, models, and speculations, and present our view on future directions.