The theory combines the Rouse model for a single chain with the liquid crystal theory for bilayer membrane developed by Marcelja. Thus the forces acting on a bead within a chain are spring forces, Brownian force and dissipative or viscous force which appear in Rousetheory plus the liquid crystal and lateral pressure forces. The dynamic viscosity of the system is calculated. 1 . Introduction. Ex...

A wide variety of phytochemicals are consumed for their perceived health benefits. Many of these phytochemicals have been found to alter numerous cell functions, but the mechanisms underlying their biological activity tend to be poorly understood. Phenolic phytochemicals are particularly promiscuous modifiers of membrane protein function, suggesting that some of their actions may be due to a co...

While the surface tension of a cell membrane, or a plasma membrane, regulates cell functions, little is known about its effect on the conformational changes of the lipid bilayer and hence the resulting changes in the cell membrane. To obtain some insights into the phase transition of the lipid bilayer as a function of surface tension, we used a 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC)...

Protein ion-channel recordings using a glass nanopore (GNP) membrane as the support structure for lipid bilayer membranes are presented. The GNP membrane is composed of a single conical-shaped nanopore embedded in a approximately 50 microm-thick glass membrane chemically modified with a 3-cyanopropyldimethylchlorosilane monolayer to produce a surface of intermediate hydrophobicity. This surface...

The folding mechanisms of integral membrane proteins have largely eluded detailed study. This is owing to the inherent difficulties in folding these hydrophobic proteins in vitro, which, in turn, reflects the often apparently insurmountable problem of mimicking the natural membrane bilayer with lipid or detergent mixtures. There is, however, a large body of information on lipid properties and, ...

Membrane protein function is regulated by the host lipid bilayer composition. This regulation may depend on specific chemical interactions between proteins and individual molecules in the bilayer, as well as on non-specific interactions between proteins and the bilayer behaving as a physical entity with collective physical properties (e.g. thickness, intrinsic monolayer curvature or elastic mod...

A key to the development of lipid membrane-based devices is a fundamental understanding how molecular structure bilayer membrane influenced by type lipids used build membrane. This particularly important when proteins are included in these since precise environment affects ability incorporate and their functionality. Here, we neutron reflectometry investigate tethered membranes characterize inc...

New methods toward manipulation and study of membrane species within a lipid bilayer platform are desired because lipid bilayers are able to maintain native conformation and function of intrinsic membrane species. This report demonstrates design and use of a bilayer patterned device for separation, sorting, and categorization of membrane biomolecules based on their affinity for different co-exi...

polyethylene glycol (peg) is a hydrophilic polymer, known to be capable to fuse numerous single cells in vitro, to join the membranes of adjacent neurons and giant invertebrate axons, and to seal damaged neural membranes. the molecular mechanism of the action of peg is still unknown. it is believed that peg dehydrates membranes and enables their structural components to resolve and rearrange in...

The planar lipid bilayer membrane is assumed to be in osmotic equilibrium with the surrounding Plateau-Gibbs border (annulus) and entrapped microlenses. An electric field applied across the membrane raises the chemical potential of the alkane in the bilayer, causing it to shift from the bilayer to the annulus and microlenses. This shift results in a decrease in thickness.