Synthetic molecules that target specific lipids serve as powerful tools for understanding membrane biology and may also enable new applications in biotechnology and medicine. For example, selective recognition of bacterial lipids may give rise to novel antibiotics, as well as diagnostic methods for bacterial infection. Currently known lipid-binding molecules primarily rely on noncovalent intera...

The cornified cell envelope structure is formed beneath the plasma membrane in terminally differentiating stratified squamous epithelia. It provides a vital physical barrier to these tissues in mammals and consists of a 10 nm thick layer of highly crosslinked insoluble proteins. In the specialized case of the epidermis, a 5 nm thick layer of ceramide lipids is covalently bound to the proteins. ...

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular pathogens which enter host cells by the discharge of a hollow tube through which the sporoplasma is extruded into the host cell. Since this invasion mechanism is very different from common entry strategies, the formation of the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) in Encephalitozoon species is likely to be distinct from known principles. We investigated the orig...

Cell plasma membranes appear to be composed of domains, patches whose composition and function differ from the average for an entire membrane surface. Proteins and lipids may be segregated into domains by different mechanisms. Some of these mechanisms are discussed, followed by a summary of the evidence for membrane domains obtained in my laboratory. This evidence is largely based on measuremen...

Studies on contact-inhibited mouse embryo fibroblast 3T3 cells and 3T3 cells transformed by oncogenic RNA and DNA viruses and by a chemical carcinogen have demonstrated differences in plasma membrane architecture. Spin-label and freeze-fracture ultrastructural studies have shown that contact-inhibited cells have ordered membrane lipids and aggregated intramembranous particles, whereas transform...

Lipids in biological membranes are asymmetrically distributed across the bilayer; the amine-containing phospholipids are enriched on the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane, while the choline-containing and sphingolipids are enriched on the outer surface. The maintenance of transbilayer lipid asymmetry is essential for normal membrane function, and disruption of this asymmetry is associa...

We have described the presence of cell-membrane-associated κFLCs (free immunoglobulin light chains) on the surface of myeloma cells. Notably, the anti-κFLC mAb (monoclonal antibody) MDX-1097 is being assessed in clinical trials as a therapy for κ light chain isotype multiple myeloma. Despite the clinical potential of anti-FLC mAbs, there have been limited studies on characterizing membrane-asso...

The lipids of the whole flagelia and the flagellar membrane of the phytoflagellate Ochromonas danica were isolated and compared with those of the whole cell. The polar lipids were separated by two-dimensional thin layer chromatography. One-dimensional thin Iayer chromatography was used for the separation of the nonpolar lipids. In all respects the lipids of the whole flagella were identical wit...

The cell membrane is a fundamental biological structure, which only 6–10 nm thick. It composed of hundreds lipid types, form small and dynamic domains or rafts. These rafts are thought to be major aspect organization, provide support for various transmembrane proteins central the communication cells with their environs. Understanding functions presents an exciting opportunity understand molecul...

Coral bleaching caused by ocean warming is leading to worldwide coral decline. The physiological processes underlying this ecological event are still incompletely understood, although previous research has suggested oxidative stress as major player in the impairment of symbiont thylakoid membranes and symbiosis breakdown. Lipids interesting targets investigation, given their susceptibility ther...