Self-regulation of the lipid content of membranes by non-bilayer lipids: a hypothesis.
Many biological membranes contain lipids that do not form a lamellar phase but the roles of these lipids are not well understood. An artificial membrane assembled from the main non-bilayer lipid and the major integral protein of pea thylakoids revealed that the protein spatially inhibits the formation of non-bilayer structures in the lamellae. Without this inhibition, excess lipids are secreted, creating lipid reservoirs for metabolism and/or later uptake. This determines the protein:lipid ratio in the membrane and hence the balance between structural flexibility and the stability of the key constituents that participate in cooperative interactions.
Garab
G
G
Institute of Plant Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, PO Box 521, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary. gyozo@nucleus.szbk.u-szeged.hu
Lohner
K
K
Laggner
P
P
Farkas
T
T
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000502:physiology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010940:Plant Proteins