title: Activation of interfacial enzymes at membrane surfaces.
abstract: A host of water-soluble enzymes are active at membrane surfaces and in association with membranes. Some of these enzymes are involved in signalling and in modification and remodelling of the membranes. A special class of enzymes, the phospholipases, and in particular secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)), are only activated at the interface between water and membrane surfaces, where they lead to a break-down of the lipid molecules into lysolipids and free fatty acids. The activation is critically dependent on the physical properties of the lipid-membrane substrate. A topical review is given of our current understanding of the physical mechanisms responsible for activation of sPLA(2) as derived from a range of different experimental and theoretical investigations.
authors.affiliation: MEMPHYS-Center for Biomembrane Physics, Physics Department, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ole G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Mouritsen
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Andresen
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halperin
authors.forename: Per Lyngs
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Ask F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
authors.forename: Uffe Bernchou
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Morten O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaasgaard
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leidy
authors.forename: Adam Cohen
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Simonsen
authors.forename: Günther H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiss