title: From mosaic to patchwork: matching lipids and proteins in membrane organization.
abstract: Biological membranes encompass and compartmentalize cells and organelles and are a prerequisite to life as we know it. One defining feature of membranes is an astonishing diversity of building blocks. The mechanisms and principles organizing the thousands of proteins and lipids that make up membrane bilayers in cells are still under debate. Many terms and mechanisms have been introduced over the years to account for certain phenomena and aspects of membrane organization and function. Recently, the different viewpoints - focusing on lipids vs. proteins or physical vs. molecular driving forces for membrane organization - are increasingly converging. Here we review the basic properties of biological membranes and the most common theories for lateral segregation of membrane components before discussing an emerging model of a self-organized, multi-domain membrane or 'patchwork membrane'.
authors.affiliation: Cellular Dynamics and Cell Patterning, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Nikola S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wedlich-Söldner
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spira
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins