title: There Is No Simple Model of the Plasma Membrane Organization.
abstract: Ever since technologies enabled the characterization of eukaryotic plasma membranes, heterogeneities in the distributions of its constituents were observed. Over the years this led to the proposal of various models describing the plasma membrane organization such as lipid shells, picket-and-fences, lipid rafts, or protein islands, as addressed in numerous publications and reviews. Instead of emphasizing on one model we in this review give a brief overview over current models and highlight how current experimental work in one or the other way do not support the existence of a single overarching model. Instead, we highlight the vast variety of membrane properties and components, their influences and impacts. We believe that highlighting such controversial discoveries will stimulate unbiased research on plasma membrane organization and functionality, leading to a better understanding of this essential cellular structure.
authors.affiliation: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Central Laser Facility, Research Complex at Harwell Harwell, UK.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernardino de la Serna
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics, Technische Universität Wien Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerhard J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Schütz
authors.affiliation: MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford Headley Way, UK.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eggeling
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysical Chemistry, J.Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cebecauer
keywords: heterogenous distribution; membrane organization models; membrane physical properties; nanodomains; plasma membrane