Life-As A Matter Of Fat

by Mouritsen, Ole G.

• ISBN13: 9783540232483
• ISBN10: 3540232486
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-02-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

LIFE - as a Matter of Fat Lipidomics is the science of the fats called lipids. Lipids are as important for life as proteins, sugars, and genes. The present book presents a multi-disciplinary perspective on the physics of life and the particular role played by lipids and the lipid-bilayer component of cell membranes. The book is aimed at undergraduate students and young research workers within physics, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, nutrition, as well as pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences. The emphasis is on the physical properties of lipid membranes seen as soft and molecularly structured interfaces. By combining and synthesizing insights obtained from a variety of recent studies, an attempt is made to clarify what membrane structure is and how it can be quantitatively described. Furthermore, it is shown how biological function mediated by membranes is controlled by lipid membrane structure and organization on length scales ranging from the size of the individual molecule, across molecular assemblies of proteins and lipid domains in the range of nanometers, to the size of whole cells. Applications of lipids in nano-technology and biomedicine are also described. The Emerging Science of Lipidomics We have just witnessed a scientific revolution at the end of the 20th century that took us through the genomics era with a focus on sequencing genes and mapping gene products. We are now in the middle of the proteomics era where the multitude of proteins that are encoded in the genes are identified and their functions are unveiled. In front of us we have a new era recognizing the role of lipids. The science of lipidomics is emerging. Lipidomics involves a quantitative experimental and theoretical study of, e.g. lipid and membrane self-assembly, lipid-protein interactions, lipid-gene interactions, and the biophysical properties of lipid structure, function, and dynamics.

Table of Contents

Prologue: Lipidomics -- A Science Beyond Stamp Collection	1	(8)
Part I The Overlooked Molecules
Life from Molecules	9	(14)
The Three Kingdoms of Life	9	(1)
The Molecules of Life	10	(6)
The Post-Genomic Era	16	(3)
A Call for Physics	19	(4)
Head and Tail	23	(10)
Fat Family: Fats and Fatty Acids	23	(3)
The Polar Lipids -- Both Head and Tail	26	(2)
Cholesterol -- A Lipid of Its Own	28	(1)
Strange Lipids	29	(2)
Lipid Composition of Membranes	31	(2)
Oil and Water	33	(10)
Water -- The Biological Solvent	33	(1)
The Hydrophobic Effect	34	(1)
Mediating Oil and Water	35	(2)
Self-Assembly and the Lipid Aggregate Family	37	(3)
Plucking Lipids	40	(3)
Lipids Speak the Language of Curvature	43	(10)
How Large Is a Lipid Molecule?	43	(3)
Lipid Molecules Have Shape	46	(1)
Lipid Structures with Curvature	46	(5)
Microorganisms' Sense of Curvature	51	(2)
A Matter of Softness	53	(10)
Soft Matter	53	(1)
Soft Interfaces	53	(5)
Forces Between Soft Interfaces	58	(1)
Lipid Membranes are Really Soft	59	(4)
Soft Shells Shape Up	63	(10)
Bending Interfaces	63	(3)
Spontaneous Curvature	66	(1)
Shaping Membranes	67	(1)
Red Blood Cells Shape Up	68	(5)
Biological Membranes -- Models and Fashion	73	(8)
What Is a Model?	73	(1)
Brief History of Membrane Models	74	(2)
Do We Need a New Membrane Model?	76	(2)
Theoretical and Experimental Model Systems	78	(3)
Part II Lipids Make Sense
Lipids in Bilayers -- A Stressful and Busy Life	81	(10)
Trans-bilayer Structure	81	(2)
The Lateral Pressure Profile	83	(2)
How Thick Are Membranes?	85	(1)
Lively Lipids on the Move	86	(5)
The More We Are Together	91	(14)
Phase Transitions Between Order and Disorder	91	(3)
Lipids Have Phase Transitions	94	(4)
Mixing Different Lipids	98	(2)
Cholesterol Brings Lipids to Order	100	(5)
Lipids in Flatland	105	(12)
Gases, Liquids, and Solids in Two Dimensions	105	(2)
Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett Films	107	(3)
Pattern Formation in Lipid Monolayers	110	(2)
Lipids Make the Lung Work	112	(5)
Social Lipids	117	(12)
Lateral Membrane Structure	117	(4)
Imaging Lipid Domains	121	(3)
Lipid Rafting	124	(3)
Domains and Rafts Carry Function	127	(2)
Lively Lipids Provide for Function	129	(8)
Leaky and Thirsty Membranes	129	(2)
Repelling Membranes	131	(2)
Enzymes Can Sense Membrane Transitions	133	(2)
Lipid Thermometer in Lizards	135	(2)
Proteins at Lipid Mattresses	137	(12)
Coming to Terms with Lipids	137	(2)
Anchoring at Membranes	139	(3)
Spanning the Membrane	142	(7)
Part III Lipids in Action
Cholesterol on the Scene	149	(10)
Molecule of the Century	149	(1)
Evolutionary Perfection of a Small Molecule	150	(2)
Cholesterol Fit for Life	152	(4)
Cholesterol As a Killer	156	(3)
Lipids in Charge	159	(14)
Lipids and Proteins Match Up	159	(6)
Stressing Proteins to Function	165	(4)
Lipids Opening Channels	169	(1)
Lipids Mediate Fusion	170	(3)
Being Smart -- A Fishy Matter of Fat	173	(8)
The Essential Fatty Acids	173	(2)
Evolution of the Human Brain	175	(2)
Lipids at the Border of Madness	177	(4)
Liquor and Drugs -- As a Matter of Fat	181	(8)
Lipids Are Targets for Drugs	181	(1)
Alcohol and Anesthesia	182	(2)
Poking Holes in Membranes	184	(2)
Gramicidin the Portable Hole	186	(3)
Lipid Eaters	189	(8)
Enzymes That Break Down Lipids in Crowds	189	(3)
Watching Enzymes at Work	192	(1)
Lipids Going Rancid	193	(4)
Powerful and Strange Lipids at Work	197	(12)
The Impermeable Barrier -- Lipids in the Skin	197	(3)
Surviving at Deep Sea and in Hot Springs	200	(3)
Lipids As Messengers	203	(2)
Lipids As a Matter of Death	205	(4)
Survival by Lipids	209	(16)
Lipids for Smart Nanotechnology	209	(5)
Lipids Deliver Drugs	214	(2)
Liposomes As Magic Bullets	216	(3)
Lipids Fighting Cancer	219	(6)
Epilogue: Fat for Future	225	(2)
Bibliography	227	(22)
Sources for Figures	249	(6)
Index	255