Refinement of the fluid-mosaic model of membrane structure

Biochim Biophys Acta. 1977 Sep 5;469(2):221-5. doi: 10.1016/0005-2736(77)90185-7.

Abstract

Certain molecular packing criteria previously employed in a quantitative analysis of lipid micelles and bilayers are here extended to biological membranes. The inclusion of both thermodynamic and packing considerations point to a highly complex self-assembly mechanism in which the organization of lipids and proteins is highly coupled, with far reaching consequences as regards the structure and function of biological membranes.

MeSH terms

  • Membrane Lipids*
  • Membrane Proteins*
  • Membranes*
  • Models, Structural*
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Membrane Lipids
  • Membrane Proteins