PHYSICAL STUDIES OF CHOLESTEROL-PHOSPHOLIPID INTERACTIONS

Our understanding of the role of cholesterol in biological membranes r equires a detailed knowledge of the forces which mediate cholesterol-l ipid interactions and of the lateral organization of cholesterol in na tural and model membranes. The recent literature amply illustrates the strength of a multidisciplinary approach in determining the effects o f cholesterol on the host bilayer lipids. To confidently apply our cur rent knowledge of cholesterol-lipid interactions and cholesterol organ ization to natural membranes, however, a systematic analysis of the ef fects of cholesterol on a much broader range of host lipid bilayers wi ll be required.