LIPID POLYMORPHISM AND BIOMEMBRANE FUNCTION

In recent years, several major developments have taken place in the bi ology, physical chemistry and technology of polymorphism of membrane l ipids. These include the identification of polymorphic regulation of m embrane lipid composition in Escherichia coli, the importance of nonbi layer lipids for protein functioning, the special packing properties o f bilayers containing these lipids, and the crystallization of a membr ane protein out of three dimensional bilayer networks (lipid cubic pha ses). These exciting developments bring us closer to understanding the paradox of the lipid bilayer structure of biomembranes and the molecu lar basis of membrane protein structure and function.