Regulation of raft architecture

Raft membrane domains are envisioned as lateral assemblies of cholesterol a nd sphingolipids which adopt a liquid-ordered membrane phase. Our understan ding of the raft architecture in cell membranes is developing rapidly. The current view describes raft domains as small and highly dynamic subdomains of cell membranes. The size and stability of raft domains are essential par ameters which determine the function of raft domains in cells. Here we disc uss how the architecture and stability of raft domains is regulated by olig omerisation of raft components and by modulation of their molecular composi tion.