Cell Membranes Self-Assemble

 

 Cell Membranes Self-Assemble

Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141027100457.htm

Source: University of California

Date Published: October 27, 2014

Summary

Neal Devaraj, a biochemistry and chemistry professor at University of California, leads a team that researches different reactions that form membranes. Recently, they have described a new and unique reaction that uses a process called native chemical ligation to form phospholipid membranes without using enzymes. This is the first time Devaraj has observed membranes forming on their own which is very different from natural membranes, which rely on enzymes. This reaction could be used to study biomolecules in artificial cells or to deliver drugs into the body because it is nontoxic.

Relevance

This article relates to topics we have studied in biology in two major ways. The first connection is the topic of enzymes. We learned that enzymes perform as catalysts, substances that speed up chemical reactions. Secondly, the reaction described in the article assembles phospholipid membranes. We have learned that cell membranes are constructed of a phospholipid bilayer, a two-layer "sandwich" of phospholipids, in which the hydrophilic phosphate heads face towards the outside and inside of the cell and the hydrophobic lipid tails are sandwiched in between to stop any molecules besides ions from diffusing into the cell.