Abstract
Bilayer lipid structures, generically called (bio)-membranes, constitute the principal construction blocks of all cells. Their primordial function apparently was to separate compartments of different composition and this is now achieved by a variety of transport systems positioned across the membranes. These systems catalyze the flow of substances dissolved in the surrounding aqueous media into and out of cells and organelles. Early in evolution some membranes acquired the ability to mediate interconversion of different kinds of energy (chemical, osmotic, electrical, mechanical). Later in evolution many membranes were endowed with the ability to receive physical and chemical signals and transduce the information contained in them into meaningful intracellular regulatory events. All the three categories of membrane functions require movement of membrane components both along the membrane plane and, intramolecularly, across the membrane. Although virtually all the specific functions are mediated by proteins the surroudning lipids are now recognized to play a significant role in maintaining and regulating the protein functions and, in some cases, specifically perform receptor functions.
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References
This being an overview of the present-day state of knowledge of a large part of cell biology, biochemistry and biophysics, it is not feasible to provide even a selected list of references. A more detailed treatment of the topics covered here can be found, for instance, in
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Kotyk, A. Membranes as the Mediators of Flow of Matter, Energy and Information. Polym J 23, 629–639 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.23.629
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.23.629