About this Research Topic
Biological membranes separate cells from the surrounding environment as well as different organelles inside cells. They are composed primarily of lipids and proteins that govern diverse biological processes, such as tissue formation and repair, nutrient uptake, neuronal communication, and immune responses. As a consequence, they are central players in numerous diseases and host-pathogen interactions, while membrane proteins (such as transporters, channels and receptors) are the targets of almost 70% of FDA-approved drugs. It is evident that current research on the structure and dynamics of biological membranes will have important medical applications, especially in the area of drug discovery and development. In addition, it has been recently demonstrated that certain functionalities of biological membranes can be reproduced in biomimetic systems with possible applications in water treatment, energy conversion, and nanomedicine. Biomimetic membranes can be used, for example, for designing innovative separation processes or for preparation of novel biosensors.
Diverse biological processes involve changes in the shape of cellular membranes, and are accompanied by spatial redistribution of proteins and lipids forming them. Among the major challenges of contemporary biophysics is to explain how these dynamic rearrangements are induced and controlled by biomolecular interactions. Novel approaches tackling this general challenge constitute a central objective of this Research Topic. Of particular interest are experimental approaches probing multiple length scales, as well as computational methods ranging from all-atom molecular dynamics to coarse-grained molecular simulations, to mesoscale membrane models. By combining the different levels of modeling, simulations and experiments – from molecular to subcellular and cellular – one can attempt to bridge the knowledge about biogenesis and shapes of biological membranes with the information about structures and dynamics of their molecular components. A parallel objective of the Research Topic is to advance and apply multiscale approaches – both experimental and computational – to design physicochemical properties and novel functionalities of biomimetic membranes.
The scope of the Research Topic covers original studies on biological and biomimetic membranes that employ relevant methods at the interface of physics, chemistry and biology. Review articles on biological and biomimetic membranes are also welcome.
Specific topics are focused on, but not restricted to:
• structure, dynamics and function of membrane proteins;
• interactions of proteins with lipids;
• lipid transport and formation of lipid droplets;
• functions, properties and dynamics of lipid rafts;
• formation of pores and domains in membranes;
• remodeling of cellular organelles;
• fusion, fission and division of lipid vesicles;
• interactions of nanoparticles, nanodroplets and biomolecular condensates with membranes;
• membrane adhesion and cell migration;
• design of novel physicochemical properties and functionalities of biomimetic membranes.
Diverse biological processes involve changes in the shape of cellular membranes, and are accompanied by spatial redistribution of proteins and lipids forming them. Among the major challenges of contemporary biophysics is to explain how these dynamic rearrangements are induced and controlled by biomolecular interactions. Novel approaches tackling this general challenge constitute a central objective of this Research Topic. Of particular interest are experimental approaches probing multiple length scales, as well as computational methods ranging from all-atom molecular dynamics to coarse-grained molecular simulations, to mesoscale membrane models. By combining the different levels of modeling, simulations and experiments – from molecular to subcellular and cellular – one can attempt to bridge the knowledge about biogenesis and shapes of biological membranes with the information about structures and dynamics of their molecular components. A parallel objective of the Research Topic is to advance and apply multiscale approaches – both experimental and computational – to design physicochemical properties and novel functionalities of biomimetic membranes.
The scope of the Research Topic covers original studies on biological and biomimetic membranes that employ relevant methods at the interface of physics, chemistry and biology. Review articles on biological and biomimetic membranes are also welcome.
Specific topics are focused on, but not restricted to:
• structure, dynamics and function of membrane proteins;
• interactions of proteins with lipids;
• lipid transport and formation of lipid droplets;
• functions, properties and dynamics of lipid rafts;
• formation of pores and domains in membranes;
• remodeling of cellular organelles;
• fusion, fission and division of lipid vesicles;
• interactions of nanoparticles, nanodroplets and biomolecular condensates with membranes;
• membrane adhesion and cell migration;
• design of novel physicochemical properties and functionalities of biomimetic membranes.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
