About this Research Topic
Cell membranes are dynamically regulated composites of a lipid bilayer matrix and integral and peripherally adsorbed proteins. Just one lipid species is sufficient to form a barrier to uncontrolled solute transport between the cell’s interior and the environment. However, biological membranes contain over 200 distinct lipid species, and the lipid composition of the membrane is a key factor that regulates functions of membrane proteins and cellular processes in which they are involved. Lipids may exert their influence on membrane-bound processes either through their diverse chemical structure or the cooperative physical properties of lipid mixtures of variable composition.
Defining lipid contribution to membrane-protein function is a challenging task because of the diversity of chemical and physical collective properties of lipids. The regulation of protein function by lipid bilayers is the focus of interdisciplinary research that borders on physics, chemistry, and biology. Alterations in the make-up of lipids that affect the physical characteristics of the bilayer (such as cholesterol or polyunsaturated fatty acids) appear to control a broad spectrum of membrane proteins in an indiscriminate way. Specific regulation may occur when lipids act as structural components in of stable single membrane protein or assembling protein complexes or as precursors of signaling molecules. We are still far away from fully understanding of native-like protein-lipid interactions and mechanisms by which protein and lipid permanent or transient “fingerprinting” contribute to function. The Research Topic “Protein Regulation by Lipids” in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences is dedicated to the advancement of this research by serving as a platform for disseminating its results and expanding its horizons by exchange of new ideas and methods.
The scope of this Research Topic encompasses both experimental and theoretical studies and novel findings that report on all aspects of regulation of membrane protein by lipids. A dynamic view of lipid and protein organization reveals previously unrecognized possibilities for membrane protein function and regulation. We welcome experimental, theoretical, computational, modelling and/or combined experimental-computational studies of the structure, dynamics and function of lipid and membrane proteins in vivo, in vitro, in vesiculo and in silico.
This includes, but is not necessarily limited to:
• Lipid-assisted membrane protein folding and topogenesis
• Short and long long-range allosteric effect of non-annullar and annular lipids on protein function
• Regulation of membrane proteins via changes in membrane physicochemical properties
• Balancing stability and activity of membrane protein by phospholipids
• Novel types of lipid action on membrane protein conformation and function
• Bilayer leaflet-specific phospholipid modulation of protein function
• Membrane protein conformational and functional dualities and lipids
• Powerful techniques for monitoring specificity of lipid-protein intermolecular interactions as well as their kinetics and affinity
The types of publications that are welcome include, but are not limited to, research articles, brief communications, reviews, minireviews, and perspectives
Defining lipid contribution to membrane-protein function is a challenging task because of the diversity of chemical and physical collective properties of lipids. The regulation of protein function by lipid bilayers is the focus of interdisciplinary research that borders on physics, chemistry, and biology. Alterations in the make-up of lipids that affect the physical characteristics of the bilayer (such as cholesterol or polyunsaturated fatty acids) appear to control a broad spectrum of membrane proteins in an indiscriminate way. Specific regulation may occur when lipids act as structural components in of stable single membrane protein or assembling protein complexes or as precursors of signaling molecules. We are still far away from fully understanding of native-like protein-lipid interactions and mechanisms by which protein and lipid permanent or transient “fingerprinting” contribute to function. The Research Topic “Protein Regulation by Lipids” in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences is dedicated to the advancement of this research by serving as a platform for disseminating its results and expanding its horizons by exchange of new ideas and methods.
The scope of this Research Topic encompasses both experimental and theoretical studies and novel findings that report on all aspects of regulation of membrane protein by lipids. A dynamic view of lipid and protein organization reveals previously unrecognized possibilities for membrane protein function and regulation. We welcome experimental, theoretical, computational, modelling and/or combined experimental-computational studies of the structure, dynamics and function of lipid and membrane proteins in vivo, in vitro, in vesiculo and in silico.
This includes, but is not necessarily limited to:
• Lipid-assisted membrane protein folding and topogenesis
• Short and long long-range allosteric effect of non-annullar and annular lipids on protein function
• Regulation of membrane proteins via changes in membrane physicochemical properties
• Balancing stability and activity of membrane protein by phospholipids
• Novel types of lipid action on membrane protein conformation and function
• Bilayer leaflet-specific phospholipid modulation of protein function
• Membrane protein conformational and functional dualities and lipids
• Powerful techniques for monitoring specificity of lipid-protein intermolecular interactions as well as their kinetics and affinity
The types of publications that are welcome include, but are not limited to, research articles, brief communications, reviews, minireviews, and perspectives
Keywords: protein regulation, protein regulation by lipids, lipid composition, membrane-protein function, lipid bilayers, lipid-assisted membrane protein folding, non annullar, annullar lipids, regulation of membrane proteins, phospholipid modulation
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.
