Life - As a Matter of Fat (eBook)

Acknowledgments 7
Contents 9
Abbreviations 13
Prologue: Lipidomics – A Science Beyond Stamp Collection 14
The Overlooked Molecules 19
1 Life from Molecules 20
1.1 The Three Kingdoms of Life 20
1.2 The Molecules of Life 21
1.3 The Post-Genomic Era 27
1.4 A Call for Physics 30
2 Head and Tail 33
2.1 Fat Family: Fats and Fatty Acids 33
2.2 The Polar Lipids – Both Head and Tail 36
2.3 Cholesterol – A Lipid of Its Own 38
2.4 Strange Lipids 39
2.5 Lipid Composition of Membranes 41
3 Oil and Water 42
3.1 Water – The Biological Solvent 42
3.2 The Hydrophobic Effect 43
3.3 Mediating Oil and Water 44
3.4 Self-Assembly and the Lipid Aggregate Family 46
3.5 Plucking Lipids 49
4 Lipids Speak the Language of Curvature 52
4.1 How Large Is a Lipid Molecule? 52
4.2 Lipid Molecules Have Shape 55
4.3 Lipid Structures with Curvature 55
4.4 Microorganisms’ Sense of Curvature 60
5 A Matter of Softness 62
5.1 Soft Matter 62
5.2 Soft Interfaces 62
5.3 Forces Between Soft Interfaces 67
5.4 Lipid Membranes are Really Soft 68
6 Soft Shells Shape Up 72
6.1 Bending Interfaces 72
6.2 Spontaneous Curvature 75
6.3 Shaping Membranes 76
6.4 Red Blood Cells Shape Up 77
7 Biological Membranes – Models and Fashion 81
7.1 What Is a Model? 81
7.2 Brief History of Membrane Models 82
7.3 Do We Need a New Membrane Model? 84
7.4 Theoretical and Experimental Model Systems 86
Lipids Make Sense 87
8 Lipids in Bilayers – A Stressful and Busy Life 88
8.1 Trans-bilayer Structure 88
8.2 The Lateral Pressure Profile 90
8.3 How Thick Are Membranes? 92
8.4 Lively Lipids on the Move 93
9 The More We Are Together 97
9.1 Phase Transitions Between Order and Disorder 97
9.2 Lipids Have Phase Transitions 100
9.3 Mixing Different Lipids 104
9.4 Cholesterol Brings Lipids to Order 106
10 Lipids in Flatland 110
10.1 Gases, Liquids, and Solids in Two Dimensions 110
10.2 Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett Films 112
10.3 Pattern Formation in Lipid Monolayers 115
10.4 Lipids Make the Lung Work 117
11 Social Lipids 122
11.1 Lateral Membrane Structure 122
11.2 Imaging Lipid Domains 126
11.3 Lipid Rafting 129
11.4 Domains and Rafts Carry Function 132
12 Lively Lipids Provide for Function 134
12.1 Leaky and Thirsty Membranes 134
12.2 Repelling Membranes 136
12.3 Enzymes Can Sense Membrane Transitions 138
12.4 Lipid Thermometer in Lizards 140
13 Proteins at Lipid Mattresses 142
13.1 Coming to Terms with Lipids 142
13.2 Anchoring at Membranes 144
13.3 Spanning the Membrane 147
Lipids in Action 151
14 Cholesterol on the Scene 152
14.1 Molecule of the Century 152
14.2 Evolutionary Perfection of a Small Molecule 153
14.3 Cholesterol Fit for Life 155
14.4 Cholesterol As a Killer 159
15 Lipids in Charge 161
15.1 Lipids and Proteins Match Up 161
15.2 Stressing Proteins to Function 167
15.3 Lipids Opening Channels 171
15.4 Lipids Mediate Fusion 172
16 Being Smart – A Fishy Matter of Fat 175
16.1 The Essential Fatty Acids 175
16.2 Evolution of the Human Brain 177
16.3 Lipids at the Border of Madness 179
17 Liquor and Drugs – As a Matter of Fat 182
17.1 Lipids Are Targets for Drugs 182
17.2 Alcohol and Anesthesia 183
17.3 Poking Holes in Membranes 185
17.4 Gramicidin – the Portable Hole 187
18 Lipid Eaters 190
18.1 Enzymes That Break Down Lipids in Crowds 190
18.2 Watching Enzymes at Work 193
18.3 Lipids Going Rancid 194
19 Powerful and Strange Lipids at Work 197
19.1 The Impermeable Barrier – Lipids in the Skin 197
19.2 Surviving at Deep Sea and in Hot Springs 200
19.3 Lipids As Messengers 203
19.4 Lipids As a Matter of Death 205
20 Survival by Lipids 208
20.1 Lipids for Smart Nanotechnology 208
20.2 Lipids Deliver Drugs 213
20.3 Liposomes As Magic Bullets 215
20.4 Lipids Fighting Cancer 218
Epilogue: Fat for Future 223
Bibliography 225
Sources for Figures 247
Index 252