Biological membranes

Course unit title

Scientific direction

Scientific code

Faculty

Department (s)

Biological membranes

Biochemistry N 004

Life Sciences Center

Institute of Biochemisry

Total number of credits

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Lectures

0

Consultations

1

Self-studies

5

Seminars

0

Aims of course

The aim is to provide knowledge about the structure of the membrane and its properties, existing intracellular forces. Lipid membrane models. Students will get acquainted with the active and passive transfer of materials through membranes, also get acquainted with the structure of the ion channels and their molecular mechanism of action, and will know about the protein channels that are involved in the development of the membrane potential on the nerves and other cells. The mechanism of lipid membrane interactions with proteins will be presented, which determines a signal transmission, functioning of pathogens and cellular protection responses. Students will gain knowledge about the transfer of various substances in the cell through the membrane vesicles, the molecular mechanisms of vesicles fusion with the plasma membrane. The latest technology and research methods in this topic will be presented.

Main topics

The structure and properties of biological membrane: Polimorfism of lipids: lipid phase transition. Lipid membrane models.  Lipids dynamics in membranes. Molecular forces. Membrane fluidity and diffusion. Cholesterol and Related Sterols: Roles in Membrane Structure and Function.

Lipid-protein interaction in biological membranes: Influence of membrane proteins on membrane lipid properties. Tight noncovalent binding of lipids to membrane proteins.

Transport of materials through biological membranes: Passive diffusion through channels. General characteristics. Potassium channel structure, selectivity, mechanism of action (Voltage gated K+ channels, KcsA, KavP, Kir, Shaker type channels). Active transport of material. F0 F1, P ir V-type ATPases structure and principals of action. . Mitchell chemiosmotic theory. Membrane fusion. Vesicles traffic. Synaptic transmission.

The modern technologies and unique research methods in the study of the composition and function of biological membranes.

Main literature

1. J. Kadziauskas. 2008. Biologinės membranos. Mokomoji medžiaga, Technologija, Kaunas
2. P.L. Yeagle. 2012.The structure of biological membranes, 3nd  edition, CRS Press Inc., USA
3. P.L. Yeagle, 2016. The membranes of cells, 3nd edition, Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier.
4. D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox. Lehninger NY, 2008. Principles of Biochemistry, 5th edition, W.H.F REEMAANN DC OMPANY, New York.
5. Meyer B. Jackson, 2006. Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, Cambridge University Press, New York.
6. New research articles, 2010-2021 Nature, Science, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, PNAS, JACS, Annual review of Biophysics and Biomolecular structure Trends in Cell Biology.

Assessment strategy

Assessment criteria

Individual oral presentation on selected topics (from Biological Membrane structure and content and Lipid - Protein interactions or Transport of materials through biological membranes).

Assessment: the quality of oral presentation and answers to the questions, the depth of knowledge, creativity, the ability to express the thought clearly. Presentation is assessed by a 10-point rating system.

Rima Budvytytė

Assoc. prof.

Approved by the Council of Doctoral School of Life Sciences Center No (4.10)600000-KT-… on the 14th of October 2021

Chairman dr. Daiva Baltriukienė