Date/Time
Date(s) - 24/04/2013
3:20 pm - 4:20 pm

Title: Membrane Structure, Simulation and Scattering

Speaker: Dr. John Katsaras

Institute: Oakridge National Laboratory

Location: ABB 102

Description:

The spatial organization of lipids and proteins in biological membranes seems to have a functional role in the life of a cell. With few exceptions, however, biological membranes exist in a disordered state, a fact that presents unique challenges to elucidating their fine structure. In the case of model membrane systems, to overcome this difficulty we have developed the Scattering Density Profile (SDP) model1-3, which combines neutron and x-ray scattering data, with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to yield robust structural data, including the much sought after area/lipid needed by simulators to refine their force fields. In addition to one-dimensional structural data along the membrane, we have recently exploited the contrast variation offered by neutron scattering to study, with unprecedented accuracy, the lateral phase separation (in-plane) of so-called â??raftâ? forming mixtures4. We hope that in the near future we will apply this knowledge to address the question that has vexed biologists and confounded experimentalists for over 40 years: do membrane domains (lipid rafts) exist in vivo?