Spatial Architecture of Biological Membrane
The 
The organization of proteins and lipids into microdomains provides a mechanism for the lateral segregation of plasma membrane molecules and this is believed to be critical for various physiological processes. We are currently using photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) to delineate the steady state lateral organization and dynamics of various membrane components in mammalian cells. We are also using giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) as a model system to examine the partitioning of proteins and lipids between coexisting fluid phases and between environments of different curvature. The combination of these two techniques should help us to construct a model of the spatial and temporal organization of plasma membrane and provide insights about the functional compartmentalization of biological membranes.
For more information, contact Prabuddha Sengupta and Tijana Jovanovic-Talisman.