Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Espinosa G
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3076832 | biostudies-other | 2011 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
Espinosa Gabriel G López-Montero Iván I Monroy Francisco F Langevin Dominique D
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20110328 15
The concept of membrane fluidity usually refers to a high molecular mobility inside the lipid bilayer which enables lateral diffusion of embedded proteins. Fluids have the ability to flow under an applied shear stress whereas solids resist shear deformations. Biological membranes require both properties for their function: high lateral fluidity and structural rigidity. Consequently, an adequate account must include, in addition to viscosity, the possibility for a nonzero shear modulus. This know ...[more]