Although previously thought to be merely passive structural components, membrane lipids have recently been found to be actively involved in cellular transport and signal transduction processes.
Clear protocols for the study of membrane lipid properties, cellular transport or signal transduction are presented in this manual. Following a short introduction to membrane lipids, techniques for the isolation and extraction of membrane fractions, the analysis of the lipid composition, lipid turnover, and the involvement in signal transduction as well as the preparation of liposomes are described. I Structure and Distribution of Membrane Lipids.- II Isolation of Pure Membrane Fractions for Lipid Analysis.- III Extraction of Membrane Lipids.- IV Chromatographic Analysis of Lipids.- V Phase Transition of Membrane Lipids.- VI Lipid Asymmetry of Membranes.- VII Turnover of Lipids.- VIII Lipids and Signal Transduction.- IX Liposomes: Preparation and Membrane Protein Reconstitution. "I can highly recommend the book for membranologists: overall it is very nicely written and edited, the subject of membrane lipids being treated in an elementary and easy to follow way. It follows the general trend of providing detailed procedures that can be used at a laboratory bench." FEBS Letters
