Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Asymmetric Lipid Membranes: Towards More Realistic Model Systems, Drew Marquardt, Barbara Geier, Georg Pabst

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

Despite the ubiquity of transbilayer asymmetry in natural cell membranes, the vast majority of existing research has utilized chemically well-defined symmetric liposomes, where the inner and outer bilayer leaflets have the same composition. Here, we review various aspects of asymmetry in nature and in model systems in anticipation for the next phase of model membrane studies.