DIEGO MASONE^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.1, pp. 1-14, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.024146

Abstract The inflexible concept of membrane curvature as an independent property of lipid structures is today obsolete. Lipid bilayers behave as many-body entities with emergent properties that depend on their interactions with the environment. In particular, proteins exert crucial actions on lipid molecules that ultimately condition the collective properties of the membranes. In this review, the potential of enhanced molecular dynamics to address cell-biology problems is discussed. The cases of membrane deformation, membrane fusion, and the fusion pore are analyzed from the perspective of the dimensionality reduction by collective variables. Coupled lipid-protein interactions as fundamental determinants of large membrane remodeling events… More >

Tak-Sing Wong^*, Branden Brough^†, Chih-Ming Ho^∗,‡

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.6, No.1, pp. 1-56, 2009, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2009.006.001

Abstract Mimicking nature's approach in creating devices with similar functional complexity is one of the ultimate goals of scientists and engineers. The remarkable elegance of these naturally evolved structures originates from bottom-up self-assembly processes. The seamless integration of top-down fabrication and bottom-up synthesis is the challenge for achieving intricate artificial systems. In this paper, technologies necessary for guided bottom-up assembly such as molecular manipulation, molecular binding, and the self assembling of molecules will be reviewed. In addition, the current progress of synthesizing mechanical devices through top-down and bottom-up approaches will be discussed. More >