What is a lipid membrane?. Lipid membranes are ubiquitous structures in the cells of all unicellular and multicellular organisms. Take, for example, the cell wall, also known as the plasma membrane, whose function is to separate the inside of the cell from the outside: in a way, it's the cell's armor. It's made up of a vast diversity of fatty acids (lipids), which give it very special properties. If we consider the enormous variety of lipid species available, we can begin to grasp the enormous complexity of this system. It had already been observed that changes in the composition of lipid membranes can be indicative of the presence of certain diseases, such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Knowing the composition of lipid membranes in diseased cells, and comparing it with that of a healthy cell, would undoubtedly lead to new ways of diagnosing these diseases.
TO READ THIS ARTICLE, CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT
And extend your reading, free of charge and with no commitment.
