Seminar - SCM

Raman Research Institute

Bangalore

Seminar

Title: 100 Years of Membrane Models: From Gorter and Grendel to Recent

              Insights into Membrane Asymmetry

Speaker: Georg Pabst (Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Graz, Austria)

Date & Time: Wednesday, 06 August 2025 at 2:00pm

Venue:  Library block lecture hall

Local host: Prof. Pramod Pullarkat

Abstract: In April 1925, Gorter and Grendel proposed the first realistic model of a biological membrane—the lipid bilayer—based on simple yet ingenious experiments. A century later, our understanding of membrane composition and architecture has expanded dramatically. Today, membranes are recognized as dynamic interfaces where lipids, proteins, and drugs interact to regulate cellular function. Yet, several fundamental questions remain. In this talk, I will focus on one of the most intriguing: the origins and maintenance of membrane asymmetry—the unequal distribution of lipids across the bilayer, a hallmark of all plasma membranes. Our laboratory has developed tools to fabricate and analyze asymmetric lipid vesicles with well-defined compositions, providing quantitative insights into membrane structure and mechanics. Notably, asymmetric membranes behave very differently from their symmetric counterparts. I will highlight our key findings, including the structural and elastic coupling between membrane leaflets and the impact of lipid asymmetry on the activity of an integral membrane protein.

All Are Welcome