Abstract
Biological membranes consisting of two main components, lipids and proteins, have many important functions in cells. Membrane structure, physical and chemical properties of lipids and proteins, and interactions between them determine membrane functions such as the barrier separating a cell from its environment, selective transport, cell recognition, signalling and compartmentalization of cellular processes. To investigate membrane structure and dynamics, and the interactions between membrane components on a molecular level, simplified artificial models of biological membranes have been developed. Various biophysical techniques are used with these models to study membrane properties and their changes under different environmental factors. This chapter describes common membrane models and some of their applications. There are two groups of models: vesicular models (micelles, bicelles and liposomes) and planar ones (lipid monolayers, supported lipid bilayers, black lipid membranes). The advantages and disadvantages of both types are discussed as well as their usefulness for particular biophysical techniques.
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