%0 Generic
%A Schubert, Thomas
%D 2009
%F heidok:10032
%K lipid-lipid interaction , molecular dynamics , membranes , single molecule microscopy , x-ray scattering
%R 10.11588/heidok.00010032
%T INFLUENCE OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE ON ORDERING AND DYNAMICS OF LIPIDS AND PROTEINS IN BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANE MODELS
%U https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/10032/
%X In this thesis, the structure and dynamics of model membranes are probed using a combination of experiments and simulations. The lateral diffusion of prion proteins (PrPc) coupled to lipid headgroups in planar lipid membranes (supported membranes) are investigated in Chapter 5 using a self-constructed single-molecule fluorescence microscope. Using random walk simulations, molecular variations of the PrP were detected by their influence on the lateral diffusion. In order to improve understanding of archaea survival under extreme conditions, archaea-mimetic lipids and membranes are investigated in Chapter 6. The structure, ordering, and lateral diffusion of these cyclic transmembrane lipids are investigated by optical and X-ray scattering techniques. In Chapter 7, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to study membranes of conventional phospholipids and unique cyclic lipids on the level of atomic detail, showing excellent agreement with the experimental findings. An optimized representation of the ordered gel phase allows for the first successful simulation of first order melting transitions. Thus, the combination of optical techniques in real space and scattering experiments in reciprocal space with complementary computer simulations is a powerful tool to unravel the ordering and dynamics of biological systems in different length and time scales.