University
of Toronto
Physics Department
Quantum Optics and Condensed Matter
Special QOCMP Seminar
Note: Unusual Date, Time and Room
University
of Toronto
Special QOCMP Seminar
Note: Unusual Date, Time and Room
| Speaker : | PROFESSOR MICHAEL SCHICK
Department of Physics University of Washington Seattle, WA USA |
| Topic : | SELF-ASSEMBLY OF BIOLOGICAL LIPIDS |
| Time : | Thursday, March 2, 2000 at 11:00 a.m. |
| Place : | Room MP606, Burton Tower 60 St. George Street / 255 Huron Street |
Abstract
Biological lipids can self-assemble into many different phases. The
lipids which make up the major part of biological membranes form lamellar
phases under physiological conditions, as would be expected from the fact
that the membrane is a simple lipid bilayer. Nonetheless, one of the lipids
which is a significant fraction of the membrane would, by itself, form
a hexagonal phase under the same conditions. Why does nature use a lipid
in a bilayer that doesn't want to be there? This question is addressed,
and some results are presented from theoretical calculations which address
this issue.
Local Host: Prof. Rashmi
Desai
(416-978-5191)