Structural principles of biomembranes

The determination of the electron density distribution of the membrane cross sections of nerve myelin and the discs of the outer segments of retinal rods by a new X-ray evaluation method indicates, as in the case of the cross-sectional structure of the photosynthetic membrane, an “asymmetric” mass distribution. In connection with the detection of planar protein lattices in the membranes of photosynthetic bacteria, the chloroplasts of higher plants, erythrocytes, and retinal discs as well as the detection of a new category of lipid characteristics, comprising isothermal confromational and phase changes by specific ligand binding, a basis is established for the development of a general concept of biomembrane structure.