Journal of Membrane Biology: Membranes in Disease Section

Abstract

Biological membranes act as a unique interface between cells and provide individual identity to them. They are complex, dynamic, anisotropic fluids with interesting physicochemical aspects. The relationship between membranes and diseases has its genesis in a number of interesting factors related to membranes. A remarkable aspect of membrane proteins is their ability to act as drug targets. It is estimated that ~50 % of currently prescribed drugs in all clinical areas target membrane proteins. In addition, the quasi-two-dimensional nature of membranes allows an increase in the local concentration of pathogenic proteins, such as amyloidogenic peptides, giving rise to diseases of misfolding induced by crowding. Another corner stone in the membrane-disease paradigm is the fact that any intracellular pathogen has to cross the plasma membrane of the host cell to establish an infection, thereby allowing a handle on the entry of pathogens by manipulating host membrane composition.