In prokaryotic cells, simple diffusion is largely responsible for getting nutrients to where they need to be and for removing waste products. But eukaryotes, which are much more complex, require a specialized mass-transit system. This system consists of membrane-bound structures called transport carriers that ferry cargo into, out of, and around the cell. Over the past decade, our interest has centered on this system, particularly on the interplay between the biophysical properties of the membranes and the way in which these properties are exploited by specific biological molecules to construct and direct this transport system. It is an ideal topic for collaboration between a biologist and a physicist.
The other of us (Patricia) was trained as an experimental physicist in soft matter and had worked initially on the physical aspects of liquid crystals. The intrinsic nonequilibrium nature of biological membranes captured Patricia’s interest, leading her to study, in collaboration ...
