Physical properties of supported planar bilayers and while cells contrubuting to plarized growth and movement

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The intricate processes that allow biological organisms to function can be studied at the cellular and sub-cellular level. The membrane bilayer is the fatty layer that surrounds the cell and is host to a variety of proteins that are able to regulate cell function. The bilayer acts as the gatekeeper to the passage of molecules from the outside to the inside of the cell. Therefore, the cell membrane provides a physical shield protecting the internal environment crucial for cellular function and facilitates communication required for the survival of an individual cell or organism in response to its environment. Certain organisms, such as plants and fungi, have an additional cell wall composed of sugar polymers that provide structural reinforcement to resist internal turgor pressure and maintain freestanding growth. Both cell membranes and cell walls are interfaces with unique chemistry and physical properties for any given cell type. It is these interfaces in a variety of contexts that are the focus of this proposal.