The research in my laboratory is in the area of biomembranes. Current research focuses on x-ray scattering studies of lipid bilayers. One goal is to obtain more accurate values for average static parameters, such as the thickness of the hydrophobic region and the area per molecule. However, lipid bilayers and biomembranes are dynamic entities constantly undergoing fluctuations. Our second goal is to quantitate the molecular disorder in these partially ordered structures by measuring the diffuse scattering. We also perform density measurements and differential scanning calorimetry. These are combined with our x-ray results, as well as the results of NMR, infrared spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations obtained by collaborators elsewhere, to elucidate the molecular interactions responsible for determining the order/disorder properties. This involves modelling and statistical mechanics. The ultimate goal is to determine if there is a physical basis for the wide variety of naturally occurring lipids and to understand how the different lipids affect functioning biomembranes.

Nagle JF, Tristram-Nagle S. Lipid bilayer structure. Current Opinions in Structural Biology 2000; 10:474-480.

Nagle JF, Tristram-Nagle S. Structure of lipid epilayers. Biochim. Biophys. Acta Reviews in Biomembranes 2000; 1469:159-195.

See http://bilayer.phys.cmu.edu for additional papers and downloading capability.