A Non-Exhaustive List of Papers on the Development and Application of Critical Phase Theory to Membrane Phase Behaviour

Compiled by Chuck Sanders to accompany Protein Society newsletter article (Sept. 2024 issue):

Critical Points and The Unsinkable Lipid Raft Hypothesis

Reverse Chronological Order

The Membrane Phase Transition Gives Rise to Responsive Plasma Membrane Structure and Function.

Shelby SA, Veatch SL.  Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2023 15(11):a041395.

doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041395

Includes a good preview of areas for future exploration.

The plasma membrane as an adaptable fluid mosaic.

Veatch SL, Rogers N, Decker A, Shelby SA.  Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr. 2023  1865(3):184114.

doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.184114.

This review introduces the concepts of “compositional susceptibility” and “adaptive fluids” as applied to membranes.

Critical Phenomena in Plasma Membrane Organization and Function.

Shaw TR, Ghosh S, Veatch SL.  Annu Rev Phys Chem. 2021 72:51-72.

doi: 10.1146/annurev-physchem-090419-115951.

Ion channels can be allosterically regulated by membrane domains near a de-mixing critical point.

Kimchi O, Veatch SL, Machta BB.J Gen Physiol. 2018 Dec 3;150(12):1769-1777.

doi: 10.1085/jgp.201711900.

Hallmarks of Reversible Separation of Living, Unperturbed Cell Membranes into Two Liquid Phases.

Rayermann SP, Rayermann GE, Cornell CE, Merz AJ, Keller SL  Biophys J. 2017 113(11):2425-2432.

doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.09.029.

Miscibility Transition Temperature Scales with Growth Temperature in a Zebrafish Cell Line.

Burns M, Wisser K, Wu J, Levental I, Veatch SL.  Biophys J. 2017 113(6):1212-1222.

doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.04.052.

Growth Conditions and Cell Cycle Phase Modulate Phase Transition Temperatures in RBL-2H3 Derived Plasma Membrane Vesicles.

Gray EM, Díaz-Vázquez G, Veatch SL.  PLoS One. 2015 10(9):e0137741. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137741.

Liquid general anesthetics lower critical temperatures in plasma membrane vesicles.

Gray E, Karslake J, Machta BB, Veatch SL.  Biophys J. 2013 105(12):2751-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2013.11.005.

Experimental observations of dynamic critical phenomena in a lipid membrane.

Honerkamp-Smith AR, Machta BB, Keller SL.  Phys Rev Lett. 2012 108(26):265702.

doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.265702.

An introduction to critical points for biophysicists; observations of compositional heterogeneity in lipid membranes.

Honerkamp-Smith AR, Veatch SL, Keller SL. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 1788(1):53-63.

doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2008.09.010

A classic review

Line tensions, correlation lengths, and critical exponents in lipid membranes near critical points.

Honerkamp-Smith AR, Cicuta P, Collins MD, Veatch SL, den Nijs M, Schick M, Keller SL.  Biophys J. 2008 95(1):236-46. doi: 10.1529/biophysj.107.128421.

Critical fluctuations in plasma membrane vesicles.

Veatch SL, Cicuta P, Sengupta P, Honerkamp-Smith A, Holowka D, Baird B.  ACS Chem Biol. 2008  3(5):287-93. doi: 10.1021/cb800012x.

Miscibility phase diagrams of giant vesicles containing sphingomyelin.

Veatch SL, Keller SL. Phys Rev Lett. 2005 94(14):148101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.148101.