The nanoscale organization of the B lymphocyte membrane

15.11.2014

Maity PC, Yang J, Klaesener K, Reth M.

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2015;1853(4): 830–840

Biochim Biophys Acta.       online article

Recent studies of the plasma membrane below the diffraction limit of visible light (~250 nanometer) revealed that, at nanoscale dimensions, membranes are more highly organized than predicted by the fluid mosaic model of Singer and Nicolson. Lymphocytes are particularly useful to study this nanoscale membrane organization because they grow as single cells and are not permanently engaged in cell:cell contacts within a tissue that can influence membrane organization. We here describe the methods that can be used to better study the protein:protein interaction and nanoscale organization of lymphocyte membrane proteins, with a focus on the B cell antigen receptor (BCR). Furthermore, we discuss the factors that may generate and maintain these membrane structures.