Fluorescent Probes
Even at low concentrations, fluorescence probes can affect the miscibility transition temperature of lipid membranes. This project studies the effects of adding the probe Laurdan.
Sterols
There are slight structural differences between cholesterol and other sterols. These differences are utilized to help us understand cholesterol better.
Lipid Rafts
Lipid rafts are lateral heterogeneity within the membrane. This project studies the temperature- and concentration-dependent phase behavior of the two major components of rafts, sphingomyelin and cholesterol.
Cell Death Lipids
Sphingomyelin and ceramide are two lipids involved in apoptosis - or programmed cell death. This project studies the temperature- and concentration-dependent phase behavior of palmitoyl sphingomyelin and ceramide.