New theory unlocks the secret behind protein-membrane interactions

Trillions of cells—all different shapes and sizes—form a human body’s structure. Surrounding each cell is a membrane, jointly acting as hostess and security—welcoming certain information into the cell while making sure its components don’t spill out into the body’s void. Much is known about how the individual pieces of a cell work, but a significant understanding of how proteins interact with the cell membrane has remained a mystery until now, following a recent study at the University of Missouri.