J. Thewalt Lab

NMR magnet in our lab

Research

Click on one of the links below to read about our projects.

Fluorescent Probes

Sterols

Lipid Rafts

Cell Death Lipids

List of Publications

GUV dyed with fluorescence probe DiIC12

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.

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Homer Simpson eating a burger

Sterols

There are slight structural differences between cholesterol and other sterols. These differences are utilized to help us understand cholesterol better.

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Cholesterol intercalated into a lipid bilayer

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.

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The grim reaper

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.

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