The presence of membrane microdomains or rafts within cell membranes is an area of intensive research and debate, with the notion of intracellular membrane rafts proving particularly contentious. The full extent of their biological importance is unknown but, they do appear to have vital roles in key processes such as membrane transport and cell signalling. They have been shown to have significant involvement in the formation of the immunological synapse and subsequent immune cell activation. Their cellular functions are also hijacked by various pathogens such as the human immunodeficiency virus and prion diseases, establishing them as important pharmaceutical targets.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:495061 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Duggan, James |
| Publisher | University of Nottingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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