Detecting the presence of membrane domains using DSC.

Both biological and model liposomal membranes have unequal distribution of molecular components in the plane of the membrane. There is increasing interest to determine the composition and properties of membrane domains enriched with specific molecular components. Several methodologies have been applied to study this. Each has its own advantages and provides a particular kind of information. In the present article, we will focus on the application of differential scanning calorimetry to the determination of the distribution of molecules into membrane domains with particular emphasis on protein and peptide-induced domain formation.