1;Acknowledgments;7 2;Contents;9 3;Abbreviations;13 4;Prologue: Lipidomics - A Science Beyond Stamp Collection;14 5;The Overlooked Molecules;19 5.1;1 Life from Molecules;20 5.1.1;1.1 The Three Kingdoms of Life;20 5.1.2;1.2 The Molecules of Life;21 5.1.3;1.3 The Post-Genomic Era;27 5.1.4;1.4 A Call for Physics;30 5.2;2 Head and Tail;33 5.2.1;2.1 Fat Family: Fats and Fatty Acids;33 5.2.2;2.2 The Polar Lipids - Both Head and Tail;36 5.2.3;2.3 Cholesterol - A Lipid of Its Own;38 5.2.4;2.4 Strange Lipids;39 5.2.5;2.5 Lipid Composition of Membranes;41 5.3;3 Oil and Water;42 5.3.1;3.1 Water - The Biological Solvent;42 5.3.2;3.2 The Hydrophobic Effect;43 5.3.3;3.3 Mediating Oil and Water;44 5.3.4;3.4 Self-Assembly and the Lipid Aggregate Family;46 5.3.5;3.5 Plucking Lipids;49 5.4;4 Lipids Speak the Language of Curvature;52 5.4.1;4.1 How Large Is a Lipid Molecule?;52 5.4.2;4.2 Lipid Molecules Have Shape;55 5.4.3;4.3 Lipid Structures with Curvature;55 5.4.4;4.4 Microorganisms' Sense of Curvature;60 5.5;5 A Matter of Softness;62 5.5.1;5.1 Soft Matter;62 5.5.2;5.2 Soft Interfaces;62 5.5.3;5.3 Forces Between Soft Interfaces;67 5.5.4;5.4 Lipid Membranes are Really Soft;68 5.6;6 Soft Shells Shape Up;72 5.6.1;6.1 Bending Interfaces;72 5.6.2;6.2 Spontaneous Curvature;75 5.6.3;6.3 Shaping Membranes;76 5.6.4;6.4 Red Blood Cells Shape Up;77 5.7;7 Biological Membranes - Models and Fashion;81 5.7.1;7.1 What Is a Model?;81 5.7.2;7.2 Brief History of Membrane Models;82 5.7.3;7.3 Do We Need a New Membrane Model?;84 5.7.4;7.4 Theoretical and Experimental Model Systems;86 6;Lipids Make Sense;87 6.1;8 Lipids in Bilayers - A Stressful and Busy Life;88 6.1.1;8.1 Trans-bilayer Structure;88 6.1.2;8.2 The Lateral Pressure Profile;90 6.1.3;8.3 How Thick Are Membranes?;92 6.1.4;8.4 Lively Lipids on the Move;93 6.2;9 The More We Are Together;97 6.2.1;9.1 Phase Transitions Between Order and Disorder;97 6.2.2;9.2 Lipids Have Phase Transitions;100 6.2.3;9.3 Mixing Different Lipids;104 6.2.4;9.4 Cholesterol Brings Lipids to Order;106 6.3;10 Lipids in Flatland;110 6.3.1;10.1 Gases, Liquids, and Solids in Two Dimensions;110 6.3.2;10.2 Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett Films;112 6.3.3;10.3 Pattern Formation in Lipid Monolayers;115 6.3.4;10.4 Lipids Make the Lung Work;117 6.4;11 Social Lipids;122 6.4.1;11.1 Lateral Membrane Structure;122 6.4.2;11.2 Imaging Lipid Domains;126 6.4.3;11.3 Lipid Rafting;129 6.4.4;11.4 Domains and Rafts Carry Function;132 6.5;12 Lively Lipids Provide for Function;134 6.5.1;12.1 Leaky and Thirsty Membranes;134 6.5.2;12.2 Repelling Membranes;136 6.5.3;12.3 Enzymes Can Sense Membrane Transitions;138 6.5.4;12.4 Lipid Thermometer in Lizards;140 6.6;13 Proteins at Lipid Mattresses;142 6.6.1;13.1 Coming to Terms with Lipids;142 6.6.2;13.2 Anchoring at Membranes;144 6.6.3;13.3 Spanning the Membrane;147 7;Lipids in Action;151 7.1;14 Cholesterol on the Scene;152 7.1.1;14.1 Molecule of the Century;152 7.1.2;14.2 Evolutionary Perfection of a Small Molecule;153 7.1.3;14.3 Cholesterol Fit for Life;155 7.1.4;14.4 Cholesterol As a Killer;159 7.2;15 Lipids in Charge;161 7.2.1;15.1 Lipids and Proteins Match Up;161 7.2.2;15.2 Stressing Proteins to Function;167 7.2.3;15.3 Lipids Opening Channels;171 7.2.4;15.4 Lipids Mediate Fusion;172 7.3;16 Being Smart - A Fishy Matter of Fat;175 7.3.1;16.1 The Essential Fatty Acids;175 7.3.2;16.2 Evolution of the Human Brain;177 7.3.3;16.3 Lipids at the Border of Madness;179 7.4;17 Liquor and Drugs - As a Matter of Fat;182 7.4.1;17.1 Lipids Are Targets for Drugs;182 7.4.2;17.2 Alcohol and Anesthesia;183 7.4.3;17.3 Poking Holes in Membranes;185 7.4.4;17.4 Gramicidin - the Portable Hole;187 7.5;18 Lipid Eaters;190 7.5.1;18.1 Enzymes That Break Down Lipids in Crowds;190 7.5.2;18.2 Watching Enzymes at Work;193 7.5.3;18.3 Lipids Going Rancid;194 7.6;19 Powerful and Strange Lipids at Work;197 7.6.1;19.1 The Impermeable Barrier - Lipids in the Skin;197 7.6.2;19.2 Surviving at Deep Sea and in Hot Springs;200 7.6.3;19.3 Lipids As Messeng