Membrane Dynamics: Molecular Interactions and Hydrophobic Effect

This lecture delves into the molecular interactions and hydrophobic effect in biological membranes, exploring the self-assembly of proteins and lipids, the role of polar heads and hydrophobic tails, and the formalism of hydrophobicity. The instructor explains the partition function, surface tension, and the energy associated with hydrogen bonding. The lecture also covers the insertion of non-polar molecules near water molecules, the splitting of states, and the impact on hydrogen bonding. The discussion extends to the free energy of membrane arrangements, the use of optical tweezers in membrane studies, and the dynamic clustering of motors in membranes.