PhD thesis – Daniel Schmidt

Abstract

Cells connect to other cells with the help of highly specific membrane- anchored adhesion proteins. This adhesion process is typically regulated by the complex biochemical network of the cell. However, on the molecu- lar level, thermal fluctuations dominate every motion of the proteins, the cell membrane and the surrounding water. These thermal fluctuations and their influence on the adhesion process between two adjacent cell mem- branes are the core of this thesis.