Don Elmore discusses membrane proteins, which provide an essential link between the inside of cells and their surroundings. The function of these proteins is impacted by their interactions with the lipid molecules that make up membranes of cells. Elmore discusses how his lab combines computational and experimental approaches to investigate these critical protein-lipid interactions. In particular, the talk focuses on the role of lipid interactions in the gating of mechanosensitive ion channels and the ability of antimicrobial peptides to translocate across cell membranes.