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Related Concept Videos

The Fluid Mosaic Model01:34

The Fluid Mosaic Model

157.7K
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.
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What are Membranes?01:54

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A key characteristic of life is the ability to separate the external environment from the internal space. To do this, cells have evolved semi-permeable membranes that regulate the passage of biological molecules. Additionally, the cell membrane defines a cell’s shape and interactions with the external environment. Eukaryotic cell membranes also serve to compartmentalize the internal space into organelles, including the endomembrane structures of the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum and...
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Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

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Cell membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates loosely attached to one another through chemical interactions. Molecules are generally able to move about in the plane of the membrane, giving the membrane its flexible nature called fluidity. Two other features of the membrane contribute to membrane fluidity: the chemical structure of the phospholipids and the presence of cholesterol in the membrane.
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What are Membranes?01:24

What are Membranes?

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A cell's plasma membrane demarcates the cell's borders and determines the nature of its interaction with the environment. Cells exclude certain substances, take in others, and excrete some others in controlled quantities. The plasma membrane must be flexible to allow certain cells, such as red and white blood cells, to change their shape while passing through narrow capillaries. These are the more obvious plasma membrane functions. In addition, the plasma membrane's surface carries...
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Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

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Membrane fluidity is explained by the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane, which describes the plasma membrane structure as a mosaic of components—including phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates—that gives the membrane a fluid character.
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is...
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Fluid Mosaic Model01:19

Fluid Mosaic Model

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Scientists identified the plasma membrane in the 1890s and its principal chemical components (lipids and proteins) by 1915. The model for plasma membrane structure, proposed in 1935 by Hugh Davson and James Danielli, was the first model to be widely accepted in the scientific community. The model was based on the plasma membrane's "railroad track" appearance in early electron micrographs. Davson and Danielli theorized that the plasma membrane's structure resembled a sandwich...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 6, 2026

Spot Variation Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy for Analysis of Molecular Diffusion at the Plasma Membrane of Living Cells
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Membranes are more mosaic than fluid.

Donald M Engelman1

  • 1Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, Box 208114, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8114, USA. don@mail.csb.yale.edu

Nature
|December 2, 2005
PubMed
Summary

New data reveals cell membranes are not uniform but patchy, with distinct functional regions. Lipid composition and thickness vary, and protein crowding limits lipid exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Recent advancements in determining membrane protein structures and functions.
  • The evolving understanding of cellular membrane architecture.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize emerging themes in membrane architecture based on new structural and functional data.
  • To highlight key characteristics of modern views on membrane organization.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of recent structural biology data.
  • Integration of functional studies on membrane proteins.
  • Review of lipid composition and biophysical properties.

Main Results:

  • Cell membranes exhibit a 'patchy' organization with segregated functional domains.

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  • Significant variations exist in lipid bilayer thickness and composition across different membrane regions.
  • Membrane protein crowding and ectodomains restrict the accessibility of lipids to aqueous environments.

    • Conclusions:

    • The traditional view of uniform membranes is outdated.
    • Membrane architecture is complex, characterized by heterogeneity and domain segregation.
    • Understanding these structural nuances is crucial for deciphering membrane protein function and cellular processes.