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Related Concept Videos

Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

150.4K
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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Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

14.1K
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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Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

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Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
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Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

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In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains...
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Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

6.3K
The membrane domains concentrate specific lipids and proteins at one place within the membrane, which helps in cell signaling, adhesion, and other critical cellular processes. These domains can differ in size, composition, function, and lifespan.
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Determination of Lipid Raft Partitioning of Fluorescently-tagged Probes in Living Cells by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy FCS
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Determination of Lipid Raft Partitioning of Fluorescently-tagged Probes in Living Cells by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy FCS

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Lipid rafts: contentious only from simplistic standpoints.

John F Hancock1

  • 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia. j.hancock@imb.uq.edu.au

Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology
|April 21, 2006
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study proposes an updated model for lipid rafts in cell membranes, reconciling differing views on their organization and function. It addresses the ongoing debate about cholesterol-dependent lipid assemblies in plasma membrane heterogeneity.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Membrane Science

Background:

  • The existence and function of lipid rafts in plasma membranes are debated.
  • Lateral heterogeneity of plasma membrane proteins is established, but the role of lipid assemblies is controversial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose an updated model of lipid rafts.
  • To reconcile diverse viewpoints on plasma membrane micro-organization.
  • To integrate findings from model membranes, computational modeling, and cell biology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent studies on model membranes.
  • Computational modeling of membrane organization.
  • Innovative cell biology techniques.

Main Results:

  • An updated model for lipid rafts is proposed.
  • The model accommodates various perspectives on membrane micro-organization.
  • Recent evidence supports a more nuanced view of lipid raft function.

Conclusions:

  • The updated lipid raft model offers a framework for understanding plasma membrane heterogeneity.
  • Cholesterol-dependent lipid assemblies play a role in membrane organization.
  • Further research integrating multiple approaches is crucial.