Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
11:44
Metabolic Labeling and Membrane Fractionation for Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana Suspension Cell Cultures
Published on: September 28, 2013
Phospholipid composition of a plasma membrane-enriched fraction from developing soybean roots
1Department of Agronomy and Range Science, University of California, Davis, California 95616.
Plant Physiology
|October 1, 1985
Summary
Soybean root plasma membranes show developmental differences in fatty acid composition of major phospholipids, not head groups. These lipid variations may impact membrane structure and function.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Biochemistry
- Membrane Biology
Background:
- Plasma membranes are crucial for plant cell function.
- Understanding lipid composition is key to elucidating membrane properties.
- Soybean root development involves dynamic changes in cellular components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze phospholipid and fatty acid composition of soybean root plasma membranes.
- To compare lipid profiles between meristematic and mature root sections.
- To investigate the impact of developmental stage on membrane lipid structure.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of plasma membrane-enriched fractions from soybean roots.
- Analysis of phospholipid classes using lipid extraction and chromatography.
- Determination of fatty acid profiles using gas chromatography.
- Controlled conditions to minimize lipid degradation during isolation.
Main Results:
- Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were major phospholipids.
- Fatty acid composition varied between phospholipid classes and root developmental stages.
- Differences were observed in fatty acid chains, not polar head groups, of major phospholipids.
- Phosphatidylcholine was identified as the primary substrate for phospholipase D.
Conclusions:
- Soybean root plasma membrane lipid composition differs between meristematic and mature tissues.
- Fatty acid variations in phospholipids are more significant than head group changes for major lipids.
- Minor phospholipid component differences may also play a role in membrane function.
- Findings contribute to understanding soybean root plasma membrane structure-function relationships.
Related Concept Videos
01:32Membrane Lipids
Lipids are an essential component of all biological membranes. The average lipid content in mammalian membranes is 50%, though it can be as low as 20% in the inner mitochondrial membrane or as high as 80% in the myelin sheath present around the nerve cells.
Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin are the most common phospholipids present in mammalian membranes. At physiological pH, phosphatidylserine is negatively charged, while the other three...
Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin are the most common phospholipids present in mammalian membranes. At physiological pH, phosphatidylserine is negatively charged, while the other three...
01:35Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
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%...
01:27Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
The ER synthesizes lipids for building cell membranes and performing cellular functions such as energy storage and signaling. The lipid synthesis machinery embedded in the ER membrane primarily collects all reactants from the cytosol. Following synthesis, the secretory pathway and the ER contact sites distribute these lipids to other cellular organelles. Additionally, the energy-rich triacylglycerides are transported from the ER via lipid droplets.
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
01:34Fluid Mosaic Model
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.LipidsThe most...
01:42Phosphoinositides and PIPs
Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
01:28Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
Biological membranes are more than just a barrier separating cell cytoplasm from the outside environment. They are highly dynamic and help maintain the integrity and physiological stability of the cells as well as membrane-bound organelles. Membranes also play vital roles in cell-to-cell and intracellular communication.
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...