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Related Concept Videos

Fluid Mosaic Model01:19

Fluid Mosaic Model

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 with the analogy of...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric 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%...
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

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 a relatively...
Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

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.Fatty acids tails of phospholipids can be either saturated or...
Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

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 anterior...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Crystallization of Membrane Proteins in Lipidic Mesophases
11:53

Crystallization of Membrane Proteins in Lipidic Mesophases

Published on: March 28, 2011

Lipidic sponge phase crystallization of membrane proteins.

Pia Wadsten1, Annemarie B Wöhri, Arjan Snijder

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Pharmaceutical Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden.

Journal of Molecular Biology
|September 29, 2006
PubMed
Summary

The sponge phase, a liquid analogue of the cubic phase, offers improved membrane protein crystallization. This method enhances aqueous domain size and simplifies handling for structural studies.

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Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases
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High-throughput Crystallization of Membrane Proteins Using the Lipidic Bicelle Method

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Last Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Crystallization of Membrane Proteins in Lipidic Mesophases
11:53

Crystallization of Membrane Proteins in Lipidic Mesophases

Published on: March 28, 2011

Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases
22:00

Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases

Published on: November 21, 2010

High-throughput Crystallization of Membrane Proteins Using the Lipidic Bicelle Method
07:26

High-throughput Crystallization of Membrane Proteins Using the Lipidic Bicelle Method

Published on: January 9, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Structural biology
  • Biophysics
  • Crystallography

Background:

  • Lipidic cubic phases are used for membrane protein crystallization but present handling challenges.
  • The limited pore size of conventional cubic phases can hinder protein crystallization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and validate the sponge phase as a novel host for membrane protein crystallization.
  • To overcome limitations associated with the conventional lipidic cubic phase method.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the sponge phase, a liquid analogue of the cubic phase, for crystallization.
  • Employed visual inspection, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and NMR spectroscopy to confirm the sponge phase.
  • Performed conventional hanging-drop crystallization experiments with nanoliter drop robots.

Main Results:

  • Successfully crystallized the reaction centre from Rhodobacter sphaeroides using the sponge phase.
  • Obtained crystals that were directly harvested without lipase or cryoprotectant.
  • Refined the protein structure to 2.2 Angstroms resolution, enabling the modeling of mobile ubiquinone.

Conclusions:

  • The sponge phase offers a practical and advantageous alternative to lipidic cubic phases for membrane protein crystallization.
  • This method facilitates larger aqueous domains and simplifies experimental procedures.
  • The sponge phase is a potent tool for advancing membrane protein structure determination.