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Related Concept Videos

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%...
Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

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 the...
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 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...
Structure of Lipids03:38

Structure of Lipids

Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...
Structure of Lipids03:38

Structure of Lipids

Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Spontaneous Formation and Rearrangement of Artificial Lipid Nanotube Networks as a Bottom-Up Model for Endoplasmic Reticulum
07:49

Spontaneous Formation and Rearrangement of Artificial Lipid Nanotube Networks as a Bottom-Up Model for Endoplasmic Reticulum

Published on: January 22, 2019

Shape optimization in lipid nanotube networks.

T Lobovkina1, P G Dommersnes, S Tiourine

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Microtechnology Centre, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden.

The European Physical Journal. E, Soft Matter
|May 27, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Lipid nanotube networks self-organize into tree-like structures, mirroring solutions to the Euclidean Steiner Tree Problem (ESTP). These lipid aggregates form locally optimal networks, minimizing length similar to this complex optimization challenge.

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Fabricating Multi-Component Lipid Nanotube Networks Using the Gliding Kinesin Motility Assay
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Fabricating Multi-Component Lipid Nanotube Networks Using the Gliding Kinesin Motility Assay

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Facile Preparation of Internally Self-assembled Lipid Particles Stabilized by Carbon Nanotubes
09:47

Facile Preparation of Internally Self-assembled Lipid Particles Stabilized by Carbon Nanotubes

Published on: February 19, 2016

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Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Spontaneous Formation and Rearrangement of Artificial Lipid Nanotube Networks as a Bottom-Up Model for Endoplasmic Reticulum
07:49

Spontaneous Formation and Rearrangement of Artificial Lipid Nanotube Networks as a Bottom-Up Model for Endoplasmic Reticulum

Published on: January 22, 2019

Fabricating Multi-Component Lipid Nanotube Networks Using the Gliding Kinesin Motility Assay
05:16

Fabricating Multi-Component Lipid Nanotube Networks Using the Gliding Kinesin Motility Assay

Published on: July 26, 2021

Facile Preparation of Internally Self-assembled Lipid Particles Stabilized by Carbon Nanotubes
09:47

Facile Preparation of Internally Self-assembled Lipid Particles Stabilized by Carbon Nanotubes

Published on: February 19, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Materials Science
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Lipid self-assembly can form complex networks.
  • Understanding self-organization in lipid structures is crucial for materials science and nanotechnology.
  • The Euclidean Steiner Tree Problem (ESTP) is a fundamental challenge in network optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the self-organization process of lipid nanotube networks.
  • To investigate the geometrical features of these self-organized lipid structures.
  • To establish a connection between lipid network formation and the Euclidean Steiner Tree Problem (ESTP).

Main Methods:

  • Observation of lipid nanotube network formation from a high surface free-energy state.
  • Geometric analysis of the resulting tree-like structures.
  • Comparison of observed lipid network geometries with solutions to the Euclidean Steiner Tree Problem (ESTP).

Main Results:

  • Lipid nanotube networks spontaneously self-organize into tree-like architectures.
  • The self-organization process exhibits strong similarities to the Euclidean Steiner Tree Problem (ESTP).
  • The observed lipid structures represent locally optimal solutions to the ESTP.

Conclusions:

  • Lipid self-assembly provides a biological model for solving complex network optimization problems.
  • The geometrical principles governing lipid nanotube network formation are analogous to those in the ESTP.
  • This research offers insights into the design of efficient, self-assembling nanomaterials.