Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
08:49
Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes
Published on: March 14, 2021
Phospholipid-induced structural changes to an erythroid beta spectrin ankyrin-dependent lipid-binding site
Aleksander Czogalla1, Krzysztof Grzymajło, Adam Jezierski
1Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, ul. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|August 30, 2008
Summary
Beta-spectrin
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Membrane Biophysics
Background:
- Beta-spectrin interacts with ankyrin via a specific lipid-binding site.
- This site has a unique helical structure and amphipathic properties.
- Understanding its membrane interaction mechanism is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction mechanism of the beta-spectrin lipid-binding domain with biological membranes.
- To elucidate the structural dynamics of this domain upon membrane interaction.
Main Methods:
- Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy on spin-labeled beta-spectrin peptides.
- Analysis of spin-label mobility and distances using computational methods.
Main Results:
- The beta-spectrin lipid-binding domain (segment 14) adopts a triple-helical spectrin repeat topology.
- Significant conformational changes occur upon interaction with phospholipids and detergents.
- EPR data revealed details of domain dynamics and membrane association.
Conclusions:
- A detailed mechanism for beta-spectrin's interaction with biological membranes is proposed.
- The findings shed light on the role of spectrin's structural plasticity in membrane binding.
- This research provides insights into the molecular basis of spectrin-ankyrin interactions.
Related Concept Videos
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%...
01:28Assembly 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...
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...
01:19Membrane Asymmetry Regulating Transporters
Enzymes like flippase, floppase, and scramblase transfer phospholipids from one layer to another in the membrane, thereby affecting membrane asymmetry.
Flippase
Eukaryotic flippases are type-IV P-type ATPases or P4-ATPases belonging to P-type ATPase family proteins that are membrane-bound pumps involved in the ATP-mediated transport of ions and molecules across the membrane. Flippases flip specific phospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet of a membrane. All P4-ATPases have one...
Flippase
Eukaryotic flippases are type-IV P-type ATPases or P4-ATPases belonging to P-type ATPase family proteins that are membrane-bound pumps involved in the ATP-mediated transport of ions and molecules across the membrane. Flippases flip specific phospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet of a membrane. All P4-ATPases have one...
01:32Lipids 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...
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
01:39Mechanism of Filopodia Formation
Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...