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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%...
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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 with the analogy of...
Phosphoinositides and PIPs01:42

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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...
Fluid Mosaic Model01:34

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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...
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER01:28

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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.
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Mosaic nature of the membrane
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Realistic Membrane Modeling Using Complex Lipid Mixtures in Simulation Studies
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Realistic Membrane Modeling Using Complex Lipid Mixtures in Simulation Studies

Published on: September 1, 2023

PCB association with model phospholipid bilayers.

Andrew S Campbell1, Yan Yu, Steve Granick

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.

Environmental Science & Technology
|October 23, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) interact differently with phospholipid bilayers. Ortho-substituted PCBs embed in lipid tails, altering membrane properties, while planar PCBs associate with headgroups, suggesting distinct membrane disruption mechanisms.

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09:45

Construction of Model Lipid Membranes Incorporating G-protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)

Published on: February 5, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants with varying structures.
  • Phospholipid bilayers are fundamental to cell membrane structure and function.
  • Understanding PCB-membrane interactions is crucial for assessing their environmental and toxicological impact.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differential association of ortho-substituted (PCB-52) and planar (PCB-77) PCBs with phosphocholine-terminated phospholipid bilayers.
  • To elucidate the impact of PCB structure on lipid bilayer properties and behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) to study diffusion dynamics.
  • Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to analyze phase transition temperatures.
  • Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to visualize bilayer structure and melting points.

Main Results:

  • Ortho-substituted PCBs diffused slower in DLPC bilayers, indicating complex formation or obstructed diffusion.
  • Ortho-substituted PCBs lowered the gel-to-fluid phase transition temperature in DMPC vesicles.
  • AFM revealed two melting points for bilayers with ortho-substituted PCBs versus one for planar PCBs.

Conclusions:

  • A model proposes ortho-substituted PCBs reside in lipid tails, while planar PCBs associate with headgroups.
  • This differential localization explains the distinct effects on membrane properties and the known membrane disruptive ability of ortho-substituted isomers.