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Related Concept Videos

Mechanisms of Membrane-bending01:15

Mechanisms of Membrane-bending

The living membranes are flexible due to their fluid mosaic nature; however, their bending into different shapes is an active process regulated by specific lipids and proteins. The membrane bending can be transient as seen in vesicles or stable for a long time as in microvilli. Cells regulate the size, location, and duration of the membrane curvature.
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
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...
Protein Diffusion in the Membrane01:24

Protein Diffusion in the Membrane

Proteins show rotational as well as lateral diffusion across the membrane. The lateral diffusion of proteins was confirmed through the cell fusion experiment where mouse and human cells were fused, resulting in hybrid cells. When the human and mouse cells fused, the specific membrane proteins on human and mouse cells were marked with the red and green-fluorescent markers, respectively. Initially, the red and green fluorescence was located on the respective hemisphere of the cell. As time...
Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels01:09

Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels

In multi-pass transmembrane proteins, the polypeptide chain crosses the membrane more than once. The transmembrane polypeptide chain either forms an α-helix or β-strand structure. α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins are ubiquitous, whereas β-strand containing ones are mainly found in gram-negative bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts.
α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins
Multi-pass transmembrane proteins such as G-protein-linked receptors (GPCRs) and...
What are Membranes?01:54

What are Membranes?

A key characteristic of life is the ability to separate the external environment from the internal space. To do this, cells have evolved semi-permeable membranes that regulate the passage of biological molecules. Additionally, the cell membrane defines a cell’s shape and interactions with the external environment. Eukaryotic cell membranes also serve to compartmentalize the internal space into organelles, including the endomembrane structures of the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi...

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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties
12:20

Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties

Published on: November 3, 2008

Biomembrane sensitivity to structural changes in bound polymers.

Alexander A Yaroslavov1, Tatiana A Sitnikova, Anna A Rakhnyanskaya

  • 1Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, RF.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|January 20, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Zwitterionic polymers interact with anionic liposomes, causing lipid rearrangements. Polymer spacer length dictates binding, adsorption, lipid segregation, and flip-flop effects in liposome formulations.

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Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties
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Reconstitution of Septin Assembly at Membranes to Study Biophysical Properties and Functions
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Published on: July 28, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Anionic liposomes are crucial in drug delivery systems.
  • Polyelectrolytes are widely used in biomedical formulations.
  • Understanding polyelectrolyte-liposome interactions is key for formulation stability and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between anionic liposomes and zwitterionic polymers.
  • To determine the effect of polymer spacer length on liposome structure and dynamics.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms of polyelectrolyte-induced molecular rearrangements in liposomes.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of anionic liposomes with a specific phospholipid ratio.
  • Treatment of liposomes with five zwitterionic polymers of varying spacer lengths.
  • Analysis of liposome integrity, adsorption, lipid segregation, and flip-flop phenomena.

Main Results:

  • Polymers did not disrupt liposome structural integrity.
  • Spacer length determined polymer binding and liposome response.
  • Spacer lengths 1 and 2 showed no or minimal binding/rearrangement.
  • Spacer lengths 3, 4, and 5 induced lateral lipid segregation and flip-flop effects.

Conclusions:

  • Zwitterionic polymer spacer length is a critical factor in modulating liposome behavior.
  • Spacer-dependent interactions can lead to controlled lipid rearrangements, including segregation and flip-flop.
  • Findings are relevant for designing advanced biomedical formulations utilizing polyelectrolyte-liposome systems.