Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
06:26
Pulling Membrane Nanotubes from Giant Unilamellar Vesicles
Published on: December 7, 2017
Amphipathic helices and membrane curvature.
Guillaume Drin1, Bruno Antonny
1Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis and CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France. drin@ipmc.cnrs.fr
FEBS Letters
|October 20, 2009
Summary
Physicochemical properties of lipid-binding amphipathic helices allow them to recognize membrane curvature. This interaction is crucial for membrane remodeling and vesicular transport, with specific helix features enabling curvature detection.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Amphipathic helices are key components in cellular membrane remodeling and vesicular transport.
- Their interaction with lipids is fundamental to these processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate how the physicochemical features of amphipathic helices enable recognition of membrane curvature.
- To explain the role of lipid composition in helix-membrane interactions.
- To propose mechanisms for sensing varying degrees of membrane curvature.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of physicochemical properties of amphipathic helices.
- Investigating helix-lipid interactions in relation to membrane curvature.
- Theoretical modeling of helix behavior on curved membranes.
Main Results:
- Specific physicochemical features of amphipathic helices correlate with their ability to bind lipids and sense membrane curvature.
- Non-cooperative binding between polar and hydrophobic faces of the helix is proposed for sensing highly curved membranes.
- The study provides a framework for understanding helix involvement in detecting subtle and negative membrane curvatures.
Conclusions:
- Amphipathic helix properties are critical determinants of their function in membrane remodeling.
- Understanding these interactions is essential for deciphering cellular membrane dynamics.
- Further research is needed to fully characterize helix-lipid interactions across diverse curvature landscapes.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Mechanisms 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 bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
01:09Multi-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...
α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins
Multi-pass transmembrane proteins such as G-protein-linked receptors (GPCRs) and...
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%...
01:23Membrane 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...
01:26Membrane 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...
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...
00:59Mechanisms 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...
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...