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Related Concept Videos

Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation01:29

Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation

Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces.
Considering cholesterol and...
Nervous Tissue: Myelin01:25

Nervous Tissue: Myelin

The myelin sheath is a multilayered lipid and protein covering that insulates the axon of a neuron, enhancing the speed of nerve impulse conduction. Axons without this sheath are referred to as unmyelinated. Two types of neuroglia, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) are responsible for producing myelin sheaths.
Schwann cells begin to form myelin sheaths around axons during fetal development. They wrap around a small...
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane01:27

Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane

The ER synthesizes lipids for building cell membranes and performing cellular functions such as energy storage and signaling. The lipid synthesis machinery embedded in the ER membrane primarily collects all reactants from the cytosol. Following synthesis, the secretory pathway and the ER contact sites distribute these lipids to other cellular organelles. Additionally, the energy-rich triacylglycerides are transported from the ER via lipid droplets.
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism01:28

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Preparation and Immunostaining of Myelinating Organotypic Cerebellar Slice Cultures
09:41

Preparation and Immunostaining of Myelinating Organotypic Cerebellar Slice Cultures

Published on: March 20, 2019

Cholesterol and myelin biogenesis.

Gesine Saher1, Mikael Simons

  • 1Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, Göttingen, Germany.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry
|March 10, 2010
PubMed
Summary

This review summarizes cholesterol's vital role in myelin biogenesis. It highlights how this lipid is essential for creating the specialized membranes that insulate nerve axons for efficient signal transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Myelin, a lipid-rich membrane, insulates axons in the nervous system.
  • Myelinating glia produce large amounts of specialized membranes during differentiation.
  • Key lipids include galactosylceramide and cholesterol.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the critical role of cholesterol in myelin biogenesis.
  • To explore cholesterol's function in both central and peripheral nervous system myelin formation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on myelin composition and biogenesis.
  • Analysis of lipid enrichment in myelin membranes.
  • Examination of cholesterol's involvement in glial differentiation and membrane production.

More Related Videos

Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol
10:12

Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol

Published on: March 25, 2020

Production and Use of Lentivirus to Selectively Transduce Primary Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells for In Vitro Myelination Assays
10:00

Production and Use of Lentivirus to Selectively Transduce Primary Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells for In Vitro Myelination Assays

Published on: January 12, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Preparation and Immunostaining of Myelinating Organotypic Cerebellar Slice Cultures
09:41

Preparation and Immunostaining of Myelinating Organotypic Cerebellar Slice Cultures

Published on: March 20, 2019

Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol
10:12

Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol

Published on: March 25, 2020

Production and Use of Lentivirus to Selectively Transduce Primary Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells for In Vitro Myelination Assays
10:00

Production and Use of Lentivirus to Selectively Transduce Primary Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells for In Vitro Myelination Assays

Published on: January 12, 2015

Main Results:

  • Cholesterol is a major lipid component of myelin.
  • Myelinating glia synthesize and incorporate significant amounts of cholesterol into myelin.
  • Cholesterol is crucial for the proper formation and function of myelin sheaths.

Conclusions:

  • Cholesterol is indispensable for myelin biogenesis.
  • Understanding cholesterol's role is key to addressing myelin-related disorders.