Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Construction of Model Lipid Membranes Incorporating G-protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)
Published on: February 5, 2022
Role of glycolipids in lipid rafts: a view through atomistic molecular dynamics simulations with galactosylceramide
Anette Hall1, Tomasz Róg, Mikko Karttunen
1Department of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 692, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland.
Abstract:
Even in small amounts, glycolipids are an integral part of lipid rafts and their cellular functions. Here we employ atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to consider galactosylceramide (GalCer), one of the common glycosphingolipids, and investigate its interactions with other raft components (cholesterol, POPC, sphingomyelin) as well as the role and the effects of GalCer on the physical properties of raft-like membranes. Our results for 5 mol % GalCer indicate that whereas the thickness of raft membranes is clearly increased by the addition of GalCer, the average area per lipid and lipid conformational order remain virtually unchanged. Notable changes are observed in lateral diffusion of the raft lipids. This is found to be associated with the interdigitation of GalCer. With cholesterol, GalCer is observed to interact specifically by shielding it from the water phase.
Related Concept Videos
Membrane Fluidity
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 Fluidity
Membrane Domains
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the anterior...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Fluid Mosaic Model
Fluid Mosaic Model

