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Related Concept Videos

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...
Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

The membrane domains concentrate specific lipids and proteins at one place within the membrane, which helps in cell signaling, adhesion, and other critical cellular processes. These domains can differ in size, composition, function, and lifespan.
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...
Fluid Mosaic Model01:19

Fluid Mosaic Model

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...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

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

Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER

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.
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Construction of Model Lipid Membranes Incorporating G-protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)
09:45

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

Published on: February 5, 2022

Membrane organization and lipid rafts.

Kai Simons1, Julio L Sampaio

  • 1Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany. simons@mpi-cbg.de

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|June 2, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Cell membranes utilize lipid diversity and lateral segregation to form specialized domains. This membrane subcompartmentalization, driven by lipid-protein interactions, regulates cellular functions.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Membrane Biophysics

Background:

  • Cell membranes feature a lipid bilayer with diverse lipid species, yet their functional roles are unclear.
  • Membrane proteins interact with lipids, influencing cellular functions.
  • The lipid bilayer exhibits dynamic lateral segregation of components, forming distinct domains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review emerging principles of cell membrane architecture.
  • To emphasize the role of lipid organization and domain formation in membrane function.
  • To explore how lipid diversity contributes to membrane subcompartmentalization.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of cell membrane architecture.
  • Analysis of lipid organization and domain formation principles.

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Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells
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Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells

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Determination of Lipid Raft Partitioning of Fluorescently-tagged Probes in Living Cells by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
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Determination of Lipid Raft Partitioning of Fluorescently-tagged Probes in Living Cells by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)

Published on: April 6, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Construction of Model Lipid Membranes Incorporating G-protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)
09:45

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

Published on: February 5, 2022

Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells
08:59

Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells

Published on: March 21, 2025

Determination of Lipid Raft Partitioning of Fluorescently-tagged Probes in Living Cells by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
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Determination of Lipid Raft Partitioning of Fluorescently-tagged Probes in Living Cells by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)

Published on: April 6, 2012

  • Discussion of sphingolipid-cholesterol self-assembly and protein specificity.

    • Main Results:

    • Cell membranes possess a complex lipid architecture with hundreds of species.
    • Lateral segregation of membrane constituents is a key property.
    • Liquid-liquid immiscibility drives domain formation and membrane subcompartmentalization.

    Conclusions:

    • Lipid diversity and organization are crucial for membrane function.
    • Membrane domains, formed by lipid self-assembly and protein interactions, regulate cellular activity.
    • Understanding membrane architecture is key to deciphering cellular processes.