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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.
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...
The Fluid Mosaic Model01:34

The Fluid Mosaic Model

The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.
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...
Enlargement of the Plasma Membrane01:22

Enlargement of the Plasma Membrane

Cell division and enlargement are processes that require precise control. The control ensures that cell division cannot proceed unless the cell has grown to a specific size. A spherical, dividing cell requires an approximately 1.6X increase in its surface area to double its volume. The secretory pathway also has a significant role in cell membrane enlargement. Secretory vesicles that bud off from the Golgi apparatus and later fuse with the plasma membrane during exocytosis are a major source of...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Metabolic Labeling and Membrane Fractionation for Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana Suspension Cell Cultures
11:44

Metabolic Labeling and Membrane Fractionation for Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana Suspension Cell Cultures

Published on: September 28, 2013

An update on plant membrane rafts.

Françoise Simon-Plas1, Artemis Perraki, Emmanuelle Bayer

  • 1UMR Plante-Microbe-Environnement 1088, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique-5184, CNRS-Université de Bourgogne, 21065 Dijon Cedex, France.

Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|September 10, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Plant membrane rafts, enriched in sterols and sphingolipids, regulate physiological responses. Recent studies reveal their nanoscale organization and dynamic protein interactions at the plasma membrane, crucial for signal transduction during environmental stress.

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Last Updated: May 29, 2026

Metabolic Labeling and Membrane Fractionation for Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana Suspension Cell Cultures
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Metabolic Labeling and Membrane Fractionation for Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana Suspension Cell Cultures

Published on: September 28, 2013

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06:31

Real-time Imaging of Plant Cell Surface Dynamics with Variable-angle Epifluorescence Microscopy

Published on: December 12, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Plant cell biology
  • Membrane biophysics
  • Molecular signaling

Background:

  • Membrane rafts are dynamic microdomains involved in cellular regulation.
  • Raft-like domains have been identified in plant plasma membranes over the last five years.
  • Detergent-insoluble membranes are used to study these domains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the composition and localization of plant membrane rafts.
  • To investigate the role of plant rafts in signal transduction, especially during biotic interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Biochemical characterization of detergent-insoluble membranes (protein and lipid composition).
  • Advanced imaging techniques to visualize nanoscale lipid and protein segregation.
  • Analysis of dynamic protein association with membranes under environmental stress.

Main Results:

  • Plant plasma membranes exhibit nanoscale lateral segregation of lipids and proteins within raft-like domains.
  • Detergent insolubility correlates with the localization of proteins to these domains.
  • Specific proteins dynamically associate with detergent-insoluble membranes during environmental stress.

Conclusions:

  • Plant membrane rafts are nanoscale structures involved in regulating physiological responses.
  • These domains act as platforms for signal transduction, particularly in response to biotic stress.