Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Membrane Remodeling of Giant Vesicles in Response to Localized Calcium Ion Gradients
Published on: July 16, 2018
Interaction of phospholipids with Ca2+ ions. On the role of the phospholipid head groups
1Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Neutral phospholipids play an important role in Ca2+ binding to biomembranes, in particular if the membrane carries a net negative surface charge due to charged lipids or proteins. The concentration of Ca2+ ions in the plane of the phospholipid head groups can be enhanced by at least two orders of magnitude compared to bulk solution. Ca2+ binding furthermore changes the orientation of the phospholipid head groups which is accompanied by variations of the local membrane dipole potential of the order of 10(5) V/cm. Such high electric fields could entail conformational changes of membrane-bound proteins and the Ca2(+)-induced reorientation of the lipid dipoles could thus play a regulatory role in membrane function.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Membrane Fluidity
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...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Phosphoinositides and PIPs
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...

