Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

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.
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...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins with a channel for ions to pass through and a binding site for a ligand. The channel opens only when a ligand attaches to the binding site.
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that include the...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Structural determinants of the scorpion venom peptide Uy234 govern bactericidal activity and membrane-disruptive properties.

Frontiers in microbiology·2026
Same author

A stretch-responsive fibroblast program promotes epidermal stem cell self-renewal during skin expansion.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

The CDKL5 kinase undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation driven by a serine-rich C-terminal region.

Life science alliance·2026
Same author

A Benzodiazepine-Derived Molecule That Interferes with the Bio-Mechanical Properties of Glioblastoma-Astrocytoma Cells Altering Their Proliferation and Migration.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025
Same author

Cell stretching devices integrated with live cell imaging: a powerful approach to study how cells react to mechanical cues.

Progress in biomedical engineering (Bristol, England)·2024
Same author

Extraction, purification and <i>in vitro</i> assessment of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of policosanols from non-psychoactive <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L.

Heliyon·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties
12:20

Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties

Published on: November 3, 2008

Changes in single K channel behavior induced by a lipid phase transition.

Andrea Alessandrini1, Paolo Facci

  • 1Center; CNR-NANO-S3; Modena, Italy.

Communicative & Integrative Biology
|October 8, 2011
PubMed
Summary

The lipid bilayer

Area of Science:

  • Membrane biophysics
  • Ion channel function
  • Lipid-protein interactions

Background:

  • Membrane protein activity depends on lipid bilayer properties.
  • Lipid composition and thermodynamic state influence bilayer characteristics.
  • Changes in bilayer state indirectly affect membrane protein activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between the KcsA ion channel activity and the lipid bilayer's thermodynamic state.
  • To understand how lipid bilayer properties modulate ion channel function.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental study of KcsA ion channel.
  • Analysis of channel conductivity and characteristic times.
  • Correlation with lipid bilayer phase transition properties.
Keywords:
KcsAMembrane proteinsfluctuationslipid bilayerphase transitionsingle channel conductance

More Related Videos

Lipid Bilayer Experiments with Contact Bubble Bilayers for Patch-Clampers
07:18

Lipid Bilayer Experiments with Contact Bubble Bilayers for Patch-Clampers

Published on: January 16, 2019

Single-Molecule Imaging of Lateral Mobility and Ion Channel Activity in Lipid Bilayers using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy
08:55

Single-Molecule Imaging of Lateral Mobility and Ion Channel Activity in Lipid Bilayers using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy

Published on: February 17, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties
12:20

Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties

Published on: November 3, 2008

Lipid Bilayer Experiments with Contact Bubble Bilayers for Patch-Clampers
07:18

Lipid Bilayer Experiments with Contact Bubble Bilayers for Patch-Clampers

Published on: January 16, 2019

Single-Molecule Imaging of Lateral Mobility and Ion Channel Activity in Lipid Bilayers using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy
08:55

Single-Molecule Imaging of Lateral Mobility and Ion Channel Activity in Lipid Bilayers using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy

Published on: February 17, 2023

Main Results:

  • KcsA ion channel activity is strongly linked to the lipid bilayer's thermodynamic state.
  • Channel conductivity increases in the main phase transition region of the lipid bilayer.
  • KcsA characteristic times change in accordance with lipid bilayer dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • The lipid bilayer's thermodynamic state influences KcsA ion channel activity.
  • Bilayer properties affect the distribution of open channel conformational substates.
  • Modulation of conformational substates impacts channel conductivity.