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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.
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%...
Micelles01:30

Micelles

Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...
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.
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Fluorescence Recovery after Merging a Droplet to Measure the Two-dimensional Diffusion of a Phospholipid Monolayer
07:54

Fluorescence Recovery after Merging a Droplet to Measure the Two-dimensional Diffusion of a Phospholipid Monolayer

Published on: October 15, 2015

Collapse in binary phospholipid monolayers at the air/water interface.

Masahiro Hibino1, Takafumi Oshima

  • 1Division of Applied Science, Muroran Institute of Technology, 27-1 Mizumoto, Muroran 050-8585, Japan.

Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
|April 25, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Pulmonary surfactant model lipid monolayers exhibit stochastic collapse behavior. Upon compression, these dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylglycerol mixtures form 3D structures through reversible folding events.

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Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Fluorescence Recovery after Merging a Droplet to Measure the Two-dimensional Diffusion of a Phospholipid Monolayer
07:54

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Published on: October 15, 2015

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Lipid Bilayer Experiments with Contact Bubble Bilayers for Patch-Clampers

Published on: January 16, 2019

Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer
10:11

Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer

Published on: April 19, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Materials Science
  • Surface Chemistry

Background:

  • Pulmonary surfactant is crucial for lung function, preventing alveolar collapse.
  • Understanding lipid monolayer behavior models surfactant assembly and function.
  • DPPC and POPG mixtures are representative models for pulmonary surfactant.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the stochastic collapse behavior of a DPPC:POPG lipid monolayer.
  • To characterize the structural changes and dynamics during monolayer collapse.
  • To elucidate the phase behavior and mechanical properties of the model surfactant system.

Main Methods:

  • Langmuir isotherms to measure surface pressure and area.
  • Fluorescence microscopy for visualizing monolayer morphology.
  • Atomic force microscopy (AFM) for high-resolution surface imaging.

Main Results:

  • Lipid monolayers showed phase separation under compression, forming distinct liquid-expanded and condensed phases.
  • Collapse initiated at high surface pressures (approx. 70 mN/m), leading to 3D structure formation.
  • Collapse involved micron-scale folding events, characterized by independent, exponentially distributed waiting times.
  • Folded regions were reversible, reincorporating into the monolayer upon expansion.

Conclusions:

  • The DPPC:POPG monolayer exhibits complex phase behavior and stochastic collapse dynamics.
  • The reversible nature of collapse suggests a mechanism for dynamic adaptation in biological systems.
  • This model system provides insights into the physical principles governing pulmonary surfactant assembly and function.