Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

PDV1 and PDV2 Differentially Affect Remodeling and Assembly of the Chloroplast DRP5B Ring.

Plant physiology·2020

Same author

Corrigendum to "Low-background electrochemical biosensor for one-step detection of base excision repair enzyme" [Biosens. Bioelectr. 150 (2020) 11865].

Biosensors & bioelectronics·2020

Same author

Corrigendum to "A dual signal-on photoelectrochemical immunosensor for sensitively detecting target avian viruses based on AuNPs/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> coupling with CdTe quantum dots and in situ enzymatic generation of electron donor" [Biosens. Bioelectron. 124-125 (2019) 1-7 Article Number: BIOS10843].

Biosensors & bioelectronics·2020

Same author

ECM1 is an essential factor for the determination of M1 macrophage polarization in IBD in response to LPS stimulation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2020

Same author

Correction: β-arrestin1 Is Critical for the Full Activation of NLRP3 and NLRC4 Inflammasomes.

Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)·2020

Same author

An optimized double T-DNA binary vector system for improved production of marker-free transgenic tobacco plants.

Biotechnology letters·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers

Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers

Published on: November 19, 2015

Dynamics of ceramide channels detected using a microfluidic system.

Chenren Shao¹, Bing Sun, Don L DeVoe

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America.

|September 18, 2012

Summary

Ceramide channels in membranes can reversibly change shape when exposed to lanthanum ions (La3+). This mechanical distortion, rather than disassembly, explains the observed changes in channel conductance.

More Related Videos

Lipid Vesicle-mediated Affinity Chromatography using Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (LIMACS): a Novel Method to Analyze Protein-lipid Interaction

Lipid Vesicle-mediated Affinity Chromatography using Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (LIMACS): a Novel Method to Analyze Protein-lipid Interaction

Published on: April 26, 2011

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

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 18, 2026

Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers

Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers

Published on: November 19, 2015

Lipid Vesicle-mediated Affinity Chromatography using Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (LIMACS): a Novel Method to Analyze Protein-lipid Interaction

Lipid Vesicle-mediated Affinity Chromatography using Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (LIMACS): a Novel Method to Analyze Protein-lipid Interaction

Published on: April 26, 2011

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

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

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Membrane Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Ceramide, a sphingolipid, forms large channels in mitochondrial outer membranes, capable of protein translocation.
Electrophysiology and electron microscopy show these ceramide channels have a large diameter (modal 10 nm) in phospholipid membranes.
A hydrogen-bonded, barrel-like structure of ceramide molecules is proposed for these channels.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the mechanical properties, specifically strength and deformability, of ceramide channels.
To explore the effect of lanthanum ions (La3+) on the structure and function of ceramide channels.

Main Methods:

Utilized a microfluidic system to control ion concentrations around ceramide channels.
Applied electrophysiological techniques to measure channel conductance changes.
Investigated the effects of La3+ and EDTA perfusion on channel activity.

Main Results:

Observed reversible changes in ceramide channel conductance upon addition and removal of La3+.
Kinetics of conductance changes were partially consistent with disassembly/reassembly but also suggested an alternative mechanism.
A residual conductance after La3+ treatment indicated a distortion/recovery process, analogous to pressure-induced deformation of flexible cylinders.

Conclusions:

Ceramide channels exhibit reversible mechanical distortion in response to La3+.
The observed conductance changes are better explained by a distortion/recovery model than a simple disassembly/reassembly model.
This study provides novel insights into the mechanical behavior of large-diameter, thin-walled biological channels.