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Related Concept Videos

Mechanisms of Membrane-bending01:15

Mechanisms of Membrane-bending

The living membranes are flexible due to their fluid mosaic nature; however, their bending into different shapes is an active process regulated by specific lipids and proteins. The membrane bending can be transient as seen in vesicles or stable for a long time as in microvilli. Cells regulate the size, location, and duration of the membrane curvature.
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
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%...
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...
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...
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER01:28

Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER

Biological membranes are more than just a barrier separating cell cytoplasm from the outside environment. They are highly dynamic and help maintain the integrity and physiological stability of the cells as well as membrane-bound organelles. Membranes also play vital roles in cell-to-cell and intracellular communication.
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...

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Reconstitution of Septin Assembly at Membranes to Study Biophysical Properties and Functions
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Reconstitution of Septin Assembly at Membranes to Study Biophysical Properties and Functions

Published on: July 28, 2022

Confined bilayers passively regulate shape and stress.

Margarita Staykova1, Marino Arroyo, Mohammad Rahimi

  • 1Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA. Staykova@princeton.edu

Physical Review Letters
|February 7, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Confined lipid membranes under stress form protrusions. This research explores membrane mechanics, offering insights into cellular processes and supported bilayer applications.

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Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Reconstitution of Septin Assembly at Membranes to Study Biophysical Properties and Functions
06:32

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Published on: July 28, 2022

Pulling Membrane Nanotubes from Giant Unilamellar Vesicles
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Published on: December 7, 2017

A Nanobar-Supported Lipid Bilayer System for the Study of Membrane Curvature Sensing Proteins in vitro
08:27

A Nanobar-Supported Lipid Bilayer System for the Study of Membrane Curvature Sensing Proteins in vitro

Published on: November 30, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Materials Science
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Lipid membranes are typically confined within cells or on surfaces.
  • Understanding the mechanics of these confined membranes is crucial for biological and technological applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanical behavior of confined lipid membranes.
  • To explore the effects of adhesion, strain, and osmotic pressure on membrane mechanics.
  • To understand the formation of membrane protrusions under stress.

Main Methods:

  • Development of an experimental and theoretical framework.
  • Analysis of supported lipid bilayers under various stress conditions.

Main Results:

  • Supported lipid bilayers exhibit stress-induced nucleation and evolution of spherical and tubular protrusions.
  • These membrane transformations occur independently of protein involvement, challenging existing cellular models.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides fundamental insights into the mechanics of confined cell membranes.
  • Findings can enhance the utility and applications of supported lipid bilayers in research and technology.