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Related Concept Videos

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...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...
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 Lipids01:32

Membrane Lipids

Lipids are an essential component of all biological membranes. The average lipid content in mammalian membranes is 50%, though it can be as low as 20% in the inner mitochondrial membrane or as high as 80% in the myelin sheath present around the nerve cells.
Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin are the most common phospholipids present in mammalian membranes. At physiological pH, phosphatidylserine is negatively charged, while the other three...
Membrane Lipids01:32

Membrane Lipids

Lipids are an essential component of all biological membranes. The average lipid content in mammalian membranes is 50%, though it can be as low as 20% in the inner mitochondrial membrane or as high as 80% in the myelin sheath present around the nerve cells.
Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin are the most common phospholipids present in mammalian membranes. At physiological pH, phosphatidylserine is negatively charged, while the other three...
Phosphoinositides and PIPs01:42

Phosphoinositides and PIPs

Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Single-molecule Super-resolution Imaging of Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in the Plasma Membrane with Novel Fluorescent Probes
07:26

Single-molecule Super-resolution Imaging of Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in the Plasma Membrane with Novel Fluorescent Probes

Published on: October 15, 2016

Sphingolipids and membrane domains: recent advances.

Salvatore Chiantia1, Erwin London

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5215, USA.

Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
|April 13, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Sphingolipids are key to forming ordered lipid domains, or rafts, in cell membranes. Their diverse structures influence raft formation and properties, impacting cell membrane functions.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Membrane Biophysics

Background:

  • Cell membranes exhibit compositional and physical heterogeneity.
  • Sphingolipids are increasingly recognized for their role in ordered lipid domain (raft) formation.
  • Understanding membrane domains is crucial for cell function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in ordered membrane domains (rafts).
  • To describe how sphingolipid structure influences raft formation and properties.
  • To highlight the role of sphingolipid diversity in modulating raft function.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on membrane domains.
  • Analysis of sphingolipid structures and their impact on lipid bilayers.

More Related Videos

PIP-on-a-chip: A Label-free Study of Protein-phosphoinositide Interactions
10:58

PIP-on-a-chip: A Label-free Study of Protein-phosphoinositide Interactions

Published on: July 27, 2017

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes
08:49

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes

Published on: March 14, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Single-molecule Super-resolution Imaging of Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in the Plasma Membrane with Novel Fluorescent Probes
07:26

Single-molecule Super-resolution Imaging of Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in the Plasma Membrane with Novel Fluorescent Probes

Published on: October 15, 2016

PIP-on-a-chip: A Label-free Study of Protein-phosphoinositide Interactions
10:58

PIP-on-a-chip: A Label-free Study of Protein-phosphoinositide Interactions

Published on: July 27, 2017

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes
08:49

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes

Published on: March 14, 2021

  • Integration of findings from studies on both cellular and model membranes.

    • Main Results:

    • Ordered membrane domains (rafts) are prevalent in cell membranes.
    • Sphingolipid structure is a critical determinant of raft formation and properties.
    • The diversity of sphingolipid structures allows for fine-tuning of raft characteristics.

    Conclusions:

    • Sphingolipids are essential for the formation and regulation of membrane rafts.
    • Variations in sphingolipid structure significantly alter raft properties and biological relevance.
    • Future research should focus on the specific roles of different sphingolipids in raft-mediated cellular processes.