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Related Concept Videos

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

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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...
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Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

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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...
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Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

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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.
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Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

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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...
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Micelles01:30

Micelles

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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...
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Mechanisms of Membrane-bending01:15

Mechanisms of Membrane-bending

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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...
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Self-Assembly of Hybrid Lipid Membranes Doped with Hydrophobic Organic Molecules at the Water/Air Interface
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Hydrophobic compounds reshape membrane domains.

Jonathan Barnoud1, Giulia Rossi2, Siewert J Marrink3

  • 1IBCP, CNRS UMR 5086, Lyon, France; Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Lyon, France.

Plos Computational Biology
|October 10, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Hydrophobic compounds alter cell membrane organization. Aliphatic molecules promote lipid mixing, while aromatic molecules stabilize membrane domains, impacting cellular processes.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysics
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Cell membranes exhibit complex lateral organization with specialized domains (rafts) crucial for cellular functions like signal transduction.
  • In vivo, membrane domain perturbations by lipophilic compounds affect raft-associated proteins and signaling pathways, but are challenging to study due to domain size.
  • Model membranes allow investigation of membrane lateral organization principles, but the properties governing domain perturbation remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of simple hydrophobic compounds on the lateral organization of phase-separated model membranes.
  • To identify the chemical and physical properties that determine how hydrophobic compounds perturb membrane domains.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms of domain stabilization and destabilization by hydrophobic species.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized molecular simulations to study the behavior of six hydrophobic compounds in model membranes composed of phospholipids and cholesterol.
  • Analyzed the distribution and effects of aliphatic and aromatic compounds on membrane domain composition and stability.

Main Results:

  • Identified two distinct behaviors for hydrophobic compounds: aliphatic molecules promote lipid mixing by interacting at domain interfaces.
  • Aromatic compounds stabilize phase separation by partitioning into liquid-disordered domains and excluding cholesterol.
  • Predicted that low concentrations of hydrophobic species can significantly impact domain stability in model systems.

Conclusions:

  • Hydrophobic compounds differentially modulate membrane lateral organization based on their chemical structure (aliphatic vs. aromatic).
  • Findings suggest mechanisms for how hydrophobic compounds influence membrane properties and associated cellular processes in vivo.
  • The study provides insights into domain stabilization and destabilization, crucial for understanding cellular signaling and drug action.