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

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

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 Fluidity

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 Fluidity

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...

Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER

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...

Biosynthesis of Lipids

Biosynthesis of Lipids

Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis...

Protein Diffusion in the Membrane

Protein Diffusion in the Membrane

Proteins show rotational as well as lateral diffusion across the membrane. The lateral diffusion of proteins was confirmed through the cell fusion experiment where mouse and human cells were fused, resulting in hybrid cells. When the human and mouse cells fused, the specific membrane proteins on human and mouse cells were marked with the red and green-fluorescent markers, respectively. Initially, the red and green fluorescence was located on the respective hemisphere of the cell. As time...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Cannabinoid (CB) 1 receptor antagonists block fentanyl conditioned place preference but not fentanyl antinociception.

Drug and alcohol dependence·2026

Same author

Library Docking for Cannabinoid-2 Receptor Ligands.

Journal of medicinal chemistry·2026

Same author

Library docking for Cannabinoid-2 Receptor ligands.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and glutamate balance in the nucleus accumbens shell: Differential effects of cannabinoid 1 receptor agonists Δ<sup>9</sup>-Tetrahydrocannabinol, AM11101, and AM8936.

Neuropharmacology·2026

Same author

Effects of the neutral CB1 receptor antagonist AM6527 on spontaneous, consummatory, and motivated behavior in mice.

Psychopharmacology·2025

Same author

Exceptionally Potent Chiral Anandamide Analogs.

Journal of medicinal chemistry·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions

Published on: May 27, 2021

17β-estradiol (E2) in membranes: Orientation and dynamic properties.

Jason J Guo¹, De-Ping Yang², Xiaoyu Tian¹

¹Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-5000, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-5000, USA.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta

|November 27, 2015

Summary

Estrogen

Keywords:

Biomembranes Drugs Estrogen NMR Phospholipids Relaxation agents

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches

Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches

Published on: September 1, 2023

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Published on: March 5, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions

Published on: May 27, 2021

Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches

Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches

Published on: September 1, 2023

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Published on: March 5, 2017

Area of Science:

Membrane Biophysics
Molecular Pharmacology

Background:

Non-genomic membrane effects of estrogens are crucial for diverse biological activities.
Understanding estrogen-membrane interactions is key to elucidating these effects.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine the orientation, location, and dynamics of 17β-estradiol (E2) in phospholipid bilayers.
To elucidate the molecular interactions between E2 and membrane bilayers.

Main Methods:

Utilized deuterium NMR ((2)H-NMR) and 2D (1)H-(13)C HSQC.
Employed molecular dynamics simulations.
Synthesized six selectively deuterated E2 molecules for precise spectral assignments.

Main Results:

E2 adopts a near-horizontal orientation within the membrane bilayer.
The E2 molecule is situated near the membrane interface.
Both 3-OH and 17β-OH groups engage in polar interactions with phospholipids.

Conclusions:

E2's orientation and location facilitate interactions with the membrane interface.
The study reveals asymmetric dynamic motions of E2 in the membrane.
Findings enhance understanding of estrogen-membrane molecular interactions.