Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Membrane Asymmetry Regulating Transporters01:19

Membrane Asymmetry Regulating Transporters

7.2K
Enzymes like flippase, floppase, and scramblase transfer phospholipids from one layer to another in the membrane, thereby affecting membrane asymmetry.
Flippase
Eukaryotic flippases are type-IV P-type ATPases or P4-ATPases belonging to P-type ATPase family proteins that are membrane-bound pumps involved in the ATP-mediated transport of ions and molecules across the membrane. Flippases flip specific phospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet of a membrane. All P4-ATPases have one...
7.2K
What are Lipids?01:38

What are Lipids?

221.2K
Overview
221.2K
What are Lipids?01:31

What are Lipids?

11.4K
Lipids function as structural components of cellular membranes, in addition to acting as energy reservoirs and signaling molecules. They are thus crucial to all living organisms.  The three biologically important classes of lipids are triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.
Non-Polar and Hydrophobic Characteristics of Lipids
Lipids are a structurally and functionally diverse group of hydrocarbons—compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon-carbon and...
11.4K
Lipid Digestion01:06

Lipid Digestion

99.8K
Lipids are large molecules that are generally not water-soluble. Since most of the digestive enzymes in the human body are water-based, there are specific steps the body must take to break down lipids and make them available for use.
99.8K
Structure of Lipids03:38

Structure of Lipids

99.2K
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic...
99.2K
Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

7.4K
In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains...
7.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A single-vesicle fluorescence microscopy platform to quantify phospholipid scrambling.

Nature structural & molecular biology·2026
Same author

Fecal Lipid Metabolites and Microbiota Alterations in Dogs With Concurrent Atopic Dermatitis and Adverse Food Reaction.

Allergy·2026
Same author

An isoform of 14-3-3 protein regulates transbilayer lipid movement at the plasma membrane.

FEBS letters·2026
Same author

Regulation of phospholipid scramblases by cholesterol.

Methods in enzymology·2026
Same author

Fermentation of soymilk with <i>Lacticaseibacillus paracasei</i> strain Shirota reduces soluble Gly m 4 levels and allergic reactions associated with soybean-related pollen-food allergy syndrome.

Bioscience of microbiota, food and health·2026
Same author

Proposed mechanism for Rft1-mediated scrambling of a dolichol-linked oligosaccharide.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same journal

Hunting ecology predicts eye arrangements in the modular visual system of spiders.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Sub-second fluctuations between top-down and bottom-up modes distinguish diverse human brain states.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Queen bees offload pesticide burden to eggs when social buffering is overwhelmed.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Pitch selectivity in ferret auditory cortex.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

A cell size-dependent competition between geometry and polarity governs nuclear and spindle positioning in early embryos.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Trophic cascades drive sustainability in the agricultural heritage rice-fish coculture system.

Current biology : CB·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells
08:59

Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells

Published on: March 21, 2025

1.1K

Transbilayer lipid asymmetry.

Toshihide Kobayashi1, Anant K Menon2

  • 1UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74 route du Rhin, F - 67401 Illkirch, France.

Current Biology : CB
|April 25, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The plasma membrane, a cell boundary, controls substance exchange using transport systems. Its structure is now understood as nanoscale granular, not a uniform lipid sea.

More Related Videos

Determination of Total Lipid and Lipid Classes in Marine Samples
14:59

Determination of Total Lipid and Lipid Classes in Marine Samples

Published on: December 11, 2021

5.3K
Measuring Membrane Lipid Turnover with the pH-sensitive Fluorescent Lipid Analog ND6
08:31

Measuring Membrane Lipid Turnover with the pH-sensitive Fluorescent Lipid Analog ND6

Published on: July 29, 2021

1.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells
08:59

Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells

Published on: March 21, 2025

1.1K
Determination of Total Lipid and Lipid Classes in Marine Samples
14:59

Determination of Total Lipid and Lipid Classes in Marine Samples

Published on: December 11, 2021

5.3K
Measuring Membrane Lipid Turnover with the pH-sensitive Fluorescent Lipid Analog ND6
08:31

Measuring Membrane Lipid Turnover with the pH-sensitive Fluorescent Lipid Analog ND6

Published on: July 29, 2021

1.9K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • The plasma membrane (∼4 nm thick phospholipid bilayer) defines cell boundaries and separates internal from external environments.
  • Its hydrophobic core impedes ion and polar solute exchange and lipid reorientation between leaflets.
  • Specialized transport systems like ion channels and lipid flippases facilitate necessary molecular passage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolving understanding of plasma membrane structure.
  • To highlight the transition from the fluid mosaic model to nanoscale structural granularity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of historical and current membrane models.

Main Results:

  • The early fluid mosaic model (1972) viewed membranes as uniform lipid seas with protein islands.
  • Subsequent research revealed micrometer-scale lateral heterogeneity.
  • Current understanding emphasizes nanoscale structural granularity within the plasma membrane.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma membrane structure is complex, featuring nanoscale heterogeneity.
  • This complexity necessitates specific transport mechanisms for cellular function.