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

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death08:26

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death

9.6K
We illustrate a straight-forward method to derive murine primary macrophages from bone marrow cells and a simple method to prepare BSA-fatty acid conjugates. Then we demonstrate that saturated fatty acids can induce macrophage cell death, and such cell death is positively associated with cellular accumulation of ceramide...
9.6K
Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

91.2K
The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow...
91.2K
Channel Rhodopsins01:11

Channel Rhodopsins

3.1K
Most organisms use photoreceptors to sense and respond to light. Examples of photoreceptors include bacteriorhodopsins and bacteriophytochromes in some bacteria, phytochromes in plants, and rhodopsins in the photoreceptor cells of the vertebral retina. The light-sensitive property of these receptors is because of the bound chromophores, such as bilin in the phytochromes and retinal in the rhodopsins.
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...
3.1K
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

8.0K
Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism....
8.0K
Channels of Non-Verbal Communication01:28

Channels of Non-Verbal Communication

359
Non-verbal communication plays a critical role in human interaction, influencing how individuals perceive emotions and psychological states. It operates through four primary channels: facial expressions, eye contact, body language, and touch. These non-verbal cues help convey meaning beyond spoken language and are often culturally influenced.Facial Expressions and Emotional RecognitionFacial expressions are among the most powerful and universal forms of non-verbal communication. Research has...
359
Uniform Depth Channel Flow01:27

Uniform Depth Channel Flow

532
Uniform depth channel flow keeps fluid depth consistent along channels such as irrigation canals. In natural channels, such as rivers, approximate uniform flow is often assumed. This condition occurs when the channel’s bottom slope matches the energy slope, balancing potential energy lost from gravity with head loss due to shear stress. This balance prevents depth changes along the channel length, resulting in a steady, uniform flow.Uniform flow in open channels with a constant cross-section...
532

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Triplin: Mechanistic Basis for Voltage Gating.

International journal of molecular sciences·2023
Same author

Triplin: Functional Probing of Its Structure and the Dynamics of the Voltage-Gating Process.

International journal of molecular sciences·2022
Same author

Cooperativity and Steep Voltage Dependence in a Bacterial Channel.

International journal of molecular sciences·2019
Same author

The VDAC channel: Molecular basis for selectivity.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2016
Same author

Ceramide channels and mitochondrial outer membrane permeability.

Journal of bioenergetics and biomembranes·2016
Same author

Antifungal drug itraconazole targets VDAC1 to modulate the AMPK/mTOR signaling axis in endothelial cells.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2015
Same journal

Mammalian Respiratory Chain Complex Assemblies and Their Links to Mitochondria Stress-Induced Human Diseases.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Enzyme Assemblies in Nucleotide Metabolism: Structure, Regulation, and Disease Implications.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex: A 90-Year-Old Enigma Shaping the Future of Structural Enzymology.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Regulation of the Anti-termination RNA Transcription Complex by Lon-Mediated Lambda N Degradation.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

PCNA Macromolecular Complexes: PCNA Serves as a Molecular Hub Regulating Multiple Cellular Processes Inside and Outside of the Nucleus.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Dynamic Assemblies in Genome Maintenance.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death
08:26

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death

Published on: October 31, 2017

9.6K

Ceramide Channels.

Marco Colombini1

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. colombini@umd.edu.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|September 11, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ceramide molecules can self-assemble into membrane channels, facilitating protein translocation across biological membranes. This review examines extensive evidence supporting ceramide channel formation and addresses recent skepticism.

Keywords:
ApoptosisCeramideElectron microscopyLipid channelMembrane channelMitochondriaSphingolipid

More Related Videos

Ligand Gated and Voltage Gated Ion Channels
01:19

Ligand Gated and Voltage Gated Ion Channels

91.2K
Fabrication of the Thermoplastic Microfluidic Channels
16:00

Fabrication of the Thermoplastic Microfluidic Channels

Published on: February 3, 2008

13.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death
08:26

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death

Published on: October 31, 2017

9.6K
Ligand Gated and Voltage Gated Ion Channels
01:19

Ligand Gated and Voltage Gated Ion Channels

91.2K
Fabrication of the Thermoplastic Microfluidic Channels
16:00

Fabrication of the Thermoplastic Microfluidic Channels

Published on: February 3, 2008

13.8K

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Membrane Biology
  • Molecular Biophysics

Background:

  • Ceramide, a lipid molecule, is increasingly recognized for its role beyond signaling.
  • Evidence suggests ceramides can form channels within biological membranes, enabling protein transport.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the extensive evidence supporting the existence of ceramide channels.
  • To address recent challenges questioning the formation of these channels.

Main Methods:

  • Flux studies with isolated mitochondria, liposomes, and planar membranes.
  • Visualization techniques including electron microscopy.
  • Molecular dynamics simulations for structural and mechanical property analysis.

Main Results:

  • Multiple experimental approaches consistently support ceramide channel formation.
  • Structural models derived from simulations align with experimental observations.
  • Bcl-2 family proteins have been identified as regulators of these channels.

Conclusions:

  • The cumulative evidence strongly supports the self-assembly of ceramide molecules into functional membrane channels.
  • Despite some debate, the proposed structural and functional model of ceramide channels remains robust.