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

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism01:28

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

36.0K
Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
36.0K
Biosynthesis of Lipids01:29

Biosynthesis of Lipids

450
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...
450
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

14.3K
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...
14.3K
Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

171.7K
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.
171.7K
Lipid Catabolism01:25

Lipid Catabolism

769
Triglycerides serve as crucial long-term energy storage molecules in microorganisms, providing a dense source of metabolic energy. Their breakdown is mediated by lipases, which hydrolyze triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. Each of these components follows distinct metabolic pathways, ultimately contributing to ATP synthesis and cellular energy homeostasis.Glycerol MetabolismGlycerol, released from triglyceride hydrolysis, is phosphorylated by glycerol kinase to form...
769
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER01:28

Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER

4.0K
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...
4.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A pcyt-1 Allelic Series Reveals In Vivo Consequences of Reduced Phosphatidylcholine Synthesis in C. elegans.

G3 (Bethesda, Md.)·2026
Same author

Myc sustains sex-biased organ zonation in the Drosophila intestine.

Developmental cell·2026
Same author

Environmental variables driving spatial variation in fatty acid composition of brackish-water zooplankton communities.

Marine environmental research·2026
Same author

Differential functional and lipidomic impact of tofacitinib and other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs on HDL in rheumatoid arthritis.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Linking Lipidomics to Vulnerable Coronary Plaques: A PROSPECT II Substudy.

Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology·2026
Same author

Integrative analysis of left ventricle and epicardial adipose tissue identifies SDHA and OGDH as candidate targets for ischemic heart disease.

iScience·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Biochemical and High Throughput Microscopic Assessment of Fat Mass in Caenorhabditis Elegans
16:07

Biochemical and High Throughput Microscopic Assessment of Fat Mass in Caenorhabditis Elegans

Published on: March 30, 2013

21.2K

Evolutionarily conserved long-chain Acyl-CoA synthetases regulate membrane composition and fluidity.

Mario Ruiz1, Rakesh Bodhicharla1, Marcus Ståhlman2

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Elife
|November 27, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mutations in the C. elegans gene acs-13 and silencing of human ACSL1 protect against lipotoxicity. This occurs by altering phospholipid composition, increasing polyunsaturated fatty acids and preventing membrane rigidification.

Keywords:
C. elegansacyl-coA synthetaseadiponectin receptorcell biologycell membraneforward geneticshumanlipidomicsphospholipids

More Related Videos

Lipid Supplementation for Longevity and Gene Transcriptional Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans
07:25

Lipid Supplementation for Longevity and Gene Transcriptional Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: December 9, 2022

1.9K
Quantitative Determination of De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis in Brown Adipose Tissue Using Deuterium Oxide
07:34

Quantitative Determination of De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis in Brown Adipose Tissue Using Deuterium Oxide

Published on: May 12, 2023

1.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Biochemical and High Throughput Microscopic Assessment of Fat Mass in Caenorhabditis Elegans
16:07

Biochemical and High Throughput Microscopic Assessment of Fat Mass in Caenorhabditis Elegans

Published on: March 30, 2013

21.2K
Lipid Supplementation for Longevity and Gene Transcriptional Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans
07:25

Lipid Supplementation for Longevity and Gene Transcriptional Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: December 9, 2022

1.9K
Quantitative Determination of De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis in Brown Adipose Tissue Using Deuterium Oxide
07:34

Quantitative Determination of De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis in Brown Adipose Tissue Using Deuterium Oxide

Published on: May 12, 2023

1.4K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • AdipoR1/AdipoR2 proteins and C. elegans PAQR-2 regulate phospholipid composition to prevent cell membrane rigidification from saturated fatty acids.
  • Acyl-CoA synthetases (ACS) are involved in fatty acid metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of C. elegans acs-13 and human ACSL1 in saturated fatty acid-induced lipotoxicity.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which these enzymes affect membrane fluidity and phospholipid composition.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic mutation analysis in C. elegans.
  • RNA interference (siRNA) in human cells.
  • Lipidomics analysis.
  • Membrane fluidity assays (Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching - FRAP, Laurdan dye staining).

Main Results:

  • Mutations in C. elegans acs-13 suppressed paqr-2 mutant phenotypes, including membrane fluidity defects.
  • Human ACSL1 silencing protected against palmitate-induced membrane rigidification and lipotoxicity.
  • ACSL1 knockdown suppressed AdipoR2 knockdown phenotypes, mirroring C. elegans findings.
  • Both acs-13 mutations and ACSL1 knockdown increased polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing phospholipids.

Conclusions:

  • C. elegans acs-13 and human ACSL1 play critical roles in saturated fatty acid metabolism and lipotoxicity.
  • Modulating ACSL1 activity or expression is a potential strategy to prevent lipotoxicity.
  • These findings highlight a conserved mechanism across species for regulating membrane fluidity and preventing fatty acid-induced cellular damage.