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 Lipids01:32

Membrane Lipids

33.4K
Lipids are an essential component of all biological membranes. The average lipid content in mammalian membranes is 50%, though it can be as low as 20% in the inner mitochondrial membrane or as high as 80% in the myelin sheath present around the nerve cells.
Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin are the most common phospholipids present in mammalian membranes. At physiological pH, phosphatidylserine is negatively charged, while the other three...
33.4K
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

14.2K
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...
14.2K
Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

171.5K
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.
171.5K
What are Lipids?01:31

What are Lipids?

10.5K
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...
10.5K
What are Lipids?01:38

What are Lipids?

218.1K
Overview
218.1K
Biosynthesis of Lipids01:29

Biosynthesis of Lipids

426
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...
426

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Mapping of the local proteome of the Arabidopsis chloroplast intermembrane space by proximity labelling.

Journal of experimental botany·2026
Same author

Functional analysis of LIPID TRANSFER PROTEIN 6 (LTP6) in pennycress and Arabidopsis reveals divergent roles in oil storage and seed coat development.

The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology·2026
Same author

Turnip mosaic virus utilizes the lipid droplet biogenesis machinery to facilitate its propagation in plants.

The New phytologist·2026
Same author

Lack of GDSL motif-containing proteins increases drought tolerance by altering the stomatal cuticle in Arabidopsis.

The Plant cell·2026
Same author

A lipid droplet - plasma membrane contact site is conserved across the angiosperm lineage.

Protoplasma·2026
Same author

Lipid droplet proteome plasticity in plant evolution, growth and development, and response to stress.

Journal of experimental botany·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis
10:23

Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Published on: April 17, 2017

10.6K

Lipid droplets in plants and algae: Distribution, formation, turnover and function.

Till Ischebeck1, Hannah E Krawczyk1, Robert T Mullen2

  • 1University of Göttingen, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Department of Plant Biochemistry, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology
|March 10, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Lipid droplets (LDs) in plants and algae are dynamic organelles, not just inert storage sites. Recent research reveals their crucial roles in growth, development, and stress responses.

Keywords:
AlgaeArabidopsisLipid dropletsPlantsTriacylglycerol

More Related Videos

Arabidopsis thaliana Polar Glycerolipid Profiling by Thin Layer Chromatography TLC Coupled with Gas-Liquid Chromatography GLC
13:02

Arabidopsis thaliana Polar Glycerolipid Profiling by Thin Layer Chromatography TLC Coupled with Gas-Liquid Chromatography GLC

Published on: March 18, 2011

37.8K
Plastoglobule Lipid Droplet Isolation from Plant Leaf Tissue and Cyanobacteria
10:35

Plastoglobule Lipid Droplet Isolation from Plant Leaf Tissue and Cyanobacteria

Published on: October 6, 2022

3.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis
10:23

Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Published on: April 17, 2017

10.6K
Arabidopsis thaliana Polar Glycerolipid Profiling by Thin Layer Chromatography TLC Coupled with Gas-Liquid Chromatography GLC
13:02

Arabidopsis thaliana Polar Glycerolipid Profiling by Thin Layer Chromatography TLC Coupled with Gas-Liquid Chromatography GLC

Published on: March 18, 2011

37.8K
Plastoglobule Lipid Droplet Isolation from Plant Leaf Tissue and Cyanobacteria
10:35

Plastoglobule Lipid Droplet Isolation from Plant Leaf Tissue and Cyanobacteria

Published on: October 6, 2022

3.3K

Area of Science:

  • Plant biology
  • Lipid metabolism
  • Cellular biology

Background:

  • Plant oils are energy-rich hydrophobic compounds vital for growth.
  • Lipid droplets (LDs) were traditionally viewed as passive storage organelles.
  • Emerging evidence highlights dynamic functions of LDs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding plant lipid droplet biology.
  • To discuss the formation, turnover, and functions of LDs in plants and algae.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on plant and algal lipid droplets.
  • Synthesis of findings on LD formation, dynamics, and roles.

Main Results:

  • Lipid droplets are actively involved in transient lipid storage.
  • LDs play roles in membrane remodeling and lipid signaling.
  • LDs are implicated in plant and algal stress responses.

Conclusions:

  • Lipid droplets are crucial, dynamic components of plant and algal cells.
  • Understanding LDs is key to comprehending plant growth, development, and adaptation.
  • Further research will uncover more about LDs' complex functions.