Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 21, 2025

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes
08:49

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes

Published on: March 14, 2021

4.5K

The hypothetical role of phosphatidic acid in subverting ER membranes during SARS-CoV infection

María Moriel-Carretero1

  • 1Centre de Recherche en Biologie cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), University of Montpellier - CNRS, Montpellier, France.

Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark)
|May 20, 2020
PubMed

Insights

SARS-CoV uses unique double-membraned vesicles for genome replication. This structure resembles aborted lipid droplets, suggesting Phosphatidic Acid as a therapeutic target for SARS-CoV infection.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Positive-sense RNA viruses utilize cellular membranes for genome replication.
  • Vesicle formation is a common feature, typically with double membranes.
  • SARS-CoV exhibits a unique continuous outer membrane shared among vesicles, unlike other +RNA viruses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the unique membrane structures associated with SARS-CoV replication.
  • To propose a novel hypothesis regarding the origin of these structures.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV infection.

Main Methods:

  • Morphological analysis of viral replication complexes.
  • Biochemical characterization of vesicle-associated components.
  • Pharmacological studies targeting specific cellular pathways.

Main Results:

  • SARS-CoV replication vesicles share a continuous outer membrane, differing from other +RNA viruses.
  • This arrangement shows a striking morphological analogy to nascent lipid droplets.
  • Aborted lipid droplet formation, potentially due to excess Phosphatidic Acid, is proposed.

Conclusions:

  • The unique membrane structure in SARS-CoV infection may originate from aberrant lipid droplet biogenesis.
  • Phosphatidic Acid is identified as a potential therapeutic target.
  • This hypothesis offers a new avenue for developing anti-SARS-CoV strategies.
Keywords:
SARS-CoVendoplasmic reticulumlipid dropletsmembrane subversionphosphatidic acid

More Related Videos

A Liposome Membrane Permeability Assay for Investigating the Effects of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Groups on Membranotropic Action of Venom PLA210:31

A Liposome Membrane Permeability Assay for Investigating the Effects of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Groups on Membranotropic Action of Venom PLA2

Published on: September 26, 2025

332
Defining Substrate Specificities for Lipase and Phospholipase Candidates08:59

Defining Substrate Specificities for Lipase and Phospholipase Candidates

Published on: November 23, 2016

15.4K

Related Concept Videos

Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane01:27

Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane

The ER synthesizes lipids for building cell membranes and performing cellular functions such as energy storage and signaling. The lipid synthesis machinery embedded in the ER membrane primarily collects all reactants from the cytosol. Following synthesis, the secretory pathway and the ER contact sites distribute these lipids to other cellular organelles. Additionally, the energy-rich triacylglycerides are transported from the ER via lipid droplets.
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
3.9K
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway01:11

IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway

Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the  phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and...
13.9K
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

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%...
9.4K
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER01:28

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...
3.9K
Phosphoinositides and PIPs01:42

Phosphoinositides and PIPs

Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
9.9K
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity01:09

GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity

Some GPCRs transmit signals through adenylyl cyclase (AC), a transmembrane enzyme. AC helps synthesize second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). AC catalyzes cyclization reaction and converts ATP to cAMP by releasing a pyrophosphate. The pyrophosphate is further hydrolyzed to phosphate by the enzyme pyrophosphatase, which drives cAMP synthesis to completion. However, cAMP is rapidly degraded to 5′ AMP by the enzymes phosphodiesterase (PDE), preventing overstimulation of...
7.0K