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Related Concept Videos

Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

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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.
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Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels01:09

Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels

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In multi-pass transmembrane proteins, the polypeptide chain crosses the membrane more than once. The transmembrane polypeptide chain either forms an α-helix or β-strand structure. α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins are ubiquitous, whereas β-strand containing ones are mainly found in gram-negative bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts.
α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins
Multi-pass transmembrane proteins such as...
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Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

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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...
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Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

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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...
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Membrane Proteins01:30

Membrane Proteins

29.1K
Plasma membranes have integral transmembrane proteins involved in facilitated transport. These proteins are collectively referred to as transport proteins, and they function as either channels for the material or as carriers themselves. Channel proteins have hydrophilic domains exposed to the intracellular and extracellular fluids and a hydrophilic channel through their core that provides a hydrated opening for solutes to pass through the membrane layers. Passage through the channel allows...
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Mechanisms of Membrane-bending01:15

Mechanisms of Membrane-bending

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The living membranes are flexible due to their fluid mosaic nature; however, their bending into different shapes is an active process regulated by specific lipids and proteins. The membrane bending can be transient as seen in vesicles or stable for a long time as in microvilli. Cells regulate the size, location, and duration of the membrane curvature.
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
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Updated: Dec 20, 2025

Purification of the Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPase from Rabbit Muscle
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Purification of the Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPase from Rabbit Muscle

Published on: March 21, 2025

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Allostery in membrane proteins.

Zoe Cournia1, Alexios Chatzigoulas2

  • 1Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|May 24, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Membrane proteins control cell signaling through allostery, a process where proteins change shape to transmit signals. This review highlights recent discoveries in how membrane protein allostery is regulated.

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Last Updated: Dec 20, 2025

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Published on: March 21, 2025

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Membrane proteins are crucial for cellular signal transduction.
  • Their function relies on complex interactions within the biological membrane.
  • Accurate signaling control is essential despite numerous possible interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize recent advances in the field of membrane protein allostery.
  • To highlight common mechanisms governing allosteric modulation in membrane proteins.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on membrane protein allostery.
  • Analysis of common regulatory mechanisms such as conformational selection and oligomerization.

Main Results:

  • Membrane protein allostery enables signal transmission across distal sites.
  • Key mechanisms include conformational selection, oligomerization, and allosteric site modulation.
  • Allostery allows for precise regulation of membrane protein activity and properties.

Conclusions:

  • Allosteric regulation is a fundamental mechanism for controlling membrane protein function.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is key to deciphering complex cellular signaling pathways.
  • Recent advances provide new insights into the dynamic nature of membrane proteins.