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

Mechanisms of Membrane-bending01:15

Mechanisms of Membrane-bending

3.1K
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...
3.1K
Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels01:09

Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels

6.2K
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...
6.2K
Protein Diffusion in the Membrane01:24

Protein Diffusion in the Membrane

5.2K
Proteins show rotational as well as lateral diffusion across the membrane. The lateral diffusion of proteins was confirmed through the cell fusion experiment where mouse and human cells were fused, resulting in hybrid cells. When the human and mouse cells fused, the specific membrane proteins on human and mouse cells were marked with the red and green-fluorescent markers, respectively. Initially, the red and green fluorescence was located on the respective hemisphere of the cell. As time...
5.2K
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

3.6K
Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...
3.6K
Fluid Mosaic Model01:19

Fluid Mosaic Model

14.9K
Scientists identified the plasma membrane in the 1890s and its principal chemical components (lipids and proteins) by 1915. The model for plasma membrane structure, proposed in 1935 by Hugh Davson and James Danielli, was the first model to be widely accepted in the scientific community. The model was based on the plasma membrane's "railroad track" appearance in early electron micrographs. Davson and Danielli theorized that the plasma membrane's structure resembled a sandwich...
14.9K
Single-pass Transmembrane Proteins01:25

Single-pass Transmembrane Proteins

6.1K
Integral membrane proteins are tightly associated with the cell membrane and play a crucial role in cell communication, signaling, adhesion, and transport of the molecules. Some integral membrane proteins are present only in the membrane monolayer. For example, the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase is present in the cytoplasmic side of the membrane monolayer. In contrast, another type of integral membrane protein, also known as a transmembrane protein, spans across the membrane. Transmembrane...
6.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Discovery and Characterization of a Nonacidic Small-Molecule Inhibitor of the Sodium-Coupled Dicarboxylate Transporter NaCT.

Journal of medicinal chemistry·2026
Same author

Structure of a pH-sensitive pentameric ligand-gated ion channel from the Sarcoptes scabies mite.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

A Computational Community Blind Challenge on Pan-Coronavirus Drug Discovery Data.

Journal of chemical information and modeling·2026
Same author

A digital PCR assay for the dabA gene involved in domoic acid biosynthesis by Pseudo-nitzschia spp.

Harmful algae·2025
Same author

Structural basis of specific lysine transport by Pseudomonas aeruginosa permease LysP.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Structure of WzxE the lipid III flippase for Enterobacterial Common Antigen polysaccharide.

Open biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 29, 2025

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy
10:49

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Published on: March 5, 2017

13.7K

Changes in Membrane Protein Structural Biology.

James Birch1,2, Harish Cheruvara1,2, Nadisha Gamage1,2

  • 1Membrane Protein Laboratory, Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK.

Biology
|November 19, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Advances in membrane protein structural biology have overcome instability and low yields, increasing atomic resolution structures tenfold. Future challenges in this vital area of drug discovery are also highlighted.

Keywords:
crystallographyelectron microscopymembrane proteinstructural biology

More Related Videos

Native Cell Membrane Nanoparticles System for Membrane Protein-Protein Interaction Analysis
07:31

Native Cell Membrane Nanoparticles System for Membrane Protein-Protein Interaction Analysis

Published on: July 16, 2020

6.4K
Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro
08:53

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro

Published on: January 11, 2017

9.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 29, 2025

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy
10:49

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Published on: March 5, 2017

13.7K
Native Cell Membrane Nanoparticles System for Membrane Protein-Protein Interaction Analysis
07:31

Native Cell Membrane Nanoparticles System for Membrane Protein-Protein Interaction Analysis

Published on: July 16, 2020

6.4K
Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro
08:53

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro

Published on: January 11, 2017

9.2K

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Structural Biology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Membrane proteins are crucial for biochemical processes and pharmaceutical development.
  • Studying membrane proteins is challenging due to low yields and instability outside their native environment.
  • Significant progress has been made in membrane protein structural biology over the last 15 years.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the advancements in membrane protein structural biology.
  • To highlight the progress in obtaining atomic resolution structures.
  • To discuss current and future challenges in the field.

Main Methods:

  • Advances in protein production and sample preparation.
  • Utilisation of crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
  • Support from initiatives like the Membrane Protein Laboratory (MPL).

Main Results:

  • A tenfold increase in available atomic resolution structures.
  • Improved ability to obtain higher resolution structures from less material.
  • Increased rate and diversity of membrane protein targets studied.

Conclusions:

  • Membrane protein structural biology has seen remarkable progress, largely due to technological advances and dedicated initiatives.
  • Despite successes, challenges in protein production, stability, and data collection persist.
  • Continued research and development are essential to overcome remaining hurdles in membrane protein structural biology.