Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Biosynthesis of Lipids

Biosynthesis of Lipids

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...

Formation of Lipopolysaccharides

Formation of Lipopolysaccharides

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are crucial components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, serving both structural and functional roles. It contributes to membrane stability and protects bacteria from host immune responses. LPS is composed of three major regions—lipid A, a core oligosaccharide, and an O antigen. The biosynthesis and assembly of LPS involve a highly coordinated set of enzymatic reactions and transport mechanisms. Additionally, LPS is recognized as an endotoxin,...

Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER

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...

Membrane Fluidity

Membrane Fluidity

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...

Lipids as Anchors

Lipids as Anchors

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...

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

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%...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

A comprehensive reference genome assembly dataset of birds inhabiting Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.

GigaScience·2026

Same author

Genome Scanning Reveals the Genetic Basis of a Color Pattern Morphotype in an Island Population of the European Adder (Vipera berus).

Genome biology and evolution·2026

Same author

On the Low Abundance of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Bacteriophage Genomes and Their Random Acquisition via Specialized Transduction.

Genome biology and evolution·2026

Same author

Draft assemblies for 177 bird species enhance genus-level coverage.

GigaScience·2026

Same author

Genome characterization of <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Enteritidis phage SESL from a Malaysian hot spring salt lick.

Microbiology resource announcements·2026

Same author

Genomic and metabolic characterization of defined starter cultures for safe and more consistent production of Ethiopian honey wine ("Tej").

International journal of food microbiology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 27, 2025

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

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

Published on: March 14, 2021

Connecting moss lipid droplets to patchoulol biosynthesis.

Anantha Peramuna¹, Hansol Bae^1,2, Carmen Quiñonero López¹

¹Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.

|December 7, 2020

Summary

Researchers engineered the moss Physcomitrium patens to produce the valuable sesquiterpene patchoulol by targeting it to lipid droplets (LDs). Linking patchoulol synthase to Seipin enhanced patchoulol retention and production in these engineered cells.

More Related Videos

Lipid Index Determination by Liquid Fluorescence Recovery in the Fungal Pathogen Ustilago Maydis

Lipid Index Determination by Liquid Fluorescence Recovery in the Fungal Pathogen Ustilago Maydis

Published on: April 3, 2018

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

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

Published on: March 18, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 27, 2025

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

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

Published on: March 14, 2021

Lipid Index Determination by Liquid Fluorescence Recovery in the Fungal Pathogen Ustilago Maydis

Lipid Index Determination by Liquid Fluorescence Recovery in the Fungal Pathogen Ustilago Maydis

Published on: April 3, 2018

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

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

Published on: March 18, 2011

Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Plant Science
Metabolic Engineering

Background:

Terpenoids are vital compounds used across industries, but their production in heterologous hosts is challenging.
Heterologous systems often struggle with low terpene accumulation and loss due to evaporation.

Purpose of the Study:

To enhance sesquiterpene production in the heterologous host Physcomitrium patens.
To investigate targeting patchoulol to cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) for improved yield and retention.

Main Methods:

Engineered Physcomitrium patens by fusing patchoulol synthase (PTS) to LD-associated proteins (Oleosin, LDAP1, Seipin).
Assessed the impact of PTS-protein fusion on LD biogenesis, patchoulol accumulation, and retention.
Quantified PTS expression and patchoulol production in anchored mutants compared to controls.

Main Results:

Ectopic expression of PTS influenced LD number and size, suggesting a link with LD biogenesis.
Linking PTS to Seipin significantly increased LD size and patchoulol retention within the cell.
Seipin-linked mutants showed higher patchoulol production per unit of PTS expression.

Conclusions:

Targeting terpene production to LDs is a viable strategy for enhancing accumulation in heterologous hosts.
Seipin serves as an effective anchor for improving patchoulol production and cellular retention in Physcomitrium patens.
This approach offers a promising avenue for the biotechnological production of valuable plant-derived terpenoids.