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

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

7.5K
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%...
7.5K
Fluid Mosaic Model01:19

Fluid Mosaic Model

12.3K
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...
12.3K
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

3.1K
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...
3.1K
Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

5.6K
The membrane domains concentrate specific lipids and proteins at one place within the membrane, which helps in cell signaling, adhesion, and other critical cellular processes. These domains can differ in size, composition, function, and lifespan.
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the...
5.6K
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

11.7K
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...
11.7K
Membrane Asymmetry Regulating Transporters01:19

Membrane Asymmetry Regulating Transporters

4.8K
Enzymes like flippase, floppase, and scramblase transfer phospholipids from one layer to another in the membrane, thereby affecting membrane asymmetry.
Flippase
Eukaryotic flippases are type-IV P-type ATPases or P4-ATPases belonging to P-type ATPase family proteins that are membrane-bound pumps involved in the ATP-mediated transport of ions and molecules across the membrane. Flippases flip specific phospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet of a membrane. All P4-ATPases have one...
4.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Honorary Issue for Professor Anthony Fane.

Membranes·2026
Same author

Facile Epitaxial Growth of Novel Nanoscale Ag-MAFs on Reverse Osmosis Membranes: Enhancing Performance, Antibacterial Activity, and (Bio)fouling Resistance.

ACS omega·2025
Same author

Progress on Improved Fouling Resistance-Nanofibrous Membrane for Membrane Distillation: A Mini-Review.

Membranes·2023
Same author

Electrosorption performance on graphene-based materials: a review.

RSC advances·2023
Same author

Impact of Particle Shape and Surface Group on Membrane Fouling.

Membranes·2022
Same author

Enantiomeric Separation of Racemic Mixtures Using Chiral-Selective and Organic-Solvent-Resistant Thin-Film Composite Membranes.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions
10:02

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions

Published on: May 27, 2021

4.1K

Atomistic-Scale Energetic Heterogeneity on a Membrane Surface.

Shiliang Johnathan Tan1, Chisiang Ong1, Jiawei Chew1,2

  • 1School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore.

Membranes
|October 27, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Understanding surface energy is key to preventing membrane fouling. This study used molecular computations to map the energetic topology of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes, revealing how different probe molecules interact with surface modifications.

Keywords:
energetic topologyinteraction energymembrane filtrationmolecular computationnano-scale heterogeneity

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches
07:31

Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches

Published on: September 1, 2023

2.4K
Spot Variation Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy for Analysis of Molecular Diffusion at the Plasma Membrane of Living Cells
05:56

Spot Variation Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy for Analysis of Molecular Diffusion at the Plasma Membrane of Living Cells

Published on: November 12, 2020

2.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions
10:02

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions

Published on: May 27, 2021

4.1K
Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches
07:31

Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches

Published on: September 1, 2023

2.4K
Spot Variation Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy for Analysis of Molecular Diffusion at the Plasma Membrane of Living Cells
05:56

Spot Variation Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy for Analysis of Molecular Diffusion at the Plasma Membrane of Living Cells

Published on: November 12, 2020

2.9K

Area of Science:

  • Surface Science
  • Materials Science
  • Chemical Engineering

Background:

  • Membrane fouling is a significant challenge in various industrial processes, impacting efficiency and lifespan.
  • Understanding the energetic topology of membrane surfaces is crucial for predicting and mitigating fouling.
  • Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes are widely used but susceptible to fouling due to their surface properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the energetic topology of PVDF membranes with varying surface wettability.
  • To investigate the interactions of different probe molecules (argon, carbon dioxide, water) with the PVDF surface.
  • To provide insights for modifying PVDF membranes to reduce fouling.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized molecular computations to simulate and analyze surface-molecule interactions.
  • Employed three probe molecules of distinct sizes and chemical natures: argon (Ar), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O).
  • Assessed van der Waals and electrostatic interactions between probe molecules and the PVDF surface.

Main Results:

  • Water exhibited the strongest interaction with the PVDF surface, followed by CO2, then Ar.
  • Argon primarily revealed van der Waals interactions, useful for identifying surface features.
  • CO2 showed both van der Waals and electrostatic interactions; water's strong interactions were dominated by electrostatics, especially with modified hydrophilic groups.

Conclusions:

  • Surface wettability significantly influences PVDF membrane-fouling interactions.
  • Grafting hydroxyl and carboxyl groups can effectively enhance PVDF hydrophilicity and alter interaction energies.
  • The findings offer guidance for targeted membrane surface modifications to combat fouling.