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

7.4K
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%...
7.4K
Fluid Mosaic Model01:19

Fluid Mosaic Model

12.2K
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...
12.2K
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
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER01:28

Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER

3.3K
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...
3.3K
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 Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

154.0K
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.
154.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Small Rotations, Big Effects: Lessons from Water Adsorption in NU-1000.

The journal of physical chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and interfaces·2025
Same author

Tailoring Hydrophobicity and Pore Environment in Physisorbents for Improved Carbon Dioxide Capture under High Humidity.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2024
Same author

Simulating Stress-Strain Behavior by Using Individual Chains: Uniaxial Deformation of Amorphous Cis- and Trans-1,4-Polybutadiene.

Polymers·2023
Same author

Generation and Computational Characterization of a Complex <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Lipid Bilayer.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2022
Same author

Computational Study of Helical and Helix-Hinge-Helix Conformations of an Anti-Microbial Peptide in Solution by Molecular Dynamics and Vibrational Analysis.

The journal of physical chemistry. B·2021
Same author

Effect of pressure profile of shock waves on lipid membrane deformation.

PloS one·2019

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2025

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

Computing Individual Area per Head Group Reveals Lipid Bilayer Dynamics.

Michael L Greenfield1, Lenore M Martin2, Faramarz Joodaki1

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, 360 Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island02881, United States.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|December 8, 2022
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces a novel lipid-by-lipid area calculation method using Voronoi tessellation for complex lipid bilayers. This approach accurately quantifies lipid and water contributions to area, revealing dynamic fluctuations in lipid bilayers.

More Related Videos

Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer
10:34

Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer

Published on: April 23, 2017

7.0K
In Vitro Reconstitution of Self-Organizing Protein Patterns on Supported Lipid Bilayers
08:10

In Vitro Reconstitution of Self-Organizing Protein Patterns on Supported Lipid Bilayers

Published on: July 28, 2018

12.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 18, 2025

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
Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer
10:34

Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer

Published on: April 23, 2017

7.0K
In Vitro Reconstitution of Self-Organizing Protein Patterns on Supported Lipid Bilayers
08:10

In Vitro Reconstitution of Self-Organizing Protein Patterns on Supported Lipid Bilayers

Published on: July 28, 2018

12.3K

Area of Science:

  • Computational biophysics
  • Lipid bilayer dynamics
  • Membrane biophysics

Background:

  • Lipid bilayers exhibit phase transitions influenced by temperature and lipid concentration.
  • Traditional area per lipid calculation assumes equal distribution, which is inadequate for multicomponent systems.
  • Understanding lipid bilayer structure and dynamics is crucial for biological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and apply a lipid-by-lipid area determination method for multicomponent lipid bilayers.
  • To investigate the contributions of lipid head groups and tails to the interfacial area.
  • To analyze the dynamic fluctuations of lipid areas in a simulated bacterial membrane.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Voronoi tessellation to assign per-atom volumes for area calculation.
  • Applied the method to a complex multicomponent system representing a Staphylococcus aureus phospholipid bilayer.
  • Performed NPT simulations at 310 K to capture dynamic behavior.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that both lipids and water contribute significantly to the interfacial area.
  • Revealed that lipid tails have a non-negligible area contribution.
  • Observed spontaneous fluctuations displacing lipid head groups, leading to transient zero area contribution.
  • Identified a correlation time of approximately 10 ns for area fluctuations.

Conclusions:

  • The per-atom Voronoi tessellation method provides a more accurate quantification of lipid bilayer area compared to traditional methods.
  • This approach accounts for hydration and lipid tail contributions, offering deeper insights into membrane structure.
  • The findings highlight the dynamic nature of lipid bilayers and the importance of considering fluctuations in area calculations.