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Related Concept Videos

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
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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...
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Lipids function as structural components of cellular membranes, in addition to acting as energy reservoirs and signaling molecules. They are thus crucial to all living organisms.  The three biologically important classes of lipids are triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.
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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%...
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Intermolecular forces are attractive forces that exist between molecules. They dictate several bulk properties, such as melting points, boiling points, and solubilities (miscibilities) of substances. Molar mass, molecular shape, and polarity affect the strength of different intermolecular forces, which influence the magnitude of physical properties across a family of molecules.
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Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches
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Closed-loop fluid-fluid immiscibility in binary lipid-sterol membranes.

Md Arif Kamal1,2,3, Anirban Polley1, P K Shabeeb1

  • 1Soft Condensed Matter Group, Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru 560080, India.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|June 14, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Two binary lipid-sterol membrane systems show unusual fluid-fluid coexistence. Temperature-dependent oxysterol orientation in membranes drives this unique phase behavior, creating immiscibility gaps.

Keywords:
closed-loop immiscibilityfluid–fluid coexistencelipid–sterol membranes

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Area of Science:

  • Membrane biophysics
  • Lipid-cholesterol interactions
  • Phase behavior of biological membranes

Background:

  • Cell membranes are complex mixtures of lipids and sterols.
  • Cholesterol plays a crucial role in membrane fluidity and organization.
  • Understanding lipid-sterol interactions is key to deciphering membrane function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phase behavior of binary lipid-sterol membrane systems.
  • To explore the impact of different oxysterol structures on membrane properties.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying observed phase transitions.

Main Methods:

  • Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to determine membrane structure.
  • Fluorescence microscopy to visualize membrane domains.
  • Computational simulations to model molecular behavior.

Main Results:

  • Two binary lipid-sterol systems exhibited fluid-fluid coexistence.
  • Closed-loop immiscibility gaps were observed in partial phase diagrams.
  • A single fluid phase was present at both higher and lower temperatures.
  • Computer simulations indicated temperature-dependent oxysterol orientations.

Conclusions:

  • The studied oxysterols induce unique phase behavior in lipid membranes.
  • Oxysterol molecular orientation is a critical factor in membrane phase transitions.
  • These findings offer insights into the complex regulation of membrane properties.