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 Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

3.0K
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...
3.0K
What are Membranes?01:54

What are Membranes?

156.0K
A key characteristic of life is the ability to separate the external environment from the internal space. To do this, cells have evolved semi-permeable membranes that regulate the passage of biological molecules. Additionally, the cell membrane defines a cell’s shape and interactions with the external environment. Eukaryotic cell membranes also serve to compartmentalize the internal space into organelles, including the endomembrane structures of the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum and...
156.0K
Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

5.6K
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...
5.6K
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

7.2K
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%...
7.2K
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

11.2K
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...
11.2K
Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

5.4K
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...
5.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Molecular mechanisms associated with the interaction of external electromagnetic fields in protein dynamics and aggregation: a focus on amyloid-<i>β</i>peptide.

Progress in biomedical engineering (Bristol, England)·2025
Same author

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Subvariants Balance Host Cell Membrane, Receptor, and Antibody Docking via an Overlapping Target Site.

Viruses·2023
Same author

Transmembrane Membrane Readers form a Novel Class of Proteins That Include Peripheral Phosphoinositide Recognition Domains and Viral Spikes.

Membranes·2022
Same author

Effects of Specific Inhibitors for CaMK1D on a Primary Neuron Model for Alzheimer's Disease.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2021
Same author

Tetraspanin 6 is a regulator of carcinogenesis in colorectal cancer.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2021
Same author

Structures and Dynamics of Native-State Transmembrane Protein Targets and Bound Lipids.

Membranes·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Cell-Free Production of Proteoliposomes for Functional Analysis and Antibody Development Targeting Membrane Proteins
08:46

Cell-Free Production of Proteoliposomes for Functional Analysis and Antibody Development Targeting Membrane Proteins

Published on: September 22, 2020

3.8K

Membranes are functionalized by a proteolipid code.

Troy A Kervin1,2, Michael Overduin3

  • 1Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK. troy.kervin@magd.ox.ac.uk.

BMC Biology
|February 27, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

All cell membranes organize into functional zones via a protein-lipid code. This challenges the established theory of lipid-driven protein sorting in membrane subregions.

Keywords:
FingerprintIntegral membrane proteinLipidonPeripheral membrane proteinPhosphoinositideProtein islandProteolipid codeZoneZoning

More Related Videos

Detergent-free Ultrafast Reconstitution of Membrane Proteins into Lipid Bilayers Using Fusogenic Complementary-charged Proteoliposomes.
11:10

Detergent-free Ultrafast Reconstitution of Membrane Proteins into Lipid Bilayers Using Fusogenic Complementary-charged Proteoliposomes.

Published on: April 5, 2018

11.2K
Automated Lipid Bilayer Membrane Formation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane Thin Film
08:23

Automated Lipid Bilayer Membrane Formation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane Thin Film

Published on: July 10, 2016

18.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Cell-Free Production of Proteoliposomes for Functional Analysis and Antibody Development Targeting Membrane Proteins
08:46

Cell-Free Production of Proteoliposomes for Functional Analysis and Antibody Development Targeting Membrane Proteins

Published on: September 22, 2020

3.8K
Detergent-free Ultrafast Reconstitution of Membrane Proteins into Lipid Bilayers Using Fusogenic Complementary-charged Proteoliposomes.
11:10

Detergent-free Ultrafast Reconstitution of Membrane Proteins into Lipid Bilayers Using Fusogenic Complementary-charged Proteoliposomes.

Published on: April 5, 2018

11.2K
Automated Lipid Bilayer Membrane Formation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane Thin Film
08:23

Automated Lipid Bilayer Membrane Formation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane Thin Film

Published on: July 10, 2016

18.3K

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Structural biology

Background:

  • Cellular membranes are dynamic structures composed of proteins and lipids.
  • Understanding membrane organization is crucial for cellular function.
  • Existing models often focus on lipid rafts independently organizing proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a novel conceptual model for membrane organization.
  • To explain the assembly of specific membrane functional zones.
  • To challenge the prevailing theory of lipid-mediated protein sorting.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual modeling based on existing biological data.
  • Analysis of protein-lipid interactions in membrane assembly.
  • Review of literature on membrane subdomain formation.

Main Results:

  • Membranes are organized into distinct structural and functional zones.
  • Assembly of zones like receptor clusters and lamellipodia follows a protein-lipid code.
  • This code dictates co-assembly rather than post-formation sorting.

Conclusions:

  • A protein-lipid code governs the assembly of membrane functional zones.
  • This model provides an alternative to the theory of independent lipid sorting.
  • Revises the understanding of how proteins and lipids cooperate in membrane structure and function.