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

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

5.1K
Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
5.1K
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

2.5K
Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
2.5K
Mechanisms of Membrane-bending01:15

Mechanisms of Membrane-bending

2.6K
The living membranes are flexible due to their fluid mosaic nature; however, their bending into different shapes is an active process regulated by specific lipids and proteins. The membrane bending can be transient as seen in vesicles or stable for a long time as in microvilli. Cells regulate the size, location, and duration of the membrane curvature.
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
2.6K
Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

5.3K
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...
5.3K
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
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

2.3K
Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
2.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Learning continuum-level closures for control of interacting active particles.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026
Same author

Colloidal hydrodynamic interactions in viscoelastic fluids.

Soft matter·2025
Same author

Phase field model for viscous inclusions in anisotropic networks.

Soft matter·2025
Same author

Model predictive control of non-interacting active Brownian particles.

Soft matter·2024
Same author

Dynamic surfactants drive anisotropic colloidal assembly.

The Journal of chemical physics·2024
Same author

Surface Topography Induces and Orients Nematic Swarms of Active Filaments: Considerations for Lab-On-A-Chip Devices.

ACS applied nano materials·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2025

In Vitro Reconstitution of the Actin Cytoskeleton Inside Giant Unilamellar Vesicles
10:19

In Vitro Reconstitution of the Actin Cytoskeleton Inside Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

Published on: August 25, 2022

3.3K

Lipid Membrane Domains Control Actin Network Viscoelasticity.

Daniel P Arnold1, Sho C Takatori1

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|December 4, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Researchers engineered 2D lipid membranes within actin networks, observing unique triangular shapes and accelerated relaxation. This work offers insights into cell membrane mechanics and potential applications for advanced materials.

More Related Videos

Reconstitution of Membrane-Tethered Minimal Actin Cortices on Supported Lipid Bilayers
11:55

Reconstitution of Membrane-Tethered Minimal Actin Cortices on Supported Lipid Bilayers

Published on: July 12, 2022

2.1K
The Mechanics of Poro-Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton
08:50

The Mechanics of Poro-Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton

Published on: March 10, 2023

728

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2025

In Vitro Reconstitution of the Actin Cytoskeleton Inside Giant Unilamellar Vesicles
10:19

In Vitro Reconstitution of the Actin Cytoskeleton Inside Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

Published on: August 25, 2022

3.3K
Reconstitution of Membrane-Tethered Minimal Actin Cortices on Supported Lipid Bilayers
11:55

Reconstitution of Membrane-Tethered Minimal Actin Cortices on Supported Lipid Bilayers

Published on: July 12, 2022

2.1K
The Mechanics of Poro-Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton
08:50

The Mechanics of Poro-Elastic Contractile Actomyosin Networks As a Model System of the Cell Cytoskeleton

Published on: March 10, 2023

728

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Materials Science
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cell membranes feature protein and lipid condensates interacting with cytoskeleton networks.
  • The interplay between viscoelastic networks and 2D lipid phase separation is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engineer composite materials of 2D lipid condensates in viscoelastic actin networks.
  • To investigate the mechanical and thermodynamic interactions between these components.

Main Methods:

  • Engineered 2D lipid membrane condensates within a thin viscoelastic actin network.
  • Applied localized anisotropic stresses to deform lipid condensates.
  • Manipulated membrane composition to control viscoelastic properties.

Main Results:

  • Observed lipid condensates deforming into unique triangular shapes with sharp edges.
  • Found that lipid condensate coarsening accelerates network viscoelastic relaxation.
  • Demonstrated control over the elastic-to-viscous crossover of the composite membrane.

Conclusions:

  • Viscoelastic networks induce novel morphologies in 2D lipid condensates.
  • Lipid phase separation dynamics influence composite material viscoelasticity.
  • Engineered membranes offer potential for tunable coatings and interfaces.