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

What are Lipids?01:38

What are Lipids?

194.7K
Overview
194.7K
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
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER01:28

Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER

3.1K
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...
3.1K
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane01:27

Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane

3.0K
The ER synthesizes lipids for building cell membranes and performing cellular functions such as energy storage and signaling. The lipid synthesis machinery embedded in the ER membrane primarily collects all reactants from the cytosol. Following synthesis, the secretory pathway and the ER contact sites distribute these lipids to other cellular organelles. Additionally, the energy-rich triacylglycerides are transported from the ER via lipid droplets.
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
3.0K
Membrane Lipids01:32

Membrane Lipids

21.9K
Lipids are an essential component of all biological membranes. The average lipid content in mammalian membranes is 50%, though it can be as low as 20% in the inner mitochondrial membrane or as high as 80% in the myelin sheath present around the nerve cells.
Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin are the most common phospholipids present in mammalian membranes. At physiological pH, phosphatidylserine is negatively charged, while the other three...
21.9K
Overview of Lipid Metabolism01:24

Overview of Lipid Metabolism

997
Lipid metabolism is a crucial process in the human body that involves the synthesis and degradation of lipids. This process is essential for energy production, cell membrane formation, and hormone production, among other functions.
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
997

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Phosphatidylserine and RhoB connect PI4P and PA metabolism to maintain plasma membrane identity.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same author

Singlet oxygen spills sterol secrets.

Nature chemical biology·2026
Same author

Creation of an optogenetic membrane editor with ultralow background activity.

Methods in enzymology·2026
Same author

Structural innovation in the evolution of plant chemical defense.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Cullin-3 adaptor SHKBP1 inhibits SQSTM1/p62 oligomerization and Keap1 sequestration.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same author

Dissolved-O<sub>2</sub>-driven Mn single-atom enzyme for colorimetric detection of glutathione in food.

Analytica chimica acta·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2025

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

18.1K

Synthetic Lipid Biology.

Po-Hsun Brian Chen1,2, Xiang-Ling Li1,2, Jeremy M Baskin1,2

  • 1Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.

Chemical Reviews
|January 13, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Synthetic lipid biology integrates chemistry and biology to understand and engineer cellular lipids and membranes. This interdisciplinary approach uses novel methods to create, manipulate, and analyze these complex biological structures.

More Related Videos

On-Chip Octanol-Assisted Liposome Assembly for Bioengineering
09:45

On-Chip Octanol-Assisted Liposome Assembly for Bioengineering

Published on: March 17, 2023

2.5K
Author Spotlight: Tackling Challenges in Synthetic Cell Engineering
10:56

Author Spotlight: Tackling Challenges in Synthetic Cell Engineering

Published on: April 12, 2024

979

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2025

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

18.1K
On-Chip Octanol-Assisted Liposome Assembly for Bioengineering
09:45

On-Chip Octanol-Assisted Liposome Assembly for Bioengineering

Published on: March 17, 2023

2.5K
Author Spotlight: Tackling Challenges in Synthetic Cell Engineering
10:56

Author Spotlight: Tackling Challenges in Synthetic Cell Engineering

Published on: April 12, 2024

979

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Lipids are essential hydrophobic molecules forming cellular membranes, crucial for biological functions.
  • The complexity of lipid metabolism, dynamics, and interactions presents significant challenges in biological research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To formalize and organize interdisciplinary efforts in understanding and manipulating lipids and membranes.
  • To establish "synthetic lipid biology" as a field connecting understanding and building biological systems.

Main Methods:

  • Chemical and chemoenzymatic synthesis for constructing lipids and membranes.
  • Optogenetics and protein engineering for editing existing membranes.
  • Bioorthogonal chemistry for detecting lipid metabolism and transport.
  • Probing lipid-protein interactions and membrane biophysical properties.

Main Results:

  • A comprehensive organization of diverse research approaches in lipid and membrane studies.
  • Demonstration of the integration of chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering.

Conclusions:

  • Synthetic lipid biology is an emerging field poised to clarify the properties, behaviors, and functions of lipids and membranes.
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration is key to advancing our understanding of these vital cellular components.