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

Membrane Asymmetry Regulating Transporters01:19

Membrane Asymmetry Regulating Transporters

6.9K
Enzymes like flippase, floppase, and scramblase transfer phospholipids from one layer to another in the membrane, thereby affecting membrane asymmetry.
Flippase
Eukaryotic flippases are type-IV P-type ATPases or P4-ATPases belonging to P-type ATPase family proteins that are membrane-bound pumps involved in the ATP-mediated transport of ions and molecules across the membrane. Flippases flip specific phospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet of a membrane. All P4-ATPases have one...
6.9K
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

14.5K
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...
14.5K
Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

173.0K
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.
173.0K
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER01:28

Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER

4.0K
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...
4.0K
Transport Across the Golgi01:26

Transport Across the Golgi

5.9K
While it is unclear how molecules move between adjacent Golgi cisternae, it is apparent that the molecules move from cis- cisterna, the entry face, to the trans- cisterna, the exit face. Experiments initially suggested vesicles that bud from one cisterna and fuse with the next cisterna to transport proteins between the cisternae. This vesicular transport model describes the Golgi apparatus as a relatively static structure with a unique enzyme composition in each cisterna. Molecules are...
5.9K
Protein Translocation Machinery on the ER Membrane01:28

Protein Translocation Machinery on the ER Membrane

6.5K
The translocon complex situated on the ER membrane is the main gateway for the protein secretory pathway. It facilitates the transport of nascent peptides into the ER lumen and their insertion into the ER membrane.
Sec61 protein conducting channel
In eukaryotes, the translocon complex comprises a core heterotrimeric translocator channel called the Sec61 complex. This channel includes three transmembrane proteins, Sec61α, Sec61β, and Sec61γ, and is the largest subunit of the...
6.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

ER sensing of lipid metabolism drives PRA family-dependent regulation of COPII vesicle transport.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Concise Synthesis of (±)-Stephadiamine via Vinylogous Wenker Cyclization.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Molecular regulation and physiological role of GOLPH3-mediated Golgi retention.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Protecting Groups as Dispersive Directing Groups: Toward the Asymmetric Synthesis of Altemicidin.

Organic letters·2026
Same author

Relation of blood-based inflammation conditional networks to key immune health status and Alzheimer's biomarkers in aging adults.

Neurobiology of aging·2026
Same author

Proteomic profiling of Elp1-deficient trigeminal ganglia reveals disruption of neurotrophic and metabolic pathways in a familial dysautonomia mouse model.

Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Membrane Remodeling of Giant Vesicles in Response to Localized Calcium Ion Gradients
08:15

Membrane Remodeling of Giant Vesicles in Response to Localized Calcium Ion Gradients

Published on: July 16, 2018

8.3K

Optical Control of Membrane Viscosity Modulates ER-to-Golgi Trafficking.

Noemi Jiménez-Rojo1,2,3, Suihan Feng1,4, Johannes Morstein5,6

  • 1NCCR Chemical Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.

ACS Central Science
|September 29, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Scientists developed a new optical method using a synthetic fatty acid (FAAzo4) to precisely control cell membrane viscosity. This technique allows for studying how viscosity impacts cellular processes like ER-to-Golgi transport.

More Related Videos

Visualization and Quantification of Endogenous Intra-Organelle Protein Interactions at ER-Mitochondria Contact Sites by Proximity Ligation Assays
08:27

Visualization and Quantification of Endogenous Intra-Organelle Protein Interactions at ER-Mitochondria Contact Sites by Proximity Ligation Assays

Published on: October 20, 2023

2.3K
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

1.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Membrane Remodeling of Giant Vesicles in Response to Localized Calcium Ion Gradients
08:15

Membrane Remodeling of Giant Vesicles in Response to Localized Calcium Ion Gradients

Published on: July 16, 2018

8.3K
Visualization and Quantification of Endogenous Intra-Organelle Protein Interactions at ER-Mitochondria Contact Sites by Proximity Ligation Assays
08:27

Visualization and Quantification of Endogenous Intra-Organelle Protein Interactions at ER-Mitochondria Contact Sites by Proximity Ligation Assays

Published on: October 20, 2023

2.3K
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

1.2K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Membrane Biology

Background:

  • Cell membrane lipid composition is dynamic and influences critical biophysical properties.
  • Understanding membrane fluidity's role in cellular functions requires precise manipulation tools.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce a novel optical method for manipulating membrane viscosity in living cells.
  • To investigate the impact of altered membrane viscosity on endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi transport.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an exogenous synthetic fatty acid with an azobenzene photoswitch (FAAzo4) for incorporation into cellular membranes.
  • Irradiation of FAAzo4-containing membranes induced photoisomerization, altering viscosity with spatiotemporal control.
  • Created "PhotoCells" to study viscosity-dependent biological processes.

Main Results:

  • Cells rapidly incorporated FAAzo4 into phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), forming photoswitchable analogs.
  • Photoisomerization of FAAzo4 led to a precise decrease in membrane viscosity.
  • ER-to-Golgi transport was shown to have distinct membrane viscosity requirements at different stages.

Conclusions:

  • The FAAzo4-based optical approach offers unprecedented control over membrane biophysical properties in living cells.
  • This method enables novel investigations into the role of membrane viscosity in diverse biological processes.
  • The study highlights specific viscosity needs for ER-to-Golgi transport, advancing our understanding of membrane dynamics.