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

Biosynthesis of Lipids01:29

Biosynthesis of Lipids

508
Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis...
508
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

9.5K
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%...
9.5K
Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

172.3K
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.
172.3K
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

14.4K
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...
14.4K
Membrane Lipids01:32

Membrane Lipids

33.5K
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...
33.5K
Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

7.0K
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...
7.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Patient-derived organoids across cancers reveal conserved tumor heterogeneity and actionable therapeutic vulnerabilities.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Urinary single-cell transcriptomics in kidney transplantation: Elucidation of donor-recipient cellular dynamics and fibrogenic stress.

American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons·2026
Same author

Differential equilibration in cis- and trans-ceramide monolayers: A molecular dynamics study.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026
Same author

EXaCT-2: an augmented and customizable oncology-focused whole exome sequencing platform.

NPJ precision oncology·2026
Same author

Standardized metrics for assessment and reproducibility of imaging-based spatial transcriptomics datasets.

Nature biotechnology·2025
Same author

Longitudinal Genomic Analysis of Five Cases of Recurrent Thymomas.

Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro
08:53

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro

Published on: January 11, 2017

9.3K

Lipidome Plasticity Preserves Membrane Function in Sphingolipid-Depleted HAP1 Cells.

Bingen G Monasterio1,2, Aritz B García-Arribas1,2, Howard Riezman3

  • 1Instituto Biofisika (CSIC, UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain.

FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
|November 15, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Human cells adapt to extreme sphingolipid (SL) depletion by altering their lipidome. Membrane biophysics remain stable, showcasing lipidome plasticity as a key metabolic stress response.

Keywords:
AFMCHOHAP1Laurdanlipidomicsmass‐spectroscopymembrane fluidityplasma membranesphingolipidssphingomyelin

More Related Videos

A Liposome Membrane Permeability Assay for Investigating the Effects of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Groups on Membranotropic Action of Venom PLA2
10:31

A Liposome Membrane Permeability Assay for Investigating the Effects of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Groups on Membranotropic Action of Venom PLA2

Published on: September 26, 2025

464
Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes
08:49

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes

Published on: March 14, 2021

4.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro
08:53

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro

Published on: January 11, 2017

9.3K
A Liposome Membrane Permeability Assay for Investigating the Effects of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Groups on Membranotropic Action of Venom PLA2
10:31

A Liposome Membrane Permeability Assay for Investigating the Effects of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Groups on Membranotropic Action of Venom PLA2

Published on: September 26, 2025

464
Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes
08:49

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes

Published on: March 14, 2021

4.5K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Membrane Biophysics

Background:

  • Sphingolipids (SL) are crucial membrane components with unique biophysical properties.
  • Dysregulation of SL metabolism is implicated in various diseases.
  • Understanding cellular adaptation to SL deficiency is vital for disease insights.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate human cell adaptation to extreme sphingolipid depletion.
  • To assess the biophysical consequences of SL deficiency on cell membranes.
  • To uncover the role of lipidome plasticity in metabolic stress response.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a serine palmitoyltransferase-deficient (SPTLC1-) HAP1 cell line for SL depletion.
  • Employed comprehensive lipidomic profiling for quantitative analysis.
  • Applied laurdan fluorescence generalized polarization (GP) imaging and AFM force spectroscopy to evaluate membrane biophysics.

Main Results:

  • Significant reduction in sphingolipid levels observed in whole-cell and plasma membrane (PM) preparations.
  • Plasma membrane biophysical properties, assessed by laurdan GP and AFM breakthrough force, remained stable despite SL depletion.
  • Membrane homeostasis was maintained for up to 48 hours under SL-limiting conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Human cells exhibit remarkable resilience and homeostatic adaptation in membrane architecture under metabolic stress.
  • Lipidome plasticity is a critical compensatory mechanism enabling cells to cope with extreme sphingolipid deficiency.
  • Findings highlight the dynamic nature of cellular membranes in response to nutritional challenges.