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Related Concept Videos

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

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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.
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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.
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Membrane electrodes, also known as p-ion electrodes, use membranes that selectively interact with free analyte ions, generating a potential difference across the membrane. The resulting membrane potential, known as the asymmetry potential, is not zero even when analyte concentrations on both sides of the membrane are equal. The membrane's response is typically not selective to a single analyte but proportional to the concentration of all ions in the sample solution capable of interacting at...
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Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

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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.
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A permanent electric dipole orients itself along an external electric field. This rotation can be quantified by defining the potential energy because the external torque does work in rotating it. Then, the potential energy is minimum at the parallel configuration and maximum at the antiparallel configuration. While the former is a stable equilibrium, the latter is an unstable equilibrium.
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Assembly and Characterization of Biomolecular Memristors Consisting of Ion Channel-doped Lipid Membranes
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Biomolecular Condensates Can Induce Local Membrane Potentials.

Anthony Gurunian1, Keren Lasker1, Ashok A Deniz1

  • 1Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10500 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.

Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|November 18, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Biomolecular condensates can alter cell membrane potential. This study shows poly-lysine/adenosine triphosphate condensates induce localized membrane potential changes in model vesicles, impacting cellular processes.

Keywords:
biomolecular condensateselectro‐thermodynamic theorymembrane physical chemistrymembrane potentialvoltage sensitive dye

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Biomolecular condensates are membrane-less cellular compartments crucial for biological processes.
  • Condensates interact with lipid membranes in cellular functions like autophagy and T-cell activation.
  • Surface charge and electric potential of condensates suggest a role in membrane interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if biomolecular condensates can alter local membrane potential.
  • To explore the electrostatic mechanisms underlying condensate-membrane interactions.
  • To understand the implications for cellular signaling.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a model system with poly-lysine (polyK)/adenosine triphosphate (ATP) coacervates and Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs).
  • Employed an electrochromic dye to detect localized membrane potential changes.
  • Performed numerical modeling using an electro-thermodynamic framework.

Main Results:

  • PolyK/ATP coacervates were shown to induce localized membrane potential in GUVs.
  • The observed effect decreased with higher salt concentrations and ATP-to-polyK ratios.
  • Condensate charge and Galvani potential were identified as key factors influencing membrane potential.

Conclusions:

  • Biomolecular condensate wetting of lipid membranes can locally alter membrane potential.
  • This phenomenon is dependent on condensate electrostatic properties and environmental conditions.
  • Findings suggest a novel regulatory role for condensate-membrane interactions in biological processes like neuronal signaling.