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Related Concept Videos

Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

17.3K
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...
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Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

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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.
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Membrane Lipids01:32

Membrane Lipids

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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...
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Fluid Mosaic Model01:19

Fluid Mosaic Model

18.8K
Scientists identified the plasma membrane in the 1890s and its principal chemical components (lipids and proteins) by 1915. The model for plasma membrane structure, proposed in 1935 by Hugh Davson and James Danielli, was the first model to be widely accepted in the scientific community. The model was based on the plasma membrane's "railroad track" appearance in early electron micrographs. Davson and Danielli theorized that the plasma membrane's structure resembled a sandwich...
18.8K
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane01:27

Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane

4.5K
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...
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The Fluid Mosaic Model01:34

The Fluid Mosaic Model

182.2K
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches
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Author Spotlight: Advancing Cell Membrane Biophysics - Exploring Interactions and Challenges Through Experimental and Computational Approaches

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Cholesterol in model membranes.

James H Davis1

  • 1Department of Physics, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. E., Guelph, N1G 2W1 ON Canada.

Biophysical Reviews
|March 6, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cholesterol significantly impacts cell membrane structure and function. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies reveal its molecular behavior and phase equilibria in model lipid bilayers.

Keywords:
CholesterolCholesterol orientationCritical behaviourMembrane phase equilibriaMembrane rafts

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Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol
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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Membrane Biology
  • Physical Chemistry

Background:

  • Cholesterol is a vital component of cell membranes, influencing structure, stability, dynamics, and phase equilibria.
  • These properties collectively affect numerous membrane functions.
  • Experimental techniques are crucial for understanding cholesterol's role at the molecular and macroscopic levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the orientation, order, and dynamics of cholesterol within lipid bilayers.
  • To examine the fluid-fluid two-phase coexistence in ternary mixtures containing cholesterol.
  • To analyze the critical behavior of these ternary lipid-cholesterol mixtures.

Main Methods:

  • Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to study model membranes.
  • NMR provides detailed molecular-level information and macroscopic properties like phase equilibria.

Main Results:

  • Detailed molecular insights into cholesterol's orientation, order, and dynamics in lipid bilayers.
  • Characterization of fluid-fluid two-phase coexistence in ternary mixtures of phosphatidylcholines and cholesterol.
  • Analysis of critical phenomena in these complex membrane systems.

Conclusions:

  • Nuclear magnetic resonance is a powerful tool for elucidating cholesterol's multifaceted role in model membranes.
  • The study provides a comprehensive understanding of cholesterol's impact on membrane structure, dynamics, and phase behavior.
  • Findings contribute to the broader knowledge of membrane biophysics and lipid-cholesterol interactions.