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Related Concept Videos

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

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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%...
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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...
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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.
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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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Mechanisms of Membrane-bending01:15

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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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Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
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Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells
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Riboswitch-controlled lipid conversion enables functional membrane asymmetry in artificial cells.

Koki Kamiya1, Sumin Lee2, Kotaro Baba2

  • 1Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan. kamiya@gunma-u.ac.jp.

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|March 19, 2026
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Summary

Researchers created an artificial cell platform using riboswitch-controlled phospholipase D (PLD) to dynamically remodel lipid membranes in response to stimuli. This enables programmable functions in environment-responsive synthetic cells.

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Area of Science:

  • Synthetic biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Materials science

Background:

  • Dynamic lipid membrane regulation is crucial for cellular functions.
  • Synthetic analogs for controlled membrane remodeling are limited.
  • Artificial cells require stimulus-responsive components.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop an artificial cell platform for stimulus-responsive lipid membrane remodeling.
  • To enable dynamic changes in membrane composition via gene expression.
  • To create functional artificial cells with programmable properties.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a fluoride-responsive riboswitch to control phospholipase D (PLD) expression.
  • Employed cell-free synthesis of PLD within lipid vesicles.
  • Hydrolyzed phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidic acid (PA) to induce membrane asymmetry.
  • Functionalized membranes with mechanosensitive channels (e.g., MscL).

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated riboswitch-mediated, stimulus-responsive lipid remodeling in artificial cells.
  • Generated negatively charged membrane asymmetry through enzymatic hydrolysis.
  • Successfully incorporated mechanosensitive channels into remodeled membranes.
  • Characterized the kinetics of asymmetry generation under varying conditions.

Conclusions:

  • The platform couples gene expression to dynamic membrane remodeling.
  • Riboswitch-regulated lipid transitions are key for environment-responsive artificial cells.
  • This approach offers a strategy for building artificial cells with programmable functions.