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A cell's plasma membrane demarcates the cell's borders and determines the nature of its interaction with the environment. Cells exclude certain substances, take in others, and excrete some others in controlled quantities. The plasma membrane must be flexible to allow certain cells, such as red and white blood cells, to change their shape while passing through narrow capillaries. These are the more obvious plasma membrane functions. In addition, the plasma membrane's surface carries...
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A key characteristic of life is the ability to separate the external environment from the internal space. To do this, cells have evolved semi-permeable membranes that regulate the passage of biological molecules. Additionally, the cell membrane defines a cell’s shape and interactions with the external environment. Eukaryotic cell membranes also serve to compartmentalize the internal space into organelles, including the endomembrane structures of the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum and...
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Cell division and enlargement are processes that require precise control. The control ensures that cell division cannot proceed unless the cell has grown to a specific size. A spherical, dividing cell requires an approximately 1.6X increase in its surface area to double its volume. The secretory pathway also has a significant role in cell membrane enlargement. Secretory vesicles that bud off from the Golgi apparatus and later fuse with the plasma membrane during exocytosis are a major source of...
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Updated: May 4, 2026

Spot Variation Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy for Analysis of Molecular Diffusion at the Plasma Membrane of Living Cells
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Plasma membrane invaginations and their diverse cellular functions.

Hongxian Zhu1,2, Carina Lyons1,2, Andrew M Sydor1

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Plasma membrane (PM) invaginations are diverse cellular structures crucial for biological activity. This review details their varied forms and vital roles in regulating cellular processes across organisms.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Membrane Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • The plasma membrane (PM) is a dynamic cellular boundary.
  • It contains complex subcellular structures, including invaginations.
  • PM invaginations (membrane infolds) show diverse morphologies and functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the structural diversity of PM invaginations.
  • To elucidate the physiological roles of these membrane structures.
  • To emphasize their importance in regulating cellular processes in complex organisms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on PM invaginations.
  • Analysis of structural diversity and functional significance.
  • Synthesis of information across diverse cell types and organisms.

Main Results:

  • PM invaginations exhibit significant morphological variation.
  • These structures play critical roles in various cellular functions.
  • Their presence and importance are noted across diverse species.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding PM invaginations provides insight into cellular organization and function.
  • These specialized membrane structures are indispensable for biological activity.
  • Further research into PM invaginations can deepen our knowledge of cell biology.