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

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation00:59

Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation

3.2K
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.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...
3.2K
Enlargement of the Plasma Membrane01:22

Enlargement of the Plasma Membrane

1.8K
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...
1.8K
The Significance of Membrane Transport01:44

The Significance of Membrane Transport

24.3K
The transport of solutes across the cell membrane is essential for metabolic processes, like maintaining cell size and volume, generating the action potential, exchanging nutrients and gases, etc. Membrane transport can be either passive or active. It can be simple diffusion, facilitated, or mediated transport aided by transport proteins such as transporters and channels.
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
24.3K
Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

6.2K
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...
6.2K
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

14.0K
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...
14.0K
Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

150.1K
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.
150.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

The Impact of Cancer Therapy on the Cells and Extracellular Vesicles of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment.

Molecular cancer research : MCR·2025
Same author

The impact of air pollution on sperm DNA methylation.

Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)·2025
Same author

Considering Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease: The Potential of Circulating Cell-Free DNA in Precision Neurology.

Journal of personalized medicine·2024
Same author

An assessment of alterations to human sperm methylation patterns in coronavirus disease 2019 infected and healthy control males.

F&S science·2023
Same author

Global effects of identity and aging on the human sperm methylome.

Clinical epigenetics·2023
Same author

Expression of Cell-Adhesion Molecules in <i>E. coli</i>: A High Throughput Screening to Identify Paracellular Modulators.

International journal of molecular sciences·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

Author Spotlight: Membrane Protein Reconstitution in Synthetic Cells
07:14

Author Spotlight: Membrane Protein Reconstitution in Synthetic Cells

Published on: March 8, 2024

1.8K

Beyond Small Molecules: Orchestrating Cell Fate with Engineered Water-Soluble Membrane Proteins.

Sebastian Valencia-Amores1, Israel Davila Aleman1, Timothy G Jenkins1

  • 1Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.

Biomolecules
|May 4, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a novel method, in vivo deployment of recombinant viable membrane proteins (iDRIVE), to create functional water-soluble membrane proteins. These proteins can insert into cell membranes, altering cell fate and activating signaling pathways, with potential for organoid development.

Keywords:
cell differentiationregenerationwater-soluble membrane proteins

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Tackling Challenges in Synthetic Cell Engineering
10:56

Author Spotlight: Tackling Challenges in Synthetic Cell Engineering

Published on: April 12, 2024

1.7K
Author Spotlight: Image-Based Methods to Study Membrane Trafficking Events in Stomatal Lineage Cells
11:31

Author Spotlight: Image-Based Methods to Study Membrane Trafficking Events in Stomatal Lineage Cells

Published on: May 12, 2023

1.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Author Spotlight: Membrane Protein Reconstitution in Synthetic Cells
07:14

Author Spotlight: Membrane Protein Reconstitution in Synthetic Cells

Published on: March 8, 2024

1.8K
Author Spotlight: Tackling Challenges in Synthetic Cell Engineering
10:56

Author Spotlight: Tackling Challenges in Synthetic Cell Engineering

Published on: April 12, 2024

1.7K
Author Spotlight: Image-Based Methods to Study Membrane Trafficking Events in Stomatal Lineage Cells
11:31

Author Spotlight: Image-Based Methods to Study Membrane Trafficking Events in Stomatal Lineage Cells

Published on: May 12, 2023

1.6K

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Water-soluble membrane proteins (wsMPs) have unrealized potential due to challenges in their application.
  • Existing methods for manipulating membrane protein function are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a method for creating functional water-soluble membrane proteins (wsMPs) that can be deployed in vivo.
  • To demonstrate the ability of these wsMPs to incorporate into cell plasma membranes and alter cellular fate.
  • To compare signaling pathway activation by wsMPs versus conventional small molecules.

Main Methods:

  • Developed the in vivo deployment of recombinant viable membrane proteins (iDRIVE) strategy.
  • Engineered water-soluble pore-forming proteins (MthK) and constitutively active G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including frizzled receptors.
  • Validated functional properties in vitro and in vivo using cellular fate assays, signaling pathway analysis, and epigenetic studies.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated successful unidirectional insertion of wsMPs into the plasma membrane via iDRIVE.
  • Showcased functional activity of wsMPs, including K+ channels and active GPCRs, in altering cellular fate.
  • Induced differential methylation via Wnt signaling activation using wsFrizzled receptors (iDRIVE-FZD), showing more biologically relevant epigenetic changes than small molecule agonists.

Conclusions:

  • The iDRIVE method enables the creation and in vivo deployment of functional wsMPs.
  • wsMPs can effectively modulate cellular signaling and fate, offering an alternative to small molecule agonists.
  • iDRIVE holds promise for future applications in stem cell differentiation and organoid development.