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Related Concept Videos

Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

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.Fatty acids tails of phospholipids can be either saturated or...
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

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 a relatively...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

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%...
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER01:28

Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER

Biological membranes are more than just a barrier separating cell cytoplasm from the outside environment. They are highly dynamic and help maintain the integrity and physiological stability of the cells as well as membrane-bound organelles. Membranes also play vital roles in cell-to-cell and intracellular communication.
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes
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Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes

Published on: March 14, 2021

Raft Affinity and Membrane Modulation of Docosahexaenoic Acid-Containing Phospholipids Revealed by Comparative

Kotaro Shimizu1, Yo Yano1, Masanao Kinoshita1,2

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|July 15, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) phospholipids organize cell membranes differently than arachidonic acid phospholipids. Our new labeling method reveals DHA

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Last Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes
08:49

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Published on: March 14, 2021

Measuring Membrane Lipid Turnover with the pH-sensitive Fluorescent Lipid Analog ND6
08:31

Measuring Membrane Lipid Turnover with the pH-sensitive Fluorescent Lipid Analog ND6

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Fluorescence Recovery after Merging a Droplet to Measure the Two-dimensional Diffusion of a Phospholipid Monolayer
07:54

Fluorescence Recovery after Merging a Droplet to Measure the Two-dimensional Diffusion of a Phospholipid Monolayer

Published on: October 15, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Membrane Biophysics

Background:

  • Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a crucial polyunsaturated fatty acid in the brain, present in cell membranes as DHA-containing phospholipids (DHA-PLs).
  • DHA-PLs are known to influence lipid rafts, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear due to limitations in analyzing lipid behavior.
  • Understanding phospholipid behavior in membranes is vital for comprehending cellular functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and utilize a novel method for analyzing the molecular behavior of DHA-PLs in biological membranes.
  • To investigate the impact of DHA-PLs on lipid raft organization and membrane composition.
  • To compare the membrane behavior of DHA-PLs with arachidonic acid-containing phospholipids (AA-PLs).

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of fluorescently labeled DHA-PL and AA-PL using a novel labeling technique that preserves intrinsic lipid properties.
  • Measurement of lateral diffusion coefficients of labeled lipids in phase-separated membranes.
  • Quantification of partitioning ratios of labeled lipids into raft-like domains.

Main Results:

  • Fluorescently labeled DHA-PL showed a higher affinity for lipid raft-like domains compared to AA-PL.
  • Incorporation of DHA-PL into membranes induced significant compositional changes.
  • DHA-PL modulated the organization of raft-like membrane structures.

Conclusions:

  • Subtle differences in unsaturated acyl chains of phospholipids profoundly affect their behavior and organization within membranes.
  • The developed fluorescent labeling technology provides a powerful tool for studying polyunsaturated phospholipid dynamics.
  • This research elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which DHA influences membrane structure and function.