Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Determination of Lipid Raft Partitioning of Fluorescently-tagged Probes in Living Cells by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
10:59

Determination of Lipid Raft Partitioning of Fluorescently-tagged Probes in Living Cells by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)

Published on: April 6, 2012

Lipid rafts and B-cell activation

Susan K Pierce1

  • 1National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Twinbrook II, 12441 Parklawn Drive, Room 200B, MSC 8180, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA. spierce@nih.gov

Nature Reviews. Immunology
|March 26, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Lipid rafts are crucial for B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling and antigen transport during B-cell activation. These membrane microdomains play a key role in regulating BCR function in development and viral infections.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) initiates signaling and internalizes antigens for processing during B-cell activation.
  • Membrane microdomains, known as lipid rafts, are increasingly recognized for their role in cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of lipid rafts in B-cell activation, signaling, and antigen trafficking.
  • To understand how lipid rafts contribute to the regulation of the BCR.

Main Methods:

  • This study is based on recent evidence and existing research findings.
  • Analysis of the functional implications of lipid rafts in B-cell signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Lipid rafts serve as platforms for BCR signaling initiation.
  • Lipid rafts are implicated in antigen trafficking into B-cells.
  • These microdomains may regulate BCR function during B-cell development and in response to viral infections.

Conclusions:

  • Lipid rafts are integral to B-cell activation, influencing both signaling and antigen handling.
  • Understanding lipid rafts provides new insights into the complex B-cell signaling network.

More Related Videos

Methods to Study Lipid Alterations in Neutrophils and the Subsequent Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps10:58

Methods to Study Lipid Alterations in Neutrophils and the Subsequent Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps

Published on: March 29, 2017

Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells08:59

Lipid Exchange Assay in Living Cells

Published on: March 21, 2025

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...
Membrane Domains01:18

Membrane Domains

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 anterior...
Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins01:21

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway01:11

IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway

Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the  phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and produces two-second...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...