Videos de Conceptos Relacionados
Aquaporins
Aquaporins or AQPs are a family of integral membrane proteins whose primary function is to transport water, while some called aquaglyceroporins also transport glycerol. In addition, aquaporins have also been suspected to be involved in transporting volatile substances, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia, across membranes. Such AQPs that act as gas channels are often highly expressed in cells involved in the gaseous exchange, such as red blood cells, epithelial cells, and pulmonary capillaries.
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 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...
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...
SNAREs and Membrane Fusion
Once a transport vesicle has recognized its target organelle, the vesicular membrane needs to fuse with the target membrane to unload the cargo. Transmembrane proteins called SNAREs present on organelle membranes and their vesicles, mediate vesicle fusion.
SNAREs exist in pairs that symmetrically interact and catalyze the fusion of the lipid bilayers in vesicle and target organelle. v-SNARE in the vesicle membrane are single polypeptide chains that bind to a complementary t-SNARE, composed of 2...
SNAREs exist in pairs that symmetrically interact and catalyze the fusion of the lipid bilayers in vesicle and target organelle. v-SNARE in the vesicle membrane are single polypeptide chains that bind to a complementary t-SNARE, composed of 2...
Intermolecular Forces
Atoms and molecules interact through bonds (or forces): intramolecular and intermolecular. The forces are electrostatic as they arise from interactions (attractive or repulsive) between charged species (permanent, partial, or temporary charges) and exist with varying strengths between ions, polar, nonpolar, and neutral molecules. The different types of intermolecular forces are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion; among these, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion...
Mechanisms of Membrane-bending
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.
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

09:39
Proof-of-Concept for Gas-Entrapping Membranes Derived from Water-Loving SiO2/Si/SiO2 Wafers for Green Desalination
Published on: March 1, 2020
El ordenamiento del agua en las interfaces de membrana controla la dinámica de la fusión.
Peter M Kasson1, Erik Lindahl, Vijay S Pande
1Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, United States.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|March 1, 2011
Resumen
Simulaciones detalladas revelan que el agua es agua.
Área de la Ciencia:
- La biofísica es la biofísica.
- Biología computacional Biología computacional.
- Ciencia de los materiales Ciencia de los materiales.
Sus antecedentes:
- Las interfaces de membrana son cruciales para las funciones celulares, pero su composición compleja complica la comprensión de la física fundamental de la interacción.
- Si bien se conoce el papel del agua en pequeños sistemas biológicos, su detalle molecular a menudo se consideraba insignificante para las grandes interfaces de membrana.
- Los datos espectroscópicos sugieren un comportamiento ordenado del agua cerca de las superficies de la membrana, lo que cuestiona las suposiciones anteriores.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Investigar la importancia de los detalles químicos, específicamente la estructura molecular del agua, en la fusión de membranas e interfaces.
- Para explorar el papel del agua en la dinámica de la membrana utilizando simulaciones de resolución atómica.
Principales métodos:
- Se llevaron a cabo simulaciones de resolución atómica de la fusión vesicular.
- Se analizó el comportamiento del agua en las interfaces de membrana bajo confinamiento hidrófilo.
Principales resultados:
- Las simulaciones de resolución atómica proporcionaron información sobre la dinámica de la fusión de membranas.
- Se observó un comportamiento distinto del agua en las interfaces de membrana debido al confinamiento hidrófilo.
- Destacó la importancia de la naturaleza química del agua en las interacciones de la membrana.
Conclusiones:
- La estructura molecular del agua influye significativamente en la fusión de la membrana y la dinámica de la interfaz.
- El confinamiento hidrófilo en las interfaces de membrana induce propiedades únicas del agua no a granel.
- Los detalles a nivel atómico, incluida la naturaleza química del agua, son esenciales para modelar con precisión los sistemas de membrana.

