Lateral mobility of biological membrane components

1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dusan Chorvat ◽  
Peter Shvec ◽  
P. Kvasnichka ◽  
Tibor Shipocz ◽  
B. Jarkovska
1980 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lennart B.-Å. Johansson ◽  
Göran Lindblom

Biological membranes are composed of mainly lipids and proteins. The physical properties of the lipids, forming a bilayer structure, are of crucial importance for the living cell, since the plasma membrane is the guardian barrier towards the environment. Thus, the functioning cell needs a highly stable lipid bilayer, which depends on molecular packing and orientation properties of the various membrane components (Wieslander et al. 1980). The spatial arrangement of the membrane proteins incorporated in the lipid matrix plays an essential role for the different chemical processes occurring at or within the membrane. Information about molecular orientation and mobility is therefore necessary for unravelling the functional mechanisms of a biological membrane.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
YL Shih ◽  
LT Huang ◽  
YM Tu ◽  
BF Lee ◽  
YC Bau ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTHeterogeneous distribution of components in the biological membrane is critical in the process of cell polarization. However, little is known about the mechanisms that can generate and maintain the heterogeneous distribution of the membrane components. Here we report that the propagating wave patterns of the bacterial Min proteins can impose corresponding steric pressure on the membrane to establish a directional accumulation of the membrane components, resulting in segregation of the components in the membrane. The diffusivity, influenced by the membrane anchor of the component, and the repulsed ability, influenced by the steric property of the soluble region of the component and molecular crowding, determine the differential spatial distribution of the component in the membrane. Thus, transportation of the membrane components by the Min proteins follows a simple physical principle, which resembles a linear peristaltic pumping process, to selectively segregate and maintain heterogeneous distribution of materials in the membrane.


Author(s):  
G.P.A. Vigers ◽  
R.A. Crowther ◽  
B.M.F. Pearse

Clathrin forms the polyhedral cage of coated vesicles, which mediate the transfer of selected membrane components within eukaryotic cells. Clathrin cages and coated vesicles have been extensively studied by electron microscopy of negatively stained preparations and shadowed specimens. From these studies the gross morphology of the outer part of the polyhedral coat has been established and some features of the packing of clathrin trimers into the coat have also been described. However these previous studies have not revealed any internal details about the position of the terminal domain of the clathrin heavy chain, the location of the 100kd-50kd accessory coat proteins or the interactions of the coat with the enclosed membrane.


Author(s):  
Michael Edidin

Cell surface membranes are based on a fluid lipid bilayer and models of the membranes' organization have emphasised the possibilities for lateral motion of membrane lipids and proteins within the bilayer. Two recent trends in cell and membrane biology make us consider ways in which membrane organization works against its inherent fluidity, localizing both lipids and proteins into discrete domains. There is evidence for such domains, even in cells without obvious morphological polarity and organization [Table 1]. Cells that are morphologically polarised, for example epithelial cells, raise the issue of membrane domains in an accute form.The technique of fluorescence photobleaching and recovery, FPR, was developed to measure lateral diffusion of membrane components. It has also proven to be a powerful tool for the analysis of constraints to lateral mobility. FPR resolves several sorts of membrane domains, all on the micrometer scale, in several different cell types.


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