Microscopic Methods to Observe the Distribution of Lipids in the Cellular Membrane

Membrane lipids not only provide the structural framework of cellular membranes but also influence protein functions in several different ways. In comparison to proteins, however, relatively little is known about distribution of membrane lipids because of the insufficiency of microscopic methods. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemistry (Easton) 2014-02, Vol.53 (4), p.639-653
Main Authors: Takatori, Sho, Mesman, Rob, Fujimoto, Toyoshi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Fluorescent Dyes
G(M1) Ganglioside - metabolism
Histocytological Preparation Techniques - methods
Humans
Membrane Lipids - metabolism
Microscopy - methods
Microscopy, Electron
Molecular Probes
Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate - metabolism
Protein Binding
Protein Structure, Tertiary
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Summary:Membrane lipids not only provide the structural framework of cellular membranes but also influence protein functions in several different ways. In comparison to proteins, however, relatively little is known about distribution of membrane lipids because of the insufficiency of microscopic methods. The difficulty in studying lipid distribution results from several factors, including their unresponsiveness to chemical fixation, fast translational movement, small molecular size, and high packing density. In this Current Topic, we consider the major microscopic methods and discuss whether and to what degree of precision these methods can reveal membrane lipid distribution in situ. We highlight two fixation methods, chemical and physical, and compare the theoretical limitations to their spatial resolution. Recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of each method should help researchers interpret their microscopic results and increase our understanding of the physiological functions of lipids.
ISSN:0006-2960
1520-4995
DOI:10.1021/bi401598v