{"title":"Subcellular distribution of membrane lipids revealed by freeze-fracture electron microscopy","authors":"Takuma Tsuji","doi":"10.1007/s12565-023-00731-9","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cell membranes are composed of a large variety of lipids and proteins. While the localization and function of membrane proteins have been extensively investigated, the distribution of membrane lipids, especially in the non-cytoplasmic leaflet of organelle membranes, remains largely unknown. Fluorescent biosensors have been widely used to study membrane lipid distribution; however, they have some limitations. By utilizing the quick-freezing and freeze-fracture replica labeling electron microscopy technique, we can uncover the precise distribution of membrane lipids within cells and assess the function of lipid-transporting proteins. In this review, I summarize recent progress in analyzing intracellular lipid distribution by utilizing this method.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7816,"journal":{"name":"Anatomical Science International","volume":"99 1","pages":"1 - 6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2000,"publicationDate":"2023-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Anatomical Science International","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12565-023-00731-9","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ANATOMY & MORPHOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Cell membranes are composed of a large variety of lipids and proteins. While the localization and function of membrane proteins have been extensively investigated, the distribution of membrane lipids, especially in the non-cytoplasmic leaflet of organelle membranes, remains largely unknown. Fluorescent biosensors have been widely used to study membrane lipid distribution; however, they have some limitations. By utilizing the quick-freezing and freeze-fracture replica labeling electron microscopy technique, we can uncover the precise distribution of membrane lipids within cells and assess the function of lipid-transporting proteins. In this review, I summarize recent progress in analyzing intracellular lipid distribution by utilizing this method.
期刊介绍:
The official English journal of the Japanese Association of Anatomists, Anatomical Science International (formerly titled Kaibogaku Zasshi) publishes original research articles dealing with morphological sciences.
Coverage in the journal includes molecular, cellular, histological and gross anatomical studies on humans and on normal and experimental animals, as well as functional morphological, biochemical, physiological and behavioral studies if they include morphological analysis.