title: Revisiting transbilayer distribution of lipids in the plasma membrane.
abstract: Whereas asymmetric transbilayer lipid distribution in the plasma membrane is well recognized, methods to examine the precise localization of lipids are limited. In this review, we critically evaluate the methods that are applied to study transbilayer asymmetry of lipids, summarizing the factors that influence the measurement. Although none of the present methods is perfect, the current application of immunoelectron microscopy-based technique provides a new picture of lipid asymmetry. Next, we summarize the transbilayer distribution of individual lipid in both erythrocytes and nucleated cells. Finally we discuss the concept of the interbilayer communication of lipids.
authors: Lipid Biology Laboratory, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
authors: Motohide
authors: M
authors: Murate
authors: Lipid Biology Laboratory, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1060, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, 69621, France. Electronic address: kobayasi@riken.jp.
authors: Toshihide
authors: T
authors: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron
chemical_list: D008563:Membrane Lipids
keywords: Electron microscopy; Freeze-fracture; Lipid asymmetry; Microdomain; Plasma membrane