Phosphatidylserine Anchor Lipid

In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side. The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...

In order to make good decisions, we use our knowledge and our reasoning. Often, this knowledge and reasoning is sound and solid. However, sometimes, we are swayed by biases or by others manipulating a situation. For example, let’s say you and three friends wanted to rent a house and had a combined target budget of $1,600. The realtor shows you only very run-down houses for $1,600 and then shows you a very nice house for $2,000. Might you ask each person to pay more in rent to get the $2,000...

In this video, we demonstrate the Annexin V binding assay to measure the degree of eryptosis, erythrocyte programmed cell death, using fluorescent Annexin V staining. Apoptotic erythrocytes demonstrate phosphatidylserine translocation from the inner to the outer leaflet of the cell membrane, causing the fluorophore-tagged Annexin V to bind to the translocated phosphatidylserine, thereby emitting a fluorescent signal.

The anchoring heuristic is a cognitive bias in which decisions are strongly influenced by the first piece of information encountered, even if it is arbitrary or irrelevant. This initial reference point, known as the anchor, can irrationally shape judgments and estimates and subsequent judgments, even when more accurate or relevant information is available. Psychologists suggest this happens because people fail to adjust sufficiently from the anchor, which requires extra cognitive effort.For...

Anchoring junctions are multiprotein complexes that help cells connect to other cells and the extracellular matrix. Anchoring junctions are present on the lateral and basal surfaces of cells, providing strong and flexible connections. Focal adhesions are often formed due to cell interactions with the ECM substrata, which initiate signal transduction via kinase cascades and other mechanisms. Together, they provide stability and tissue integrity. There are three types of anchoring junctions:...