Subcellular Compartments

Subcellular compartments are distinct regions within cells that concentrate particular molecules, reactions, and regulatory activities, enabling complex biological processes to occur efficiently. They arise through membrane-bound organelles, phase-separated structures, and localized molecular interactions that control transport, chemical conditions, and access to cellular components. Biological techniques such as microscopy, cell fractionation, organelle isolation, and protein localization assays help researchers identify compartment structure and function. Studying these compartments clarifies how cells coordinate metabolism, signaling, gene expression, and quality control, while revealing how disrupted organization contributes to disease and informing research in cell biology, biochemistry, and biomedical science.

Subcellular Compartments - Related Videos

Research

JoVE EoE - Neuropathology

Measuring Proteasome Activity in Different Subcellular Compartments of the Rat Brain

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2025

This video demonstrates how to measure proteasome activity in different subcellular compartments of the lateral amygdala from fear-conditioned and control rat brains using a fluorogenic peptide assay. The proteasome cleaves the fluorogenic peptide substrate, releasing fluorescent molecules, which are quantified using a plate reader to assess proteasome activity in the nuclear and synaptic protein fractions. Increased nuclear activity suggests changes in gene expression, while reduced synaptic...

Research

JoVE Journal - Biology
Free Sample

Methods to Assess Subcellular Compartments of Muscle in C. elegans

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Cited by 30 •

2014

Skeletal muscle is essential for locomotion and is the bodies’ main protein store. Muscle health measurements within C. elegans are described. Prospective changes to muscle structure and function are assessed using localized GFP and cationic dyes.

Assessment of Cellular Oxidation using a Subcellular Compartment-Specific Redox-Sensitive Green Fluorescent Protein

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Cited by 1 •

2020

This protocol describes the assessment of subcellular compartment-specific redox status within the cell. A redox-sensitive fluorescent probe allows convenient ratiometric analysis in intact cells.

Spontaneous Calcium Imaging for Compartment-Specific Dynamics in Astrocytes

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2025

Source: Bannai, H., et. al., Dissection of Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Cells by Membrane-targeted Ca2+ Indicators. J. Vis. Exp. (2019)The video demonstrates fluorescence imaging to observe compartment-specific spontaneous calcium dynamics in astrocytes by sequentially monitoring calcium-sensitive proteins localized on the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum.

Education

JoVE Core - Pharmacology

Compartment Models: Two-Compartment Model

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2025

The two-compartment model divides the body into central and peripheral compartments to account for varying blood perfusion rates among organs and tissues, affecting drug distribution. The central compartment includes blood and highly perfused tissues with rapid drug distribution, while the peripheral compartment contains tissues with slower drug distribution. After a single IV bolus dose, the drug concentration is high in plasma and low in tissues. The drug distribution between compartments...

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