Glycerol
Glycerol - Related Videos
02:35
Long-Term Cryopreservation of Cyanobacterial Strains Using Glycerol or Dimethyl Sulfoxide
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2025
Source: Lea-Smith, D. J., et al. Generation of Marked and Markerless Mutants in Model Cyanobacterial Species. J. Vis. Exp. (2016)This video demonstrates the cryopreservation of cyanobacterial strains by combining concentrated cell suspensions with glycerol or DMSO and storing them at low temperatures, enabling long-term maintenance of viable cultures for photosynthesis and genetic studies.
13:02
Archimedes-Based Glycerol Displacement for Electrode Porosity Measurement in Lead-Acid Batteries
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2026
Here, we present a simple and low-cost glycerol displacement method based on Archimedes' principle for measuring lead-acid battery electrode porosities. The method demonstrates good reproducibility and is safer than traditional techniques, requiring low-hazard chemicals and equipment. Combining the technique with microstructural analysis by X-ray diffraction provides information on battery electrode properties and degradation.
08:03
Electrospun Fibrous Scaffolds of Poly(glycerol-dodecanedioate) for Engineering Neural Tissues From Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
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Cited by 9 •
2014
Synthesis and fabrication of electrospun long fibers spanning a larger deposit area via a newly designed collector from a novel biodegradable polymer named poly(glycerol-dodecanoate) (PGD) was reported. The fibers were able to support the growth of cells derived from mouse pluripotent stem cells.
02:42
In Vitro Disassembly of the Influenza A Virus Core Using pH-Controlled Gradient Centrifugation
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2026
Source: Stauffer, S. et al. In Vitro Disassembly of Influenza A Virus Capsids by Gradient Centrifugation. J. Vis. Exp. (2016)This video demonstrates the pH-dependent disassembly of influenza A virus (IAV) cores using gradient ultracentrifugation. It outlines glycerol gradient preparation, ultracentrifugation, and how different pH conditions affect IAV core disassembly.
09:35
Purification and Visualization of Influenza A Viral Ribonucleoprotein Complexes
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Cited by 8 •
2009
The genome of the influenza A virus consists of eight separate complexes of RNA and proteins, termed viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs). This paper describes the glycerol gradient purification and transmission electron microscopy visualization of influenza A vRNPs.
FAQs
Glycerol provides a three-carbon scaffold whose hydroxyl groups can form ester bonds with fatty acids. This produces triglycerides, allowing fatty-acid components to be incorporated into lipid stores. The linkage is reversible at the metabolic level because enzymatic hydrolysis can release glycerol and fatty acids when stored lipid is broken down for later use.
After lipid hydrolysis releases it, glycerol can be converted to glycerol-3-phosphate and then to dihydroxyacetone phosphate. This sequence connects lipid-derived material with carbohydrate metabolism. Because dihydroxyacetone phosphate is part of that metabolic pathway, glycerol can contribute to energy production rather than remaining only a structural component of stored triglycerides.
The three hydroxyl groups give glycerol two important functional roles. They provide sites for ester-bond formation with fatty acids, supporting triglyceride assembly, and they contribute to glycerol’s ability to retain water. These chemical properties help explain why the same molecule participates in both lipid storage and laboratory preservation of biological materials.
Glycerol serves as an intermediate connection between these two forms of metabolism. In storage, it helps form triglycerides with fatty acids. During lipid breakdown, conversion through glycerol-3-phosphate to dihydroxyacetone phosphate places glycerol-derived carbon into a carbohydrate-associated pathway. This connection allows lipid turnover to support downstream energy production.
Its water-retaining behavior helps maintain a protective environment around biological material, while its ability to reduce ice-crystal formation supports preservation during freezing-related handling. These properties make glycerol useful in laboratory applications involving cells, enzymes, and other biological samples, where damage associated with water loss or ice formation can compromise sample integrity.
Glycerol metabolism illustrates how cells can connect the breakdown of stored lipids to energy-producing pathways. Tracking its conversion to glycerol-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate helps place lipid hydrolysis within a broader metabolic context. In biology, this provides a useful example of how molecules released from energy stores can enter pathways associated with carbohydrate metabolism.