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PreprintCited by 14Lipid Membrane Structure and BehaviorLipid metabolism and biosynthesisCellular transport and secretion

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Lipid osmosis, membrane tension, and other mechanochemical driving forces of lipid flow

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Zhang, Yongli, Lin, Chenxiang·2024·Current Opinion in Cell Biology
DOI 10.1101/2024.01.08.574656PMC PMC11193448

Preprint — published as 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102377 · Paper page

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Abstract

Nonvesicular lipid transport among different membranes or membrane domains plays crucial roles in lipid homeostasis and organelle biogenesis. However, the forces that drive such lipid transport are not well understood. We propose that lipids tend to flow towards the membrane area with a higher membrane protein density in a process termed lipid osmosis . This process lowers the membrane tension in the area, resulting in a membrane tension difference called osmotic membrane tension . We examine the thermodynamic basis and experimental evidence of lipid osmosis and osmotic membrane tension. We predict that lipid osmosis can drive bulk lipid flows between different membrane regions through lipid transfer proteins, scramblases, or other similar barriers that selectively pass lipids but not membrane proteins. We also speculate on the biological functions of lipid osmosis. Finally, we explore other driving forces for lipid transfer and describe potential methods and systems to further test our theory.

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Metadata

Authors
Zhang, Y., & Lin, C.
Affiliations
Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Zhang, Yongli
  • Lin, Chenxiang
ORCID
Venue
Current Opinion in Cell Biology
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2024-01-08
Volume
88
Pages
102377-102377
ISSN
0955-0674 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1101/2024.01.08.574656
PMC
PMC11193448
OpenAlex
W4399239987
Cited by
14
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 1
FWCI
0.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Cell Biology (acceptedVersion)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R35GM131714, R35GM149264)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular transport and secretion
Keywords
membrane tension, lipid flow, lipid transfer proteins, scramblase, lipid homeostasis, organelle biogenesis, membrane domains

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Lipid osmosis, membrane tension, and other mechanochemical driving forces of lipid flow. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1101/2024.01.08.574656
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Zhang, Y., & Lin, C. (2024). Lipid osmosis, membrane tension, and other mechanochemical driving forces of lipid flow. Current Opinion in Cell Biology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.08.574656