New Video Posted: Understanding Protein Sorting: Cellular Transport Mechanisms Explained

Protein sorting involves directing proteins, which originate on ribosomes in the cytosol, to their appropriate cellular locations using specific amino acid sequences known as sorting signals. These sorting signals function like postcodes, guiding proteins to various organelles or membranes within the cell, such as the nucleus, peroxisomes, or the endoplasmic reticulum. The cell employs different types of transport mechanisms—gated, transmembrane, and vesicular—to move proteins to their correct destinations, ensuring proper cellular function.

If you would like to say thanks for the video, then please feel free to buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drnickm

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New Video Posted: Vesicle Trafficking: How vesicles are formed for trafficking between membranes

Vesicles are crucial for transporting molecules, and they are formed in one of three ways:

1. Clathrin-coated vesicles - Traffic from the Golgi to the endosomes and from the plasma membrane to the endosomes.
2. COPI-coated vesicles - Move from the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum, within the Golgi stack, and from the Golgi to the plasma membrane.
3. COPII-coated vesicles - Travel from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi.

In this video, I look at how vesicles are formed and targeted within a cell. 

In the video, I explore some common themes and look at the formation of the coat (clathrin, COPI, or COPII) and the pinching off of the vesicle from the membrane. 

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New Video Posted: Organelles and Membranes - how much membrane is in a cell?

This is an interesting question: "How much membrane is in a cell?".

In this video, I use a football and some sheets of material to explore how much membrane we have in a cell and which organelles have the most membrane.

This was a fun video to make, and I got some very odd looks from passing dog walkers.

If you would like to say thanks for the fact sheet, then please feel free to buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drnickm

Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.

New Video Posted: Organelles - Understanding Vesicular Transport

Cells have organelles, and they need to transport the correct molecules to those organelles — if they don't, the cell will not function correctly and will die. 

The cell has three ways of moving molecules around:

1. Vesicular transport
2. Gated transport
3. Transmembrane transport

This video also looks at vesicular transport, which uses small membrane-bound sacs to move proteins, lipids, and other molecules throughout the cell.

The video introduces the concepts of Endocytosis and Exocytosis - including Phagocytosis, Pinocytosis and Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis, along with Constitutive and Regulated Pathways.

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New Video Posted: An introduction to cell organelles - why do cells have organelles?

In this video, I look at why cells have organelles - my answer might surprise you.

I also examine the different organelles, discuss how proteins are targeted to these organelles, and describe the mechanisms used to get proteins across membranes. 

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New Video Posted: Understanding Microscopy: Debunking Misconceptions in Cellular Biology

This was a fun video to make!

In this video, I use bagels to explain how some common misconceptions about the function and shape of organelles came about. I also explore, using images of horses, how we have not fully appreciated the dynamic structure of the cell and vesicle trafficking.

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New Video Posted: Understanding Intermediate Filaments: Structure, Function, and Dynamics

In this video, I continue to look at the cytoskeleton by examining the structure and function of the Intermediate Filaments.

Intermediate filaments are made of various proteins (lamins, vimentin, desmin, keratin, and neurofilaments), and their composition can change depending on the cell's state. The filaments provide mechanical strength, line the nuclear membrane, and can form higher-order structures with or without accessory proteins.

If you would like to say thanks for the fact sheet, then please feel free to buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drnickm

Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.