Isolation and Analysis of Lipid Rafts from Neural Cells and Tissues -- A Detergent-Free Method for Preparation of Lipid Rafts for the Shotgun Lipidomics Study -- Biochemical Analysis of Lipid Rafts to Study Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neural Diseases -- Amyloid- β Interactions with Lipid Rafts in Biomimetic Systems: A Review of Laboratory Methods -- Extracellular Vesicles Containing Ceramide-Rich Platforms: “Mobile Raft” Isolation and Analysis -- Isolation of Lipid Rafts (Detergent-Resistant Microdomains) and Comparison to Extracellular Vesicles (Exosomes) -- Methods to Characterize Synthesis and Degradation of Sphingomyelin at the Plasma Membrane and Its Impact on Lipid Raft Dynamics -- Association of Glycolipids and Growth Factor Receptors in Lipid Rafts -- Lipid Raft Isolation by Sucrose Gradient Centrifugation and Visualization of Raft-Located Proteins by Fluorescence Microscopy: The Use of Combined Techniques to Assess Fas/CD95 Location in Rafts during Apoptosis Triggering -- Elucidating the Role of Lipid Rafts on G Protein-Coupled Receptor Function in the Mouse Kidney: An In Vivo Approach -- Analysis of Lipids in Ceramide-Enriched Membrane Domains -- Chemotherapeutic Agents-Induced Ceramide Rich Platforms (CRPs) in Endothelial Cells and their Modulation -- Biophysical Analysis of Lipid Domains by Fluorescence Microscopy -- Biophysical Analysis of Lipid Domains in Mammalian and Yeast Membranes by Fluorescence Spectroscopy -- Characterization of Lipid Order and Domain Formation in Model Membranes Using Fluorescence Microscopy and Spectroscopy -- Characterization of the Effect of Sphingolipid Accumulation on Membrane Compactness, Dipole Potential, and Mobility of Membrane Components -- Super-Resolution Microscopy of Sphingolipids -- Detection of Functionalized Sphingolipid Analogues in Detergent Resistant Membranes of the Immune Cells -- Immunofluorescence Labeling of Lipid-Binding Proteins CERTs to Monitor Lipid Rafts Dynamics -- Cross-Link/Proximity Ligation Assay for Visualization of Lipid and Protein Complexes in Lipid Rafts.

This volume gives a comprehensive insight into established and novel methods to analyze the structure and function of lipid rafts. This book covers topics such as isolation of lipid rafts and their functional analysis using biochemical methods; visualization of lipid rafts and their interaction with proteins using fluorescence-related methods; preparation of giant lipid vesicles and fluorescence spectroscopy; FRET and FRAP; and using photo-activated cross-linking of a ceramide analog combined with proximity ligation assay. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Thorough and cutting-edge, Lipid Rafts: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for both novice and expert researchers interested in learning more about the function of lipid rafts in many areas of cell biology and medicine. .