Numerous studies provide evidence that the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane contains lateral nanodomains, and that these are functionally important regulators of transmembrane cell signaling. Depending on their chemical composition and the biophysical mechanism bringing the lipids together, multiple types of nanodomains exist in the inner and the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane bilayer. In intact cells, these domains are smaller than the optical resolution limit of light microscopy and also highly dynamic. Recently, advanced fluorescence methods have provided data to characterize many biophysical and thermodynamic aspects of these nanodomains. In this review, we summarize the physicochemical determinants of nanodomain formation, stability and extent. Then, we detail how these nanodomains play a structural role by anchoring nucleation sites for the membrane cytoskeleton on the lipid bilayer. Further, we review the existing literature on mechanisms that modulate the nanodomain size and stability, both acute and chronic events. We conclude that regulation of the nanodomains distribution in the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is important for modulation of transmembrane signaling. However, only very few modulators of nanodomain stability and size have been quantified in cells, suggesting interesting directions for future studies.

许多研究提供的证据表明质膜的脂质双层含有横向纳米域，并且这些是跨膜细胞信号传导的重要功能调节剂。根据它们的化学成分和将脂质聚集在一起的生物物理机制，在质膜双层的内部和外部小叶中存在多种类型的纳米域。在完整的细胞中，这些域小于光学显微镜的光学分辨率极限，并且具有高度动态性。最近，先进的荧光方法提供了数据来表征这些纳米域的许多生物物理和热力学方面。在这篇综述中，我们总结了纳米域形成、稳定性和范围的物理化学决定因素。然后，我们详细介绍了这些纳米域如何通过将膜细胞骨架的成核位点锚定在脂双层上来发挥结构作用。此外，我们回顾了关于调节纳米域大小和稳定性的机制的现有文献，包括急性和慢性事件。我们得出结论，质膜脂质双层中纳米域分布的调节对于跨膜信号传导的调节很重要。然而，只有很少的纳米域稳定性和大小的调节剂在细胞中被量化，这为未来的研究提供了有趣的方向。我们得出结论，质膜脂质双层中纳米域分布的调节对于跨膜信号传导的调节很重要。然而，只有很少的纳米域稳定性和大小的调节剂在细胞中被量化，这为未来的研究提供了有趣的方向。我们得出结论，质膜脂质双层中纳米域分布的调节对于跨膜信号传导的调节很重要。然而，只有很少的纳米域稳定性和大小的调节剂在细胞中被量化，这为未来的研究提供了有趣的方向。