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AAT Bioquest

What is the structure of a vesicle?

Posted September 20, 2023


Answer

A vesicle has a simple structure enclosed by a lipid bilayer membrane. This membrane is made up of phospholipids, which have hydrophilic (water-attracting) heads and hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails. The hydrophilic heads face outward, interacting with the aqueous environment inside and outside the cell, while the hydrophobic tails are oriented toward the interior of the vesicle.

The lipid bilayer forms a spherical or sac-like structure that encloses the contents of the vesicle. These contents can vary and may include molecules, proteins, or other cellular materials. The structure of a vesicle is designed to protect and transport its cargo within the cell.

Additional resources

Extracellular vesicles: structure, function, and potential clinical uses in renal diseases

Cell Structures and Organelles