Cell Membrane Structure and Function

Cell membranes
Cell Membrane
What is their structure?
 Every cell is encircled by a membrane and most
We don’t know currently
cells contain an extensive intracellular
membrane system. There are a number of hypotheses and we will consider
the one which is currently accepted........
 Membranes fence off the cell's interior from its
surroundings.
 Membranes let in water, certain ions and Structure - The Cell Membrane
substrates and they excrete waste substances. The fluid mosaic model of membrane structure
 Without a membrane the cell contents would  The membrane is a mosaic (mixture) of different
diffuse into the surroundings, information protein molecules floating in a bilayer (double layer) of
containing molecules would be lost and many phospholipids
metabolic pathways would cease to work.  Each phospholipid has a hydrophilic (water-loving)
The cell would die! head & hydrophobic (water-hating) tails
Membrane Structure  Because of this feature of phospholipids, the lipid
 The cell is highly organized with many functional bilayers assemble themselves spontaneously
units or organelles inside. Most of these units are
limited by one or more membranes.
 To perform the functions of an organelle, the
membrane is specialized in that it contains
specific proteins and lipid components that
enable it to perform its unique roles.
 In essence membranes are essential for the
integrity and function of the cell.
  Special carrier molecules take in important elements,
like ions, at the cell membrane, using energy supplied
by the cell and use the proteins that are embedded in
the lipid layer.
Membrane Function
 Sometimes the elements bind to the proteins, which
flip over, thus transporting the element into the cell.
 Some proteins form a ‘pore’ through which the
element can pass from the outside to the inside of the
cell membrane.
 The movement of the phospholipid and protein
components through the plasma membrane permits
the membrane to change shape—this is known as
fluidity.
 This flexibility is crucial to many different types of cells.

The cell membrance is a complex 3d circular structure

The fluid mosaic model

 This proposes that the cell membrane is made up of 2
main layers – lipids and proteins.
 The lipids form themselves into a bi-layer with the
Structure
water seeking ends (hydrophilic) facing out & the water
hating ends (hydrophobic) facing in.  Fluid-like composition…like soap bubbles
 The proteins are embedded in this layer but can move  Composed of:
around or flip over. o Lipids in a bi-layer – what is this?
o Proteins embedded in lipid layer (called trans- Composition of the cell membrane
membrane proteins)
o Proteins floating within the lipid sea (called
integral proteins)
o Proteins associated outside the lipid bi-layer
(peripheral proteins).

Phospholipids
 Make up 75% of cell surface membrane
 Amphipathic – hydrophilic head (water-loving and
polar) and hydrophobic tail (water-hating and non-
polar)
 Phospholipid bilayer forms spontaneously in
aqueous environment eg. extra-cellular fluid and
cytosol
 Selectively permeable – small molecules and lipid
soluble molecules pass through easily. Hydrophilic
substances cannot diffuse and rely on membrane
pore/channels to pass
Cholesterol
 A steroid which makes up 20% of animal membranes
(but rarely found in plants) (in humans cholesterol is
present in almost same proportion as phospholipids)
 Also amphipathic – fit between phospholipids
 Important because it makes cell membrane more rigid
and prevents membrane being too fluid & breaking up
 (37degrees = relatively high temp) = mechanical o Transporters: some proteins identify & attach to
stability specific substances eg. nutrients,
 Hydrophobic regions prevent ions & polar molecules neurotransmitters
passing through – especially important in neurons o Receptors: recognise & bind to target molecules
Glycolipids such as hormones
 5% of membrane lipids have short carbohydrate chains o Enzymes eg. ATPase
attached Functions of membranes within cells (organelle
 Occur on external surface of membrane membranes)
Proteins  Intracellular membranes have a structure very similar
Variety of functions: to that of cell surface membranes
 However, proportions of molecular components differs
• Transport proteins for ions and polar molecules considerably eg. chloroplast membrane contains very
• Enzymes: eg ATPase in mitochondrial membrane,
little carbohydrate
 Almost all cellular process involves intracellular
chloroplast membrane, intestinal wall cells (for
membranes:
hydrolysis of disaccharides)
Transport across the cell membrane
Glycoproteins
 Most proteins in plasma membrane have short
 Passive transport does NOT require energy
carbohydrate molecules attached
o Diffusion – small uncharged molecules
 H-bond with water to help stabilise membrane
o Osmosis - water
structure
o Facilitated diffusion - glucose
 May act as receptor for hormones, neurotransmitters
 Active transport REQUIRES ENERGY
 Antigens = glycoproteins that help cells recognise each o Ion pumps
other. Each cell has it’s own antigen o Endocytosis
Proteins - Glycoproteins o Exocytosis
 transmembrane proteins span the entire membrane & Active and Passive Transport Summary
are usually glycoproteins:
 Four main functions
o Act as channels: Na+/K+ Pump to maintain ion
concentrations either side of the membrane
 What does the membrane do?
 allows for different conditions between inside and
outside of cell
 subdivides cell into compartments with different
internal conditions
 allows release of substances from cell via vesicle
fusion with outer membrane:
Membrane Permeability
 Biological membranes are physical barriers, but which
allow small uncharged molecules to pass…
 They are described as semi-permeable Two types of transport
Because;  Passive Transport
 Lipid soluble molecules and small molecules pass o Involves concentration gradients ONLY.
through o NO CELL ENERGY is used—this is why it is called
 Big molecules and charged ones do NOT pass through “passive”

• Membrane Semi-permeability Passive Transport

3 types
1) lipid soluble solutes go through faster  Diffusion- simple movement from regions of high
1. smaller molecules go faster concentration to low concentration.
1) uncharged & weakly charged go faster  Osmosis- specifically the diffusion of water across a
2) Channels or pores may also exist in membrane to allow semi-permeable membrane.
transport of larger molecules  Facilitated diffusion - protein transporters which assist
Its about concentration in
The concentration of the solution, with respect to other diffusion.
solutions is important
Isotonic --- when both solutions have the same
concentration of dissolved substances
Hypertonic --- a solution with a higher
concentration of dissolved substances
Hypotonic --- a solution with a lower
concentration of dissolved substances
Diffusion Diffusion & Gas Exchange
 Movement generated by random motion of particles.  Animal cells use oxygen, so oxygen is less concentrated
 Movement always from region of high concentration to inside the cell than outside. This causes oxygen to
regions of low concentration. diffuse into the cell
 Increased water pressure is caused by water  Carbon dioxide is produced in an animal cell, so it is
moving to decrease a concentration gradient or more concentrated inside than outside – so it diffuses
concentration difference between two areas. out of the cell

Diffusion for Photosynthesis

 Diffusion of gases also happens in leaves:
Water + Carbon Dioxide → Oxygen and Glucose (& a little water)
Solutions
 A solution is made up of two parts: the solute and the  For photosynthesis to happen Carbon Dioxide has to
solvent. get inside the leaves. It diffuses in through stomata
 The solute dissolves in the solvent  Water vapour and oxygen diffuse out of the leaf at the
 Before a gas can diffuse across a membrane it must same time
dissolve into a liquid. Diffusion & Photosynthesis
Rate of Diffusion Transport Proteins
The rate of diffusion depends on:  Move solutes faster across membrane
 Size of the particles: smaller = faster  Highly specific to specific solutes
 Temperature (eg. kinetic energy): hotter = faster  Can be inhibited by drugs
 The concentration gradient: the higher it is = faster the  Also involved in ACTIVE transport
rate.
 State of the particles: gas > liquid > solid
 Distance - thickness of the exchange surface: thinner =
faster
 Surface area available: larger = faster
Facilitated Diffusion
 Transport proteins carry specific
molecules across the cell membrane
 Movement is along a concentration gradient (i.e.
From higher to lower)
 Each type of transport protein will carry only one type
of molecule. Types of Protein Transporters: Ion Channels
 This is how glucose is moved.  Work by facilitated diffusion No E!
 Deal with small molecules... ions
 Open pores are “gated”- Can change shape.
o How? Do a diagram to show how you think this
might work.
 Important in cell communication
Osmosis
 Osmosis is a special type of diffusion.
 Osmosis is the diffusion of water.
 Osmosis & Plant Cells

Osmosis and Cells - Notes

 Cells are surrounded by a cell membrane that Plasmolysis in Elodea
separates the contents of the cell from the outside
environment. The cell membrane has tiny holes in it.
This allows small molecules to pass through, but not
large ones. The cell membrane is partially-permeable.
 Osmosis occurs when two solutions are separated by a
partially permeable membrane
Osmosis Active Transport
 Cell Energy is used to move substances across the
cell membrane
 The substances are moved against the
concentration gradient i.e. from where there is less
to where there is more.

Osmosis and Animal Cells

Transport proteins
 Substances are moved molecule by
molecule.
  It is similar to facilitated diffusion except that cell Moving many large molecules at once—Exocytosis
energy (ATP) is used in the process.  Material is packaged inside the cell and the
package fuses with the cell membrane while the
material goes out of the cell.

Moving many large molecules at once—Endocytosis

Endocytosis
 Transports macromolecules and large particles into the Exocytosis the finer detail
cell.
 Part of the membrane engulfs the particle and folds
inward to “bud off.”
 The cell membrane envelopes the material
 If material is liquid the process is called pinocytosis
 If material is solid the process is called phagocytosis

Bulk Transport
 Ion Channels  If the concentration of minerals is higher in the root
 Work fast: No conformational changes needed hair than in the soil, then the cell needs to use energy
 Not simple pores in membrane: to actively transport the minerals into the cell against
o specific to different ions (Na, K, Ca...) the concentration gradient.
o gates control opening
o Toxins, drugs may affect channels
 saxitoxin, tetrodotoxin
 cystic fibrosis
Sodium-Potassium Pump

Active Transport and Villi

 When there’s lots of nutrients in the gut they diffuse
naturally into the blood. But...
 Sometimes there are less nutrients in the gut than in
the blood, so the villi cells of our gut use active
Na-K Pump Model: Part I transport to absorb these nutrients against their
 3 Na+ bind to inner region of protein concentration gradient.
 Na+ binding triggers phosphorylation of protein. ATP
ADP + Pi
 Phosphorylation causes conformation change and Na+
binding site faces outside
 3 Na+ released to outside
Na-K Active Pump: Part II
 2 K+ ions on outside are able to bind Villi and Glucose Uptake Passive v s. Active Transport
 K+ binding causes de-phosphorylation and new
conformation change
 2K+ ions exposed to inside and released
Cyclic process uses ATP energy to drive Na & K ion transport
against conc. Gradient
Root Hair Cells and Active Transport
 Root hair cells take in minerals using active transport.