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Structural Components of The Cell Membrane

The cell membrane, also known as the plasma membrane, serves as a barrier separating the cell from its environment and is composed of a fluid mosaic of phospholipids, proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrates. It is semi-permeable, allowing certain substances to pass through while restricting others, and utilizes mechanisms such as passive and active transport for molecule movement. Endocytosis and exocytosis are processes for material uptake and export, respectively, involving various specialized proteins and structures.

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11 views6 pages

Structural Components of The Cell Membrane

The cell membrane, also known as the plasma membrane, serves as a barrier separating the cell from its environment and is composed of a fluid mosaic of phospholipids, proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrates. It is semi-permeable, allowing certain substances to pass through while restricting others, and utilizes mechanisms such as passive and active transport for molecule movement. Endocytosis and exocytosis are processes for material uptake and export, respectively, involving various specialized proteins and structures.

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gabriellamaried
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Structural Components of the Cell Membrane

Cell membrane
- all cells are surrounded by a cell membrane
- also known as plasma membrane
- a physical barrier that separates a cell from its surrounding environment
Fluid Mosaic Model of the Cell Membrane

- according to this model, the membrane is a mosaic of protein molecules bobbing in a


fluid bilayer of phospholipids
- the plasma membrane is a mosaic of phospholipids, cholesterol molecules, proteins,
and carbohydrates
Four Types of Molecules found in the Plasma Membrane
Phospholipids
- the bulk of the membrane structure is composed of two back-to-back layers of
phospholipid molecules
- has two different regions: a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region
Head end
- contains a phosphate group and is hydrophilic
Tail end
- made up of fatty acid chains which are hydrophobic
Hydrophilic
- likes water molecules
Hydrophobic
- hates water
Proteins
Two major populations of membrane proteins
Integral Protein
- embed in the lipid bilayer
- most integral proteins are transmembrane proteins, which span the membrane
- other integral proteins extend only partway into the hydrophobic interior
- Some integral membrane proteins form a channel that allows ions or other small
molecules to pass
Peripheral Proteins
- loosely attached in the membrane surface
- functions of membrane proteins include transport, enzymatic activity, signal
transduction, cell-cell recognition, etc.
Glycoproteins
- short chains of carbohydrates or sugars can be found attached to proteins
Glycolipids
- short chains of carbohydrates or sugars can be found attached
Glycocalyx
- combined of glycoproteins and glycolipids
- cushions and protects the plasma membrane, and it is also important in cell
recognition
Cholesterol
Low density lipids
- good cholesterol
High density lipids
- bad cholesterol
- they have a role in maintaining the fluid consistency of the plasma membrane
- keep the phospholipid tails from coming into contact and solidifying
- ensures that the cell membrane stays fluid and flexible
- strengthen the membrane by preventing some small molecules from crossing it
Semi-Permeable/Selectively Permeable
- a barrier that allows some substances to pass through but not others
- nonpolar molecules, such as hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and oxygen
- ions such as sodium and potassium
- allow these ions and a variety of polar molecules while avoiding meeting the lipid
bilayer
- can be done by passing through transport proteins called channel proteins
Transport Mechanism in the Cell Membrane
Two types of transport mechanisms
Passive transport
- does not require to expend energy to occur

Active transport
- needs to use energy in the cell (ATP or Adenosine triphosphate)
- energy is used when molecules move against the concentration gradient (“uphill”
movement)
Diffusion
- when particles move along a concentration gradient from high to low concentration
Osmosis
- when water moves through a partially permeable membrane from high to low
concentration
Two important requirements for osmosis
 presence of a semi-permeable membrane
 presence of a concentration gradient
Tonicity
- the ability of the cell to lose or gain water
Examples of Tonicity
Isotonic
- same concentration of water and solutes thus there is no net movement of water in
plasma membrane
Hypertonic
- more solute molecules and lesser water concentration outside the cell causing the
water to move outside, thus the cell loses water, shrivel, and probably dies
Hypotonic
- fewer solute molecules and more water concentration outside the cell causing the
water to enter the cell causing it to gain water, expand, and could even burst
Facilitated Transport
- also known as facilitated diffusion
- ions and molecules like glucose and amino acids cannot pass readily the cell
membrane
- they enter the cells with the help of special proteins called transporters or channel
proteins
- assists the molecule to diffuse through the membrane
- the movement is in a “downhill” direction and does not expend energy
Endocytosis
- also known as ingestion of material by a cell
Three similar types
Phagocytosis
- “cell eating”
- area of the cell membrane extends around the macromolecule and forms a pocket
that engulfs the material
- this process is exhibited by amoeba engulfing bacteria and white blood cells
Pinocytosis
- “cell drinking”
- small areas of the surface membrane invaginate to form tiny vesicles to “gulp”
- occurs in cells of the intestinal wall and root cells
Receptor-mediated endocytosis
- a form of pinocytosis
- any molecule of the plasma membrane specifically binds to receptor molecules called
ligands forming a pit or caveolae
- this pit is coated with a protein called clathrin
Clathrin
- picks specific molecules outside the cell, closes, and pinches off forming vesicle to the
cytoplasm
- this process is exhibited by human cells to take in cholesterol and steroids
Exocytosis
- It is the opposite of endocytosis
- is a process of exporting substances from the cell
- process is exhibited by cells in the pancreas which transport insulin, nerve cells when
releasing Neurotransmitters

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