Biochemical of Nerve

Cell Membrane
Agus Limanto
Faculty of Medicine
UKRIDA
 Cell Membrane Function
• Cell membrane function
• Compartmentalization – segregates one part of the cell from
other
• Transport of molecules – channel, pumps
• Cell signaling - cell membrane bound to receptors, enzymes and
proteins
• Cell – cell communication – due to presence of carbohydrates
• Endocytosis and exocytosis – engulfing particles
• Immune system – antigen and antibody
• Membrane modifications for specialized functions – myelin
sheath of neurons, microvilli in intestine
Neuron / Nerve Cell membrane Characteristics

• Similar to general function of other cell memberane

• More selective ion channel
• Electrically Excitable
• Accelerate the transmission of nerve impulses
 Membrane Structure
• All biological membranes
– Lipids (approx. 50%)
– Proteins (approx. 50%)

• Membranes of the neuronal myelin sheats

– Lipids (approx. 80%)
– Proteins (approx. 20%)

• The double lipid layer is the basic structure of all biological

membranes.
– All membranes are made of lipids and proteins, which often
bind to carbohydrates
Membrane Structure

• Fluid Mosaic Model

• Component of Membrane
• Lipid bilayer
• Protein
• Carbohydrates
Membrane Structure
• Membrane lipids
• Phospholipids (most abundant)
• glycolipids and cholesterol (smaller amounts)
• asymmetrically distributed
• phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin (outer layer)
• phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine
(internal layer)
• A property of cell membranes
• is to be fluid and depends on the lipid content
• fluidity is higher as the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids
increases.
Membrane Lipid

• Characteristics of Phospholipid
• Negative charged
• Flexible or surging
• Fluid
• Has cis-isomer in unsaturated
fatty acid
• Lateral diffusion and flip-flop
• Characteristics of Cholesterol
• Has charged
• Rigid

• Characteristics of Glycolipid
• Located on outer face
• Has carbohydrate (ceramide, sphingolipid and fatty acid)
• Impermeable to ion and hydrophilic substance
Membrane Structure
• Membrane proteins
• differ in different cells and organelles.
• peripheral sometimes loosely attached to the membrane
• integral, which cross the bilayer one or several times.

• Characteristics
• Has charged
• Peripheral & Integral
• Lateral diffusion

• Roles
• Receptor
• Transporter
• Enzyme
Carbohydrates Membrane
• Has NANA (sialic acid / neuraminic acid) structure
• Has negative charge
• Glycolipid, Glycoprotein
• Key role in cell – cell recognition (antigen)
 Membrane Transport
• Transport Membrane Function
• Maintain cell volume, pH and ion composition in the cell
• Channeling impulses
• Distribution of nerve – muscle

• Type of membrane transport

• Simple diffusion
• concentration or electrical gradients;
• not require ATP.
• Nonpolar or slightly polar substances use this type of transport.

• Passive transport or facilitated diffusion

• performed following concentration or electrical gradients
• mediated via carriers and channels.
• integral membrane proteins, with specificity and saturability for
the transported solute.
• Type of Membrane Transport
• Mediated
• Need protein carrier
• Specific
• Can be inhibit and can be saturated
• Can be active or passive
• Has Km value and Vmax value

• Non mediated
• No need protein carrier
• Unspecific
• Can’t be saturated
• Always passive
• Called as simple diffusion
 Membrane Transport
• Carriers
• uniporters, which bind and transport only one type of solute
• cotransporters or symporters, which move two solutes in the
same direction
• countertransporters, antiporters, or exchangers, which transport
solutes in opposite directions
 Membrane Transport
• Channels
• hydrophilic pores in the membrane.
• Ion channels allow the passage of ions (Na+, K, Ca2+, Cl−) with
high specificity.
• voltage-gated and ligand-dependent channels.
• Ion Channel
 Membrane Transport

• Active transporters
• movement of solutes against their electrochemical
gradient
• require energy provided by the hydrolysis of ATP.
• Active transport is mediated by specific and saturable
(Michaelis–Menten kinetics) carriers.
• several classes: P, V, F, and ABC.
• Class P transporters Na+,K+-ATPase or sodium pump,
Ca2+-ATPases or calcium pumps, and H+,K+-ATPase.
Membrane Transport
Summary of Membrane Transport
Nervous System
 Nerve Cells (Neurons)
• Nerve cell is known as neurone,
• receiving sensory input from the external world
• sending motor commands to our muscles
• transforming and relaying the electrical signals at every step in between

• There are different type of neurones, both in the brain and the spinal
cord.
• divided according to where they originate, where they project to and which
neurotransmitters they use.

• The creation of new neurons in the brain is called neurogenesis, and this
can happen even in adults.
 What does a neuron look like?
• A neuron has three main parts: dendrites,
an axon, and a cell body or soma.

• A dendrite have leaf-like structures on them

called spines.

• The axon is the output structure of the

neuron.
• when a neuron wants to talk to another
neuron, it sends an electrical message
called an action potential throughout the
entire axon.

• The soma is where the nucleus lies

• where the neuron’s DNA is located,
• proteins are synthesize and transported
throughout the axon and dendrites.
 Nerve Cell Anatomy
• Neuron: Soma (cell body), dendrites and axon
• Collect and transmit signals
• Dendrites receive signal  soma  forwarded to axon
• Axon surrounded by Schwann cells, and enveloped by myelin
sheath which is an electrical insulator for axon
 Type of Neurons
• Types of neurons:
• Sensory: pseudounipolar
• Motor: multipolar
• Interneurons: multipolar
 Glia (Non-neuronal Cells)
• Glia are non-neuronal cells of the brain and nervous system.

• There are a variety of subtypes of glial cells including

• astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia

• Each of which is specialised for a particular function.

• Glia do not fire action potentials, were previously thought to

be little more than housekeepers that ensured neurons could
function properly.
• This view is now shifting, and astrocytes in particular are recognised as
key components of synapses that can influence how we process
information.
Glia (Non-neuronal Cells)
• Role of Glial cells
• To surround neurons and hold them in place
• To supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons
• To insulate one neuron from another
• To destroy and remove the carcasses of dead neurons (clean up)

• Astrocytes
• the most numerous cell type within the central nervous system
(CNS) and perform a variety of tasks, from axon guidance and
synaptic support, to the control of the blood brain barrier and
blood flow
• Astrocytes
• the most numerous cell type within the central nervous system
(CNS) and perform a variety of tasks, from axon guidance and
synaptic support, to the control of the blood brain barrier and
blood flow

• Role of Astrocytes
• Physical and metabolic support for neurons
• Detoxification
• Regulation of energy metabolism,
• Electrical insulation (for un-myelinated axons)
• Transport of blood-borne material to the neuron
• Reaction to injury
Diversity of membranes in nervous
systems
 Myelin – Schwann Cell – Nod of Ranvier
• Compositions
• 70 – 85% Lipid
• Glycolipid: (Cerebroside)
• Phospholipid
• Free Cholesterol
• 15 – 30% Protein
• Myelin basic protein
• Proteolipid protein (Folch-Less protein)
• basic proteins which exhibit encephalitogenic properties

• This composition may changes with age

 Myelin – Schwann Cell – Nod of Ranvier
• Differences Between Central And Peripheral Nervous System Myelin
• reflected in the quantitative lipid composition
Chemical Composition of Some Nervous System Membranes
Nerve Cell Membrane Transport
 Metabolism and Function of Nerve Tissue

• The nervous system provides a communication network between

the five senses, the environment and all parts of the body
• Brain, is the operational lead. The system is always functioning
and require large amounts of energy to maintain its function
• Brain in a resting state requires an energy of about 60% of the
energy produced from the complete oxidation of glucose through
glycolysis and the citric acid cycle
• Glucose is the only source of energy for the brain. Only in
a state of starvation prolonged or uncontrolled diabetes
causes the brain to use ketone bodies as an energy source.
There are very few reserves of glycogen in the brain
• The fatty acids in plasma is bound to albumin can not pass
through the brain barrier.
• Amino acids can not produce ATP because neurons can
not perform gluconeogenesis.
Cerebrospinal Fluid
• Contained in subarachnoid space
• Derived mainly from choroid plexus
• Result of ultrafiltration of blood plasma and secretions

Role of Cerebrospinal Fluid

• For the physical protection of brain tissue
• Can be used to help diagnosed the disease by examining
its components
• Can be used to infused anesthesia material
Characteristics and Composition of CSF

• Clear liquid, density 1.006 – 1.009

• pH: ± 7.4
• Cell: 0 – few (limphocytes)
• Protein: 15 – 45 mg%
• Albumin globulin ratio: 4
• Fibrinogen: -
• Glucose: 50 – 70 mg%
• Cholesterol: 0.06 – 0.22 mg%
• Ca: 4.5 – 5.5 mg%
• Na and K nearly identical with the amount of plasma
• Pressure: 70 – 180 mmHg
Anomalies

• Tuberculosis meningitis – serosa

• Bacterial meningitis – purulenta
• Brain cancer – cancer cell
• Brain trauma – eritrocytes / Hb+
 References
• Kerkut, G. A. Nerve Membranes. Elsevier Science,
1972.
• Lodish, Harvey F. Molecular Cell Biology. 6th ed.
2016.
• Rodwell, Victor W et al. Harper's Illustrated
Biochemistry. 30th ed.