MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

AND FUNCTION
Chapter 7
Goals
• Explore the structure and function of the membrane
• Understand the role that lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates
play in generating asymmetry
• Gain knowledge of how the plasma membrane regulates the
transport of substances
• Apply knowledge of cellular trafficking to neuron function
 The Plasma Membrane
Fibers of extra-
cellular matrix (ECM)

• Mix of amphipathic lipids

and proteins Glyco-
Carbohydrate Glycolipid
protein
• Modified with sugar residues EXTRACELLULAR
SIDE OF
MEMBRANE
• Provides a barrier to the cell
• Regulates what enters and
Cholesterol
exits the cell: selective Microfilaments Peripheral
permeability of cytoskeleton proteins Integral
protein CYTOPLASMIC
SIDE OF
MEMBRANE
Phospholipids: Cell Membrane Material

Hydrophobic tails Hydrophilic head

Choline

Phosphate
• Bilayer formation depends Glycerol
on shape and amphipathic
nature Fatty acids

• Hydrophilic head faces Kink due to cis

double bond

aqueous environment
• Hydrophobic tails avoid (a) Structural formula (b) Space-filling model

aqueous environments
one
• 14-24 C layer of
lipids
• Saturated an unsaturated
one
layer of
lipids
Lipid bilayer
 No Edge Zone! Ways to Avoid Water

• Hydrophobic regions
displace water
• Bilayer forms enclosed
compartment
• Origin for protocells
 Cell Membranes are Fluid and Dynamic

• Fluid mosaic model

Fluid
• Rapid lateral shifting
• Hydrophobic interactions
Mosaic
• Diverse collection of lipids &
Membrane proteins
proteins
• Frye & Edidin experiment Mixed proteins
after 1 hour
Mouse cell
• Protein dynamics Human cell
Hybrid cell
 What’s Temperature Got to Do With It?

• Temp influences fluidity

• Low fluidity impacts membrane
functions
• Cholesterol influences overall
membrane structure
• Evolution affects membrane
composition

Cholesterol
 Phospholipid
Composition Varies
• Four major types
• Phosphatidylcholine
• Phosphatidylethanolamine
• Phosphatidylserine
• Sphingomyelin

• Vary in size, shape, & charge

• Interact with proteins
differently
• Influence lipid rafts
 Membrane-Associated Proteins Engage
with the Membrane Differently

• Divers structures and functions

• Transmembrane
• Lipid linkers
• Noncovalent associations
• Proteins can be integral or
peripheral
Integral vs. Peripheral
Integral Peripheral
• Partially embedded in the • Not embedded
membrane • Associate with an integral
• Typically α-helical 2° protein
structure • Secured by cytoskeleton or
• Increase # of non-polar ECM fibers
residues
 Transmembrane Proteins are Made in
the ER N-terminus EXTRACELLULAR
SIDE

• Regions of nonpolar a.a.

• H-bonding btwn peptide
backbone enhanced
• Alpha-helix preferred
• Increased dynamics

a-helix

CYTOPLASMIC
C-terminus SIDE
 Beta- Barrels Doing Their Thang!
• H-bonding enhanced by many
transmembrane regions
• Various functions
• More rigid and tend to form
pores
• Hydrophilic a.a face inward
• Hydrophobic a.a face outward

• Specific to bacteria,
chloroplast, & mitochondria
 Membrane Proteins Vary in Function

Transport Enzymatic Activity

Signal Transduction
• Moves ions and small • Modify molecules or aid
in signal transduction • Receive chemical
molecules across messages
membrane
 Membrane Proteins Vary in Function

Cell-Cell Intracellular Joining

Recognition Attachment
• Links cells together or
provide pores for • Anchoring to ECM or
• Recognition of cytoskeleton
cellular markers material exchange
 Importance of Glycolipids and
Glycoproteins
• Added in the ER and/or Golgi
• On extracellular face
• Aids in communication and
identification of foreign or rouge
cells
• Alters surface charge
• Enhances protein localization
• H-bonding
Rough ER and Golgi Apparatus Build the
Plasma Membrane Transmembrane
glycoproteins Secretory

• Influence membrane protein

Golgi
protein composition apparatus
Vesicle
• Generates asymmetry Attached
carbohydrate
• Lipids
• Proteins Glycolipid

ER
• Associated carbohydrates lumen
Plasma membrane:
Cytoplasmic face Transmembrane
Extracellular face glycoprotein
Secreted
protein
Membrane
glycolipid
CELLULAR TRAFFICKING
Moving Substances Across the Membrane
 Membranes Regulate the Flow of
Materials into the Cell

• Small molecules & ions

constantly movement is
directional
• Three types of cellular transport
• Passive
• Active
• Bulk
 Molecules of dye Membrane (cross section)
Passive Transport
Relies on Diffusion WATER

Net diffusion Net diffusion Equilibrium

• Diffusion: movement of a
(a) Diffusion of one solute
specific population of molecules
or ions moving from an area of
[high] to [low]
• No energy required!

Net diffusion Net diffusion Equilibrium

Net diffusion Net diffusion Equilibrium

(b) Diffusion of two solutes

Passive Transport: Simple Diffusion
Across a Membrane
• Travel directly through lipid bilayer
• Substances want to move down the [ ] gradient
• Substances will always attempt to reach a state of equilibrium

Direction of
Net Movement

[High ] [Low ]
 Osmosis: The Diffusion of H2O Across a
Membrane
Lower concentration Higher concentration More similar
of solute (sugar) of solute concentrations of solute

• Passive transport
Sugar H2O
• H2O moves from a [LOWER] of molecule

solute toward a [HIGHER] of Selectively

permeable
solute membrane

• Free vs. associated water

• Requires a selectively
permeable membrane
Osmosis
 Kidneys Depend on Osmosis to
Concentrate Urine

• The medulla has a high [Na+]

• Maintained by active transport

• H2O diffuses out of filtering unit

• Passive
 Water Balance in Cells

• Solutions surrounding cells affect

water movement: Tonicity
• Depends on membrane permeability
and [solute]
• Principles of osmosis
 Tonicity: Isotonic Solutions
• Have the same [solute] as the
solution or cell it is being
compared to
• Ex. H2O is in equilibrium
H2O
H2O

Flaccid
 Tonicity: Hypotonic Solutions

• Have lower [solute] than the Plasma

Cell
wall
solution or cell it’s being membrane
H2O
compared to
• Ex. H2O will enter the cell

Turgid (normal)
Tonicity: Hypertonic Solutions

• Have a higher [solute] than

the cell or solution it’s being Plasma
membrane
H2O

compared to
• Ex. H2O exits the cell

Plasmolyzed
 Facilitate Diffusion: A Type of Passive
Transport EXTRACELLULAR
FLUID

• Substances are transport by

membrane proteins (a) Channel
protein
• Hydrophilic passages
Channel protein Solute

• Movement down CYTOPLASM

concentration gradient
• No energy required!!

(b) Carrier protein

 Active Transport Requires Energy

• Requires energy
• ATP
• High-enrg. e-
• Light (bacteria)

• Moves molecules against

the [gradient]
• Requires protein pump in
membrane

Sodium-Potassium Pump
Sodium (Na+) – EXTRACELLULAR
FLUID [Na+] high

Potassium (K+) Na+

[K+] low
Na+
Na+

Pump Mechanism
Na+
Na+

[Na+] low P ATP

Na+
[K+] high ADP
CYTOPLASM
K+ 1 2
K+
+
6 Na+ Na

Na+

K+

K+ P
K+ K+ 3
P
Pi
5
4
 Electrogenic Pumps Generate Membrane
Potential
• Moves ions across
membrane
• Creates difference in charge
• Ions are controlled by
electrochemical gradient ATP − + EXTRACELLULAR
− FLUID
• Electrical force (membrane + H+
H+
voltage) H+
Proton pump H+
• Concentration (chemical) − + H+

CYTOPLASM − + H+
 Cotransport
• Coupled transport with ions
• Symport
• Antiport

• Substance 1 enters the cell

along its [gradient] while
substance 2 moves against
its [gradient]
• Important for transporting
sugars & a.a.
Cotransport and Your
Kidneys
 Bulk Transport Outside of cell

• Used for large molecules or Plasma

membrane
fluids Molecule to be exported
Cytoplasm

• Depends on vesicles Exocytosis

• Exocytosis – releasing contents

out of the cell
• Endocytosis – Bring material
into the cell

Endocytosis
Bulk Transport: A Closer Look at Endocytosis
• Used for large molecules or liquids
• Food, proteins, fluids

• Trafficking depends on vesicles

 Viruses Manipulate Unsuspecting Cells
• Viruses evolve to recognize
surface proteins HIV

• Allows entry into cell via

bulk transport
• Trojan horse

Receptor
Receptor (CD4)
(CD4) Co-receptor
but no CCR5 Plasma
(CCR5) membrane

(a) CCR5 Receptor Present (b) No CCR5 Receptor Present

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpj0emEGShQ
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odRyv7V8LAE&t=105s
 Neuron Function (Physiology) Depends
on Multiple Cell Trafficking Mechanisms
• Action potential
development and
propagation depend on
trafficking mechanisms
• Passive
• Active
• Bulk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHRC8SlLcH0
 Cell Trafficking Review
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT

Passive Transport Active Transport

(requires no energy) (requires energy)
Diffusion Facilitated diffusion Osmosis  Missing bulk
Higher [solute] Lower [solute] Higher [solute] transport!!!
Solute

Solute

Water

Solute
ATP
Lower [solute] Higher [solute] Lower [solute]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGeSDI03aaw
Recap
• Plasma membrane is fluid and dynamic
• Membrane proteins vary in function, structure and how they
associate with the membrane
• Membranes are semipermeable allowing specific substances
to enter or exit the cell
• Substances move via passive, active, or bulk transport