Chapter 6.

Cell membrane and cell

communication

1. Study method and models of plasma

membrane
2. Cell structure and function
3. Movement of Substance through membrane
4. Cell communication
1. Study method and models of plasma
membrane
Plasma membrane of human red blood include:

60% protein - 55% phospholipid

- 25% cholesterol
40% lipid
- 18% glycolipid
- 2% fatty acid
 Early membrane model

WATER

1935: Sandwich model

(Davson/Danielli)
The freeze-fracture method: revealed
the structure of membrane’s interior
 Cell Membrane

A. Plasma membrane is selectively permeable

– Allows some substances to cross more easily
than others
B. Fluid Mosaic Model
– Fluid: membrane held together by weak
interactions
– Mosaic: phospholipids, proteins, carbs
Phospholipid movement

9
Movement of membrane proteins

10
2. Membrane structure and function
Dark area Light area

Singer and
Nicholson
1972
Phospholipids
• Bilayer
• Amphipathic =
hydrophilic head,
hydrophobic tail
• Hydrophobic
barrier: keeps
hydrophilic
molecules out
Factors that affect membrane fluidity

Cholesterol
Integral & Peripheral proteins
Peripheral proteins
Integral Proteins (Transmembrane protein)
 Transmembrane protein structure

Hydrophobic Hydrophilic
interior ends
Six major functions of membrane proteins

Transport Enzymatic activity Signal transduction

Cell-cell Intercellular Attachment to the cytoskeleton

recognition joining & extracellular matrix (ECM)
 Carbohydrates
• Function: cell-cell recognition; developing
organisms
• Glycolipids, glycoproteins
• Eg. blood transfusions are type-specific
Synthesis and sidedness of membranes
3. Mechanisms of transport across cell membrane
(1), Diffusion: down concentration gradient

(high à low
concentration)
Osmosis:
diffusion of H2O

High Low
y y
 Water Potential
Water potential (ψ): H2O moves from high ψ à low
ψ potential
Water potential equation

y: water potential (thế nước)

p: osmotic pressure (áp suất thẩm thấu)
P: hydrostatic pressure (áp suất thủy tĩnh),
turgor pressure (plants)
 Where will WATER move?
From an area of:
– higher ψ à lower ψ (more negative ψ)
– low solute concentration à high solute
concentration
(2), Facilitated Diffusion: Passive transport,
aided by proteins

Channel proteins:
- Aquaporins
- Ion channels
(a) A channel protein
Carrier proteins:
change in shape that
translocates the
solute-binding site
across the membrane
(b) A carrier protein
Transport of glucose through human red blood
(3), Active Transport

• Requires ENERGY (ATP)

Direct or indirect
• Requires specific membrane
proteins
• Transport substances
against concentration
gradient (low à high conc.)

Eg. Na+/K+ pump, proton pump

Direct active transport
ATPaz-Na+/K+ pump in animal cell
Indirect active transport

H+ and sucrose cotransport

 Passive vs. Active Transport
• Little or no Energy • Requires Energy (ATP)
• High à low • Low à high
concentrations concentrations
• DOWN the • AGAINST the
concentration gradient concentration gradient
eg. diffusion, osmosis, eg. pumps,
facilitated diffusion exo/endocytosis
(w/transport protein)
 Bulk Transport
Transport of proteins, polysaccharides, large
molecules

Endocytosis: take in
macromolecules, form
new vesicles
Exocytosis: vesicles
fuse with cell
membrane, expel
contents
 Types of Endocytosis
Phagocytosis: Pinocytosis:
“cellular eating”-solids “cellular drinking” - fluids

Receptor-Mediated
Endocytosis:
Ligands bind to specific
receptors on cell surface
Loại cholesterol thừa trong máu

(low-density lipoprotein)
Summary
Type of substance Transport type
CO2, N2, O2 …. à Diffusion
Water à Osmosis
Ions à Facilitated diffusion
à Active transport
Bulk molecules à Endocytosis
à Exocytosis
 4. Cell communication
Overview of cell signaling
EXTRACELLULA CYTOPLAS
R M
FLUID Plasma membrane

1 Reception 2 Transduction 3 Response

Receptor
Activation
of cellular
response
Relay molecules in a signal transduction pathway

Signaling
molecule
Cell signaling