CAPE UNIT 1 BIOLOGY

MODULE 1: CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

3. Membrane Structure and Function

3.1. Explain the Fluid Mosaic Membrane model of biological membrane structure.
The roles of phospholipids, cholesterol, glycolipids, protein and glycoproteins. Diagrams
are required.

BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES

The cytoplasm and its contents are surrounded by a semi-permeable CELL MEMBRANE
(PLASMA MEMBRANE) in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Various organelles within the cytoplasm in eukaryotic cells are surrounded by one similar
membrane, or by two membranes (an envelope).
QUESTION:
1. What organelles in both plant and animal cells are surrounded by:
a) one membrane only
b) two membranes?
2. What organelles in:
a) animal cells only
b) plant cells only
are surrounded by one membrane?

A biological membrane is thin and SEMI-PERMEABLE or PARTIALLY–PERMEABLE.

It is made up of :
i) a BILAYER (two layers) of PHOSPHOLIPIDS, which has different types of proteins,
as well as cholesterol, arranged within the phospholipid bilayer.
ii) CHOLESTEROL within the phospholipid bilayer.
iii) different types of PROTEINS embedded within the phospholipid bilayer or loosely
associated with its surfaces.
 THE FLUID MOSAIC MODEL OF BIOLOGICAL
MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed by S.J. Singer and Garth L. Nicolson in 1972 to
explain the structure of the plasma membrane. The model has evolved somewhat over
time, but it still best accounts for the structure and functions of the plasma membrane as
we now understand them.

The fluid mosaic model describes the structure of the plasma membrane as a MOSAIC of
components —including phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates.
The membrane has the appearance of a mosaic work of art (pattern or image made of small
regular or irregular pieces of coloured stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by
plaster/mortar, and covering a surface).

MOSAIC WORK OF ART

It is described as FLUID because the components are constant motion. The phospholipids
are in constant motion in each monolayer. Some phospholipid molecules can “flip” from one
monolayer to the next, however, they generally remain in motion within their monolayer.
Proteins move about within the lipid.
The proportions of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates in the plasma membrane vary with
cell type. For example, myelin contains 18% protein and 76% lipid. The mitochondrial inner
membrane contains 76% protein and 24% lipid.
 Channel protein

Peripheral membrane protein

THREE DIMENSIONAL DIAGRAM OF THE FLUID MOSAIC MODEL OF A BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANE

Phospholipid
bilayer

Integral
(intrinsic)
protein

i) THE PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER

Channel Integral (intrinsic)

Peripheral
protein transmembrane protein
(extrinsic)
Cholesterol
protein

SIMPLE TWO DIMENSIONAL DIAGRAM OF THE FLUID MOSAIC MODEL OF A BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANE
 i)
ii)
WATCH iii)NOW ON
iv)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqsf_UJcfBc
v)
Fluid vi) Mosaic Model
vii)
viii)

THE LIPIDS

i) PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER

A phospholipid is made up of:

a) a negatively-charged POLAR PHOSPHATE HEAD which is attracted to water. It is said
to be HYDROPHILIC (“water loving”).

b) TWO NON-POLAR FATTY ACID TAILS which not attracted to water. They are said to
be HYDROPHOBIC )”water hating”).

(phosphate)

(fatty acid)

A PHOSPHOLIPID MOLECULE
 Around the cell, the phospholipids arrange themselves as follows to form the bilayer:
a) The phosphate heads face towards the external aqueous environment and the
aqueous environment of the cytoplasm.
b) The fatty acid tails face internally away from the aqueous environments.
The result is the phospholipid bilayer which is about 7.5 nm in width.

Aqueous PHOSPHOLIPID
region

7.5 nm

ELECTRON
DIAGRAM SHOWING ORIENTATION MICROGRAPH OF
OF PHOSHOLIPIDS TO APRODUCE
CELL MEMBRANE
A BILAYER IN A CELL MEMBRANE

~ 7.5 nm

ELECTRON MICROGRAPH OF A PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER MEMBRANE

FUNCTIONS OF PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER:

BARRIER between exterior of cells or membrane-bound cell organelles and the cytoplasm.
PERMEABLE to non-polar molecules.
IMPERMEABLE to ions and charged molecules.
 ii ) CHOLESTEROL

Cholesterol helps to maintain the FLUIDITY of the

membrane. It prevents the membrane from becoming too
stiff when temperatures are too low, or too fluid when
temperatures become too high.

CHOLESTEROL

GLYCOLIPIDS
These types of lipids have carbohydrate chains attached to them.

Carbohydrate chain

Lipid

They are located facing the exterior surface of the membrane and they function as
RECOGNITION SITES in cell-cell interactions. They can also function as ANTIGENS.
 THE PROTEINS
a) PERIPHERAL (EXTRINSIC PROTEINS)

PERIPHERAL (EXTRINSIC) PROTEINS

ii) PROTEINS
PERIPHERAL
(EXTRINSIC)
a) PERIPHERAL (EXTRINSIC PROTEINS) PROTEIN

PERIPHERAL PERIPHERAL
(EXTRINSIC) (EXTRINSIC)
PROTEIN PROTEIN

Peripheral proteins, being loosely associated with the hydrophilic layers of the phospholipid
bilayer, are easily removed by mild treatment with detergent.
 b) INTEGRAL (INTRINSIC) PROTEINS
These types of proteins are embedded within the membrane. Some are partially embedded,
while some span BOTH phospholipid bilayers (these types are known as TRANSEMBRANE
PROTEINS).
They can only be removed by disrupting the membrane structure.

TRANSMEMBRANE INTEGRAL PROTEIN (NOT TRANSMEMBRANE

INTEGRAL PROTEIN TRANSMEMBRANE) INTEGRAL PROTEIN
 Parts of the integral proteins have hydrophobic regions, and parts have hydrophilic regions.
The hydrophobic regions are located within the hydrophobic fatty acid layers, while the
hydrophilic regions face the external and internal aqueous environments of the cell.

hydrophilic
hydrophilic
region
region

hydrophobic
region

hydrophobic
region

Integral proteins are said to be AMPHIPATHIC. This means that they have both hydrophobic
and hydrophilic regions.

Integral membrane proteins are held in place in the membrane by:

i) ELECTROSTATIC (IONIC) BONDS with the charged polar phosphate heads.

ii) HYDROPHOBIC INTERACTIONS with the non-polar fatty acid tails.
iii) Special types of proteins called MICROFILAMENTS forming the CYTOSKELETON
in the cytoplasm.
GLYCOPROTEINS
These types of membrane proteins have carbohydrate chains attached to them on the
exterior side of the cell.

DIAGRAM SHOWING A GLYCOPROTEIN IN A MEMBRANE

Functions of glycoproteins are:

RECEPTORS for hormones; neurotransmitters at synapses between neurones, and between

neurones and muscle cells.

RECOGNITION SITES for other similar cells when forming tissues during development.

They are ANTIGENS on the surface of cells.

 THE CARBOHYDRATE CHAINS OF GLYCOLIPIDS AND GLYCOPROTEINS TOGETHER FORM
THE GLYCOCALYX OF BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES.

GLYCOCALYX

PHOSPHOLIPID
BILAYER

DIAGRAM SHOWING THE GLYCOCALYX IN A BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANE

SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS OF PROTEINS IN BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES

.
SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS OF BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES
TABLE SHOWING FUNCTIONS (AND RELATED EXAMPLES) OF BIOLOGICAL
MEMBRANES
FUNCTION
1) The partially-permeable
nature of membranes allow
them to control what passes
through them.
2) Compartmentalisation
within cells.
3) Cell signalling.
4) Attachment sites for
enzymes and other
molecules involved in
metabolic processes in the
cell.
5) Transport of substances.
6) Transmission of electrical
impulses in neurones.
EXAMPLES
a) The phospholipid bilayer allows small or
uncharged particles to pass through it.
b) Channel proteins and carrier proteins
control the passage of larger or charged
particles.
Chemical reactions within membrane-bound
organelles are isolated from reactions occurring in
the cytoplasm and other locations in the cell.
A substance (e.g. hormone) is produced by one
type of cell and binds to receptors in another type
of cell to bring about a response in it (e.g.
activation of certain chemical reactions).
The inner mitochondrial membrane contains the
enzyme ATPase to synthesise ATP.
Vesicles:
o formed at the cell membrane to transport
substances from the exterior of the cell to
the interior of the cell (endocytosis).
o from the cytoplasm (such as Golgi vesicles)
transport substances from the interior of
the cell to the exterior of the cell
(exocytosis).
o Transport newly-formed proteins from the
rough endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi
body.
Electrical impulses are transmitted along axons of
neurones.