PLASMA MEMBRANE

Darius Rupa

 Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and

Education, Borneo Tarakan University
 What is the plasma membrane?...
The principal components of the plasma membrane are lipids
(phospholipids and cholesterol), proteins, and carbohydrate groups
that are attached to some of the lipids and proteins.

The fundamental structure of the membrane is the

phospholipid bilayer, which forms a stable barrier
between two aqueous compartments. In the case of
the plasma membrane, these compartments are the
inside and the outside of the cell. Proteins
embedded within the phospholipid bilayer carry out
the specific functions of the plasma membrane,
including selective transport of molecules and cell-
cell recognition (Cooper GM. 2000)
 Plasma membrane function
What exactly is its job?
The plasma membrane not only defines the
borders of the cell, but also allows the cell to
interact with its environment in a controlled
way. Cells must be able to exclude, take in,
and excrete various substances, all in
specific amounts. In addition, they must able
to communicate with other cells, identifying
themselves and sharing information.
 In bacterial and plant cells, a cell wall is attached to the
plasma membrane on its outside surface
the plasma
membranes of animal
cells contain four
major phospholipids
(phosphatidylcholine,
phosphatidylethanola
mine,
phosphatidylserine,
and sphingomyelin)

The outer leaflet consists predominantly of phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and

glycolipids, whereas the inner leaflet contains phosphatidylethanolamine,
phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol. Cholesterol is distributed in both
leaflets. The net negative charge of the head groups of phosphatidylserine and
phosphatidylinositol is indicated. The structures of phospholipids, glycolipids, and
cholesterol are shown in Figures 2,3 and 4, respectively (Cooper GM. 2000)
Figure 2. Structure of phospholipids

Glycerol phospholipids contain two

fatty acids joined to glycerol. The
fatty acids may be different from
each other and are designated R1
and R2. The third carbon of
glycerol is joined to a phosphate
group (forming phosphatidic acid),
which in turn is frequently joined
to another small polar molecule
(forming
phosphatidylethanolamine,
phosphatidylcholine,
phosphatidylserine, or
phosphatidylinositol). In
sphingomyelin, two hydrocarbon
chains are bound to a polar head
group formed from serine instead
of glycerol.
Figure 3. Structure of
glycolipids

Two hydrocarbon chains

are joined to a polar head
group formed from serine
and containing
carbohydrates (e.g.,
glucose).
 Figure 4. Cholesterol and steroid hormones

Cholesterol, an important component of cell membranes, is an

amphipathic molecule because of its polar hydroxyl group. Cholesterol is
also a precursor to the steroid hormones, such as testosterone and
estradiol (a form of estrogen). The hydrogen atoms bonded to the ring
carbons are not shown in this figure.
 Fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane

Integral membrane proteins are inserted into the lipid bilayer, whereas peripheral proteins are
bound to the membrane indirectly by protein-protein interactions. Most
integral membrane proteins are transmembrane proteins, with portions exposed on both sides
of the lipid bilayer. The extracellular portions of these proteins are usually glycosylated, as are
the peripheral membrane proteins bound to the external face of the membrane.
Singer and Nicolson distinguished two classes of membrane-
associated proteins, which they called peripheral and
integral membrane proteins.

Peripheral membrane proteins were operationally defined as proteins

that dissociate from the membrane following treatments with polar
reagents, such as solutions of extreme pH or high salt concentration,
that do not disrupt the phospholipid bilayer. Once dissociated from
the membrane, peripheral membrane proteins are soluble in aqueous
buffers. These proteins are not inserted into the hydrophobic interior
of the lipid bilayer. Instead, they are indirectly associated with
membranes through protein-protein interactions. These interactions
frequently involve ionic bonds, which are disrupted by extreme pH or
high salt.

50 µm
 Solubilization of integral membrane proteins by detergents

Detergents (e.g., octyl glucoside) are amphipathic molecules containing hydrophilic head groups
and hydrophobic tails. The hydrophobic tails bind to the hydrophobic regions of
integral membrane proteins, forming detergent-protein complexes that are soluble in aqueous
solution.
 Integral membrane protein of red blood cells

The two major integral membrane proteins of

red blood cells, glycophorin and band 3
Glycophorin (131 amino acids) contains a single transmembrane α helix. It is
heavily glyocosylated, with oligosaccharides attached to 16 sites on the
extracellular portion of the polypeptide chain. Band 3 (929 amino acids) has
multiple transmembrane α helices and is thought to cross the membrane 14
times.
Mobility of Membrane Proteins

Human and mouse cells were fused to

produce hybrid cells. The distribution of cell
surface proteins was then analyzed using anti-
human and anti-mouse antibodies labeled
with different fluorescent dyes (red and green,
respectively). The human and mouse proteins
were detected in different halves of the hybrid
cells immediately after fusion but had
intermingled over the cell surface following 40
minutes of incubation.
 Trikoma kelenjar
A Polarized intestinalpada dauncell
epithelial
The apical surface of the
cell contains microvilli and
is specialized for
absorption of nutrients
from the intestinal lumen.
The basolateral surface is
specialized for the transfer
of absorbed nutrients to
the underlying connective
tissue, which contains
blood capillaries. Tight
junctions separate the
apical and basolateral
domains of the
plasma membrane.
Membrane proteins are
free to diffuse within each
domain but are not able
to cross from one domain
to the other.
 Task 1
SIMPULAN

Search one of journals about the relationship

between plasma membranes process
(Summarize the journal into two paragraphs and
describe in detail the processes that occur
between plasma membranes)

Note: Your summary results must be collected

on 14th April , 2020 at 16.00 trough your class
leaders email.