5.

2 Factors Affecting
Membrane Structure
OCR Y1 / AS Level Biology A
Module 2 Foundations in Biology
Chapter 5 Plasma Membranes
11/28/21 Page 106 and 107 in
the OUP Textbook

5.2 Factors Affecting Membrane

Structure
• Lesson Objectives:
• Learners should be able to demonstrate and
apply their knowledge and understanding of:
i. factors affecting membrane structure and
permeability
ii. practical investigations into factors affecting
membrane structure and permeability
Membrane fluidity
It is important that a cell membrane maintains its fluidity
otherwise the cell would not be able to function.

A fluid membrane is needed for many processes, such as for:

 the diffusion of substances across the membrane

 membranes to fuse, e.g. a

vesicle fusing with the cell
membrane during exocytosis

 cells to move and change

shape, e.g. macrophages
during phagocytosis.

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Factors affecting membrane fluidity

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 Effect of Heat…
• As temperature increases
the kinetic energy of the
phospholipids increases
• This creates gaps between
the bilayer
• Molecules can pass through
the gaps, the permeability of
the membrane increases
 Effects of Solvents…
• Water is a polar molecule
and is important in creating
membrane stability with the
phospholipids
• Other solvents like alcohols
are less polar or benzene
which is not polar
• This can move into the
bilayer disputing the
structure
Investigating the effect of temperature
on beetroot permeability

Follow the
method
on the
sheet

Then
answer
the
questions
Investigating the effect of temperature
on beetroot permeability
Method – Part 1
Investigating the effect of temperature
on beetroot permeability
Method – Part 2
Investigating the effect of temperature
on beetroot permeability
Temperature/ °C Colour intensity / arb. units Colorimeter absorbance / A

Target Actual Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Mean T Trial 2 Trial 3 Mean

ri
al
1

25                  
Control

25                  

35                  

45                  

55                  

65                  

75                  
Investigating the effect of temperature
on beetroot permeability
Investigating the effect of temperature
on beetroot permeability
Investigating the effect of temperature
on beetroot permeability
Investigating the effect of temperature
on beetroot permeability
 What does the experiment
show?
• What does this
graph show?
• Explain using the
particle model what
is happening to the
structure of the
membranes at each
stage.
 What does the experiment show?
• (1) Temperatures below freezing
• The phospholipids don't have
much energy, so they cant move
very much
• They are packed closely together
forming a rigid layer
• Channel proteins and carrier
proteins denature
• Ice crystals may pierce the
membranes and this would
increase the permeable
significantly
 What does the experiment show?
• (2) Temperatures between 0 &
45°C
• The phospholipids can move
around and aren't packed closely
together
• The membrane is partially
permeable
• Temperature gives the lipids more
energy
• This INCREASES PERMIABILITY
 What does the experiment show?
• (3) Temperatures above
45°C
• The phospholipids bilayer
starts to melt and become
more permeable
• Water inside the cell puts
pressure on the membranes
• Channel proteins and carrier
proteins denature increasing
permeability
Cell membranes

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 Review Questions
• Answer the summary
questions
11/28/21

5.2 Factors Affecting Membrane Structure

Back to the Objectives…
• Lesson Objectives:
• Learners should be able to demonstrate and
apply their knowledge and understanding of:
i. factors affecting membrane structure and
permeability
ii. practical investigations into factors affecting
membrane structure and permeability