The Structure of

Cell Membrane

Kristine Mae C. Evardone

MAED-Bio
 Roles of the cell membrane

 Protects cell from surroundings.

 Internal Environment ≠ External Environment

 Determines which particles may enter and exit the cell

Phospholipids – is a molecule with two fatty acids and a modified
phosphate group attached to a glycerol backbone.

A phospholipid is an amphipathic molecule which means it has both a

hydrophobic and hydrophilic component.

It allow selective passage of certain substances into and out of the cell.
• Phospholipids form a very versatile barrier which is a lipid
bilayer, that except from protecting the cell from potential
harmful substances it also keeps the internal of the cell from
spilling and causing cell lesion (destruction).

• The lipid bilayer also houses proteins which help bring into
the cell useful elements and substances, communicate with
other cells and helps to keep the genetic material safe.
Cholesterol – is a component of animal cell membranes,
where it functions to maintain integrity and mechanical stability

It is absent in plant cells, as these plasma membranes are

surrounded and supported by rigid cell wall made of cellulose.
• An amphipathic molecule (like phospholipids), meaning it has
both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions.

• Cholesterol’s hydroxyl (-OH) group is hydrophilic and aligns

towards the phosphate heads of phospholipids.

• The remainder of the molecule ( steroid ring and hydrocarbon

tail ) is hydrophobic and associates with the phospholipids tails.
 Phospholipid bilayer are fluid, in that the phospholipids are in constant
movement to one another. Cholesterol interacts with the fatty acid tails of
phospholipids to moderate properties of the membrane:

• Cholesterol functions to immobilise the outer surface of the membrane,

reducing fluidity

• It makes the membrane less permeable to very small water-soluble

molecules that would otherwise freely cross

• It functions to separate the phospholipids tails and so prevent

crystallisation of the membrane

• It helps secure peripheral proteins by forming high density lipid rafts

capable of anchoring the protein
Channel Protein is a special arrangement of amino acids which embeds
in the cell membrane, providing a hydrophilic passageway for water and
small, polar ions. Like all transport proteins, each channel protein has a size
and shape which excludes all but the most specific molecules.

Types of Channel Protein

Non-Gated
• a state which stays open all the time, it allow ions and water to flow
through the cell membrane.

• Needed whenever the balance of water and ions must be assisted by the
constant passage of water and ions into or out of the cell
Gated Channel Protein

• Remains closed, until it receives a special chemical or

electrical signal

• The ability to gate an ion channel allows electrical energy to

be built up inside the cell.

• Channel proteins on the surface of nerve cells react to

electrical signals created by the flooding of ions through the
membrane next to them

• As they open, ions spill through and continue the electrical

disturbance.

• This passes a signal very quickly through the body.

Chanel Proteins
Depending on whether it is gated or non-gated, a channel protein
has a slightly different function. A non-gated channel protein simple
allows ions and water to flow freely from one side of a membrane to
another. This channel protein are not often found on the external cell
membrane.

When ion gradient needs to be maintained, gated channel

proteins serve the role of holding back the tide of ions until they are
signaled to be open. A closed channel acts as a corked bottle. Water
and ions move slowly through the plasma membrane, or not at all. If
the channel protein is closed, they have little chance of obtaining
equilibrium.
Carrier Protein

Carrier protein and channel protein are two types of membrane

transport proteins.

Carrier proteins typically have a “binding site” which will only

bind to the substance they are supposed to carry.

Once the carrier protein has bound to a sufficient quantity of its

target substance, the protein changes shape to “carry” the substance
from one side of the membrane to the other.
Carrier protein are some of the most common proteins in
the world, and some of the most important to sustaining life. A
cell’s ability to perform the functions of life depends on its
ability to maintain a difference between the intracellular and
extracellular environment.

Some of the common purposes served by carrier

protein include:
 Creating gradient which allow nerve cells to function
 Creating ion gradient which allow the mitochondria to function
 Creating ion gradient which allow chloroplasts to function in
photosynthesis
 Transporting large molecule such as sugars and fats in and out of the
cll
 And many more….
Glycoproteins
Glycoproteins are found on the surface of the lipid bilayer of cell
membranes. Their hydrophilic nature allows them to function in the
aqueous environment, where they function in the aqueous
environment, where they act in cell- cell recognition and binding of
other molecules.
Peripheral proteins

Peripheral proteins don’t cross the membrane. It kind of hang

out on either side of cell membranes. They are loosely attached to
other proteins or the membrane it self through hydrogen bonds. It
sits in the outside of the membrane and do not integrate into the
membrane.

Peripheral proteins are vital to the function of the cell. They do

this by acting as partners with other proteins.
Cell membranes are represented according to a fluid- mosaic model, due to the fact that
they are:

 Fluid – the phospholipid bilayer is viscous and individual phospholipids can move
position.
 Mosaic – the phospholipid bilayer is embedded with proteins, resulting in a mosaic of
components.