Plasma Membrane

• Cells are separated from the external world by a thin, fragile structure
called the plasma membrane that is only 5 to 10 nm wide.
• The plasma membrane encloses the contents of the entire cell, whereas
the nuclear and cytoplasmic membranes enclose diverse intracellular
spaces.
• Membranes prevent the unrestricted exchange of molecules from one side
to the other, i.e. selectively permeable. At the same time, membranes
provide the means of communication between the compartments they
separate.
• The plasma membrane contained a bimolecular layer of lipids, that is, a
lipid bilayer and proteins.
The Chemical MEMBRANE
Composition of LIPIDS
• Phospholipids: it is most abundant in plasma membrane,
Plasma Membrane having hydrophilic polar head and two hydrophobic tails
made up of fatty acids.
• Sphingolipids: A less abundant class of membrane lipids,
called sphingolipids, are derivatives of sphingosine, an
amino alcohol that contains a long hydrocarbon chains.
• Cholesterol: Cholesterol molecules are oriented with
their small hydrophilic hydroxyl group toward the
membrane surface and the remainder of the molecule
embedded in the lipid bilayer.
• Lipid layer can change cell’s structure.
MEMBRANE CARBOHYDRATES

• The plasma membranes of eukaryotic cells also contain carbohydrate.

• The carbohydrate of glycoproteins is present as short, branched hydrophilic
oligosaccharides.
• Carbohydrate projections play an important role in mediating the
interactions of a cell with its environment.
MEMBRANE PROTEIN

• Integral proteins that penetrate the lipid bilayer. Integral proteins are
transmembrane proteins; that is, they pass entirely through the lipid bilayer
and thus have domains that protrude from both the extracellular and
cytoplasmic sides of the membrane.
• Peripheral proteins that are located entirely outside of the lipid bilayer.
• Lipid-anchored proteins that are located outside the lipid bilayer, but are
covalently linked to a lipid molecule that is situated within the bilayer.
The Movement of Substances
Across Cell Membranes
• There are basically two means for the movement of substances
through a membrane : passively by diffusion or actively by an energy-
coupled transport process.
Passive transport (no ATP used)
Diffusion: Small molecules transported directly through phospholipids
bilayer with the help of simple Diffusion. Rate depends On molecule
size And concentration gradient.(e.g. co2)
In Facilitated Diffusion molecules need Assistance of channel proteins
or carrier proteins.(e.g., ions, Sugars, amino acids)
Osmosis: Transport of Water form Higher conc. to lower conc. Through
semi-permeable membrane.
Active transport
• Energy is require in active transport in the
form of ATP.
• Substances move against concentration
gradient.
• Endocytosis
• Movement of large particles into the cells.
(Vessel formation)
• Pinocytosis, phagocytosis, Receptor-
mediated endocytosis.
• Exocytosis
• Movement of large particles out of the
cell.
Funtions of Plasma Membrane
Selective permeability – these processes can be passive or active.
Endocytosis or exocytosis.
Protection of the intracellular components, obviously.
The receptors (aka complex proteins) on the surface assist in cell
recognition/binding and other intracellular processes.
Cell signaling.
Cell recognition.
• Cell adhesion.