The Cell Membrane

The cell membrane, also called the plasma
membrane, is found in all cells and separates

the interior of the cell from the outside
environment.
The cell membrane consists of a lipid bilayer
that is semipermeable. The cell membrane
regulates the transport of materials entering
and exiting the cell.
Fluid Mosaic Model
The currently accepted model for the structure

of the plasma membrane, called the fluid
mosaic model, was first proposed in 1972.
Fluid Mosaic Model
According to the fluid mosaic model, the

plasma membrane is a mosaic of components
– primarily, phospholipids, cholesterol, and
proteins – that move freely and fluidly in the
plane of the membrane.
Fluid Mosaic Model
For example, if you insert a very fine needle

into a cell, the membrane will simply part to
flow around the needle; once the needle is
removed, the membrane will flow back together
seamlessly.
Components of the Cell 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.
Phospholipids
Phospholipids,
arranged in a bilayer,
make up the basic
fabric of the plasma
membrane.
Phospholipids
They are well-suited for
this role because they are
amphipathic, meaning
that they have both
hydrophilic and
hydrophobic regions.
Phospholipids
The hydrophilic, or “water-
loving,” portion of a
phospholipid is its head, which
contains a negatively charged
phosphate group as well as an
additional small group, which
may also or be charged or
polar.
Phospholipids
The hydrophilic heads of

phospholipids in a
membrane bilayer face
outward, contacting the
aqueous (watery) fluid both
inside and outside the cell.
Phospholipids
Since water is a polar

molecule, it readily forms
electrostatic (charge-
based) interactions with
the phospholipid heads.
Phospholipids
The hydrophobic, or
“water-fearing,” part of a
phospholipid consists of
its long, nonpolar fatty
acid tails.
Phospholipids
The fatty acid tails can

easily interact with other
nonpolar molecules, but
they interact poorly with
water.
Phospholipids
The phospholipid bilayer formed
by these interactions makes a
good barrier between the interior
and exterior of the cell, because
water and other polar or charged
substances cannot easily cross
the hydrophobic core of the
membrane.
Can water cross the plasma membrane at all?
In water or aqueous
solution, phospholipids tend
to arrange themselves with
their hydrophobic tails
facing each other and their
hydrophilic heads facing
out.
Can water cross the plasma membrane at all?
If the phospholipids have small

tails, they may form a micelle
(a small, single-layered
sphere), while if they have
bulkier tails, they may form a
liposome (a hollow droplet of
bilayer membrane).
Proteins
Proteins are the

second major
component of plasma
membranes.
Proteins
Integral membrane proteins
are, as their name suggests,
integrated into the membrane:
they have at least one
hydrophobic region that
anchors them to the
hydrophobic core of the
phospholipid bilayer.
Proteins
Some stick only partway

into the membrane, while
others stretch from one side
of the membrane to the
other and are exposed on
either side.
Proteins
Proteins that extend all

the way across the
membrane are called
transmembrane
proteins.
Proteins
The portions of an integral
membrane protein found
inside the membrane are
hydrophobic, while those
that are exposed to the
cytoplasm or extracellular
fluid tend to be hydrophilic.
Proteins
Transmembrane proteins
may cross the membrane
just once, or may have as
many as twelve different
membrane-spanning
sections.
Proteins
A typical membrane-
spanning segment consists
of 20-25 hydrophobic amino
acids arranged in an alpha
helix, although not all
transmembrane proteins fit
this model.
Proteins
A typical membrane-
spanning segment consists
of 20-25 hydrophobic amino
acids arranged in an alpha
helix, although not all
transmembrane proteins fit
this model.
Proteins
Peripheral membrane
proteins are found on the
outside and inside surfaces
of membranes, attached
either to integral proteins or
to phospholipids.
Proteins
Unlike integral membrane
proteins, peripheral
membrane proteins do not
stick into the hydrophobic
core of the membrane, and
they tend to be more loosely
attached.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the third major component of

plasma membranes. In general, they are found on
the outside surface of cells and are bound either to
proteins (forming glycoproteins) or to lipids (forming
glycolipids).
Carbohydrates
Along with membrane proteins, these

carbohydrates form distinctive cellular markers, sort
of like molecular ID badges, that allow cells to
recognize each other.
Carbohydrates
These markers are very important in the immune

system, allowing immune cells to differentiate
between body cells, which they shouldn’t attack,
and foreign cells or tissues, which they should.
Membrane fluidity
The structure of the fatty acid tails of the

phospholipids is important in determining the
properties of the membrane, and in particular,
how fluid it is.
Membrane fluidity
Saturated fatty acids have

no double bonds (are
saturated with hydrogens),
so they are relatively
straight.
Membrane fluidity
Unsaturated fatty acids,

on the other hand, contain
one or more double bonds,
often resulting in a bend or
kink.
Membrane fluidity
At cooler temperatures,
the straight tails of
saturated fatty acids can
pack tightly together,
making a dense and fairly
rigid membrane.
Membrane fluidity
At cooler temperatures, the straight tails of

saturated fatty acids can pack tightly together,
making a dense and fairly rigid membrane.
Membrane fluidity
Phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acid tails

cannot pack together as tightly because of the bent
structure of the tails. Because of this, a membrane
containing unsaturated phospholipids will stay fluid
at lower temperatures than a membrane made of
saturated ones.
Membrane fluidity
Most cell membranes
contain a mixture of
phospholipids, some with
two saturated (straight) tails
and others with one
saturated and one
unsaturated (bent) tail.
Membrane fluidity
Cholesterol, another type

of lipid that is embedded
among the phospholipids
of the membrane, helps to
minimize the effects of
temperature on fluidity.
Membrane fluidity
At low temperatures,
cholesterol increases fluidity
by keeping phospholipids
from packing tightly
together, while at high
temperatures, it actually
reduces fluidity.
Membrane fluidity
In this way, cholesterol

expands the range of
temperatures at which a
membrane maintains a
functional, healthy fluidity.
The components of the cell membrane

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The cell membrane, also called the plasma

membrane, is found in all cells and separates

The currently accepted model for the structure

According to the fluid mosaic model, the

For example, if you insert a very fine needle

The principal components of the plasma

The hydrophilic heads of

Since water is a polar

The fatty acid tails can

If the phospholipids have small

Proteins are the

Some stick only partway

Proteins that extend all

Carbohydrates are the third major component of

Along with membrane proteins, these

These markers are very important in the immune

The structure of the fatty acid tails of the

Saturated fatty acids have

Unsaturated fatty acids,

At cooler temperatures, the straight tails of

Phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acid tails

Cholesterol, another type

In this way, cholesterol

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