Cell Membrane

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1
Learning Competencies
Describe the structural components of the cell membrane
1
(STEM_BIO11/12-Ig-h-11)
Relate the structure and composition of the cell

2
membrane to its function
(STEM_BIO11/12-Ig-h-12)
The Cell Membrane
Fluid Mosaic Model
Cell Membrane
The plasma membrane also known as cell

membrane encloses the cell, separating the
inside and outside environments.
It is necessary for the specialized transport of
materials and is semi-permeable in nature. It
also provides protection for the cell.
Fluid Mosaic Model
The fluid mosaic model is the currently

accepted model for the structure of the cell
membrane. It was first proposed in 1972.
This model gives a good basic description of
the structure and behavior of membranes in
most cells.
Fluid Mosaic Model
This model describes the cell membrane as a mosaic of components of phospholipids,

cholesterol, and proteins that move freely and fluidly in the plane of the membrane.
The Cell Membrane
and Components
Cell Membrane Components
The major components of the cell membrane
are lipids (phospholipids and cholesterol),
proteins, and carbohydrate groups that are
attached to some lipids and proteins.
Cell Membrane Components
In humans, proteins
may account for about 10%
50 percent of the
composition by mass, 50%
40%
lipids (of all types) may
account for about 40
percent, and the 10
percent comes from
carbohydrates (Reece et. al, 2011).
Phospholipids
and the Bilayer
Phospholipids
A phospholipid is
a lipid made of
glycerol, two fatty
acid tails, and a
phosphate-linked
head group.
Phospholipids
They are
amphipathic in
nature.
They have both
hydrophilic and
hydrophobic
regions.
Phospholipids
The hydrophilic, or
“water-loving,” portion
of a phospholipid is
its head.
It contains a negatively charged phosphate group

as well as an additional small group, which may
also be charged or polar, and is attracted to water.
Phospholipids
The hydrophobic, or
“water-fearing,” part of
a phospholipid consists
of its long, nonpolar
fatty acid tails.
The fatty acid tails can easily interact with other
nonpolar molecules, but they interact poorly with
water.
Phospholipids
Because of their
amphipathic nature,
phospholipids tend to
arrange themselves
with their hydrophobic
tails facing each other
and their hydrophilic
heads facing out.
Phospholipids
If the phospholipids
have small tails,
they may form a
micelle, while if
they have bulkier
tails, they may form
a liposome.
Phospholipid Bilayer
Biological membranes usually involve two layers of
phospholipids with their tails pointing inward. This
arrangement is called a phospholipid bilayer.
Proteins
Integral and Peripheral
Proteins
Proteins are the
second major
component of cell
membranes.
There are two main
categories of
membrane proteins,
the integral and
peripheral proteins.
Integrated Membrane Proteins
They are integrated

into the membrane.
They have at least one
hydrophobic region
that anchors them to
the hydrophobic core
of the phospholipid
bilayer.
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.
Transmembrane
proteins are proteins
that extend all the way
across the membrane
Peripheral Membrane Proteins
They are found on

the outside and
inside surfaces of
membranes and are
attached either to
integral proteins or
to phospholipids.
Peripheral Membrane 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
Molecular ID
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the

third major component
of plasma membranes.
They are commonly
found on the outside
surface of cells and
are bound either to
proteins or to lipids.
Carbohydrates
Along with membrane proteins,
these carbohydrates form
distinctive cellular markers,
sort of like molecular ID
badges, that allow cells to
recognize each other.
These markers are very
important in cell to cell
recognition.
Carbohydrates
Like the immune system

this allows immune cells to
differentiate between body
cells which they shouldn’t
attack and foreign cells or
tissues, which they should.
Membrane Fluidity
Membrane Fluidity
Describes the ease of movement for

molecules in the membrane environment.
Consider the behavior of an oil droplet in
water after it is punctured by a needle,
the membrane will flow and self-seal
when the needle is extracted.
This behavior also accounts for fluidity.
Membrane Fluidity
The structure of the
fatty acid tails of
the phospholipids
is important in
determining the
properties of the
membrane like how
fluid it is.
Fatty Acid Tails
Saturated fatty
acids have no
double bonds
(are saturated
with hydrogens),
so they are
relatively
straight.
Fatty Acids Tails
Unsaturated fatty
acids, on the other
hand, contain one
or more double
bonds, often
resulting in a bend
or kink.
Fatty Acids Tails
The saturated and unsaturated fatty

acid tails of phospholipids behave
differently as temperature drops:
Fatty Acids Tails
At cooler temperatures, the straight tails

of saturated fatty acids can pack tightly
together, making a dense and fairly rigid
membrane.
Fatty Acids Tails
Phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acid

tails cannot pack together as tightly
because of the bent structure of the tails.
Fatty Acids Tails
Because of this, a membrane containing
unsaturated phospholipids will stay fluid at
lower temperatures than a membrane made
of saturated ones.
Fatty Acids Tails
Most cell membranes contain a mixture of

phospholipids, some with two saturated
(straight) tails and others with one
saturated and one unsaturated (bent) tail.
Cholesterol
Its Role in Membrane Fluidity
Cholesterol
Another type of lipid that

is embedded among the
phospholipids of the
membrane.
This helps to minimize
the effects of temperature
on fluidity.
Cholesterol
At low temperatures,
cholesterol increases
fluidity by keeping
phospholipids from
packing tightly together,
while at high
temperatures, it actually
decreases fluidity.
Cholesterol
In this way, cholesterol expands the range

of temperatures at which a membrane
maintains a functional, healthy fluidity.
QUESTIONS?
ACTIVITY
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GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

Relate the structure and composition of the cell

The plasma membrane also known as cell

The fluid mosaic model is the currently

This model describes the cell membrane as a mosaic of components of phospholipids,

It contains a negatively charged phosphate group

They are integrated

Some stick only partway

They are found on

Unlike integral membrane

Carbohydrates are the

Like the immune system

Describes the ease of movement for

The saturated and unsaturated fatty

At cooler temperatures, the straight tails

Phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acid

Most cell membranes contain a mixture of

Another type of lipid that

In this way, cholesterol expands the range

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