CELL MEMBRANE

Function and Structure grade 11

Biology
Cell Membrane
 Cell membrane
 Function:
1. Control substance that pass or out
into/out to the cell
2. Act as a boundary to the cytoplasm
3. The limits of the cell
 Cell membrane
 Structure
 7 nm thick
 75% phospholipids

 Contains:

a. Polysaccharide

b. Cholesterol

c. Protein

d. Phospholipids
Phospholipid
 Lipid made up of glycerol, 3 fatty acid
molecule, (non polar molecule)
 One of the fatty acid replace by
phosphate
 Phosphate become the end of the
phospholipid
 Phosphate it’s polar molecule, so it will
attract other polar molecule that is water

Phosphate
molecule
The polar phosphate heads of the molecule are
hydrophilic whereas the non-polar tails are
hydrophobic
Lipid as a non polar
structure
 Cell Membrane theory
 The fluid mosaic theory
Fluid mosaic theory
 Was first propose by Singer and
Nicholson (1972)
 The cell surface membrane could be
distinguished as two black line, referred
to “tram lines”
 Singer and Nicholson suggested that the
cell surface membrane was made up of
two layers of phospholipids
 Also there is a large number of different
proteins that “floated” in the
phospholipid layer
 Cell Membranes from Opposing
Neurons (TEM x436,740).

Nerve cell Gap between cells

Cell membrane } cell membrane

{ 7nm wide

Nerve cell

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell

10
membranes and Transport
Diagram of a cell membrane

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell

11
membranes and Transport
 Intrinsic proteins are the protein that
completely span the membrane
 Extrinsic proteins are protein that found
only in the inner surface or on the outer
surface of the membrane
 The fluid in membrane
 Fatty acid can be saturated or unsaturated
a. The more unsaturated fatty acid present in the
phospholipid bilayer, the more fluid in the
membrane
b. The shorter the fatty acid tails, the more fluid in the
membrane
c. The greater the steroid content of the membrane
the less fluid it is. (steroid= cholesterol can fit
between the phospholipid molecules, increasing
rigidity and stability of the membrane)
d. An increase in temperature increase the fluidity of
the membrane
The protein in membrane
The protein in membrane
 Carrier membrane and channel protein
 assist and control the movement of water - soluble ions

and certain molecules across the membrane

 Maintain different concentration of ion

 Maintain an electrochemical gradient inside and outside

 Receptor proteins recognize and bind with specific

molecules outside the cell, such as hormones

 Some Enzymes, such as ATPase located within membrane

 Glycoproteins are combinations of protein and

polysaccharides. They stick out from the surface of some

membrane and important in cells to recognizing each
other (act as antigens)
 Diffusion
 Diffusion is the movement of
molecules(or ions) from a region of high
concentration to a region of lower
concentration until they are spread out
evenly
 The rate of diffusion
Concentration of gradient (the difference concentration of
substance in two areas)
 The greater concentration of gradient the faster the rate

of diffusion
 Small particles tend to diffuse faster than larger particles

 Thickness of membrane, diffusion take place more

quickly through thin membranes

 Surface area, diffusion is quicker if the thin membrane

has large surface area

 The shorter the distance between two region, the faster

the rate
 An increase in temperature, the rate of diffusion increase
 Facilitated diffusion
 A special form of diffusion, it involves proteins
(channel proteins and carrier proteins) to assist
or facilitate diffusion
 (charged ion such Natrium, potassium, calcium
and chloride) cannot diffuse easily across the non
polar center of the phospholipid bilayer
 Channel proteins open up spaces or pore across
the membrane, so allow entry or exit.
 Each channel protein is specific for one type of
ion (only let one particular ion through)
 Acting like gates depending upon the cell’s need
 Facilitated diffusion
 Carrier proteins more sophisticated in
the way they work.
 They are able to allow the diffusion
across the membrane of large polar
molecules such as sugars and amino
acids
 A particular molecules attaches to the
carrier protein at its particular binding
site
 This cause the carrier proteins change
it’s shape and then deliver the molecule
Facilitated diffusion
Facilitated diffusion
Osmosis
 Osmosis

 Osmosis is the diffusion of water

molecules from region of high
concentration to a region of lower
concentration through a partially
permeable membrane (allows some
molecules to pass through but not
others)
A matter of potential
 Weak solution  have a high concentration of
water molecules we can say that these “free”
water molecules will have tendency to move
about.
 The solution high water potential
 a “concentrated” solution will have a lower
concentration of water molecules so there will
be fewer water molecules moving about. We call
this a low water potential.
 Water will diffuse out of cells with a high water
potential into cells with a lower water potential.
A matter of potential
 Accurate definition of osmosis
Osmosis is the diffusion of water
molecules from a region of high
water potential to a region of
lower water potential through a
partially permeable membrane
Water potential is expressed as psi
Osmosis in plant cell
Osmosis in plant cell
1. Surrounding the cell is the cell wall, the
cell wall is freely permeable, allowing
all molecules in and out
2. Cell surface membrane, is partially
permeable membrane
3. Tonoplast separate the contents of the
vacuole from the cytoplasm
Osmosis in plant cell
 Solute potentialψs s
 The concentration of dissolved substance inside
the cell
 The MORE solute molecules present, the
LOWER the water potential
 The FEWER solute molecules present, the
HIGHER the water potential
The solute potential s is a measure of the
reduction in water potential due to the
presence of solute molecules
Osmosis in plant cell
 Pressure potential p
 Water enters a plant cell if the solute
potential inside the cell is lower than the
water potential outside the cell
 As water passes into a plant cell, the cell

contents start to swell. Soon the cellulose

cell wall starts to become stretched
 The pressure that the cell wall develop is

called the pressure potential. (usually

positive)
Pressure potential p
 Pressure potential (p) is the pressure
exerted on the cell contents by the
cell wall and cell membrane
 Turgidity
 What happen if you put a plant cell into distilled water or
weak solution (hypotonic solution)?
 The water potential inside the cell will be lower than the
water potential of the external solution
 Water enters the cell by osmosis
 This influx of water cause the cell to swell
 The contents press against the cell wall, producing a
pressure potential.
 As more water enters, the pressure potential rise until it
is equal to the solute potential
 The water potential is now zero
 No more water can enter the cell  turgid
Plasmolysis
 Based on Biology dictionary, plasmolysis
is the shrinking of protoplasm away from
the cell wall of a plant or bacterium due
to water loss from osmosis thereby
resulting in gaps between cell wall and
cell membrane.
Plasmolysis
Plasmolysis
Osmosis in Animal Cells
Osmosis in animal cells
Osmosis in animal cell (hypotonic
solution)

 Water enters the cell by osmosis, the

cells swell and burst. (Because it’s
animal cell no cell wall)
 The cells have negative solute potential
and therefore have a low water
potential.
 The water outside has a high water
potential , so there is an inflow of water
into the cells by osmosis.
 Without a cell wall water keeps entering
the cell until it bursts
Osmosis in animal cell (hypertonic
solution)

 The solute potential of the external

solution is more negative than inside the
cells
 Water will diffuse out of the cells, so they
will shrink.
 The cells will look crinkled, or crenated.
Osmosis in Amoeba (osmoregulation)
Osmoregulation in Amoeba
 1. H2O enters amoeba by osmosis
2. Excess water enters the contractile
vacuole
3. The contractile vacuole expands and
moves to the surface of the membrane
4. The contractile vacuole bursts
releasing the excess water
5. The cycle is repeated
Active Transport
 Is the uptake of molecules or ions against a
concentration gradient using energy from respiration
How it works
1. The molecules or ion combines with a specific carrier

protein
2. ATP transfers a phosphate group to the carrier

protein on the inside of the membrane

3. Carrier protein change of shape, carriers the

molecule or ion to the inside of membrane

4. The molecule or ions is released to the inside of

membrane and the carrier protein reverts to its

original shape
Active Transport
 Process that moves materials across the plasma
membrane
 Requires energy from the cell in the form of ATP
 Materials move against the concentration
gradient:

low concentration high concentration

 3 Kinds:
Pumps, Endocytosis, and Exocytosis
Active Transport Pumps
1. An ATP molecule breaks down into ADP, releasing a
phosphate group and a whole lot of energy.
2. The phosphate group attaches to a protein pump,
causing it to change its shape so that it can move a
small molecule or ion across the plasma membrane.
3. The protein changes shape again so that the
molecule can be released on the other side.

 There are many types of carrier proteins and they

only carry specific molecules across the plasma
membrane.
Example of active transport:
sodium-potassium pump in nerve cells

Sodium ions are kept at low

concentrations inside the cell
and potassium ions are at
higher concentrations. Outside
the cell, it is the opposite. When
a nerve message is sent, the
ions pass across the membrane
to send the message. After the
message has passed, the ions
must be actively transported
back to their starting positions
across the membrane.

Source:
www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/enger/student/olc/art_quizzes/genbiome
dia/0645.jpg
Endocytosis
 When a cell actively takes large
molecules into itself by folding the
plasma membrane inward, forming a
vesicle

Source: http://kenpitts.net/bio/images/endocytosis.gif
Exocytosis
 When a cell actively releases large
molecules by folding the plasma
membrane outward, forming a vesicle

Source: http://kenpitts.net/bio/images/exocytosis.gif
How vesicles carry materials from the
ER Golgi apparatus plasma membrane

1. Ribosome makes a protein.

2. ER forms a vesicle and places protein in it.
3. Vesicle carries protein to Golgi apparatus and
drops it off.
4. Protein is modified in Golgi apparatus.
5. Golgi apparatus forms new vesicle and places
protein in it.
6. If protein is leaving the cell, the vesicle moves
to the plasma membrane and fuses with it.
7. Exocytosis – protein is moved out of the cell.
S-B-7-3_Active Transport PPT
Active Transport vs. Passive Transport

Source: http://thebasisoflife.wikispaces.com/file/view/c8x16types-transport.jpg/30540339/c8x16types-transport.jpg
Active Transport: Review
 Pumps, Endocytosis, Exocytosis

 Molecules move against the

concentration gradient

 Requires energy from the cell (ATP)