Plasma
Structure and
Membrane
function
Plasma
Membrane
Plasma membrane is a
phospholipid bilayer in
which protein molecules
are either partially or
wholly embedded
Phospholipid bilayer has a
fluid consistency
Proteins are scattered
throughout the membrane
Plasma
Membrane
Description of the
plasma membrane is
best represented by the
fluid-mosaic model
Plasma membrane is
amphipathic: having
hydrophilic heads and
hydrophobic tails
Fluid Mosaic
Model
Phospholipids
spontaneously arrange
themselves into bilayer
The hydrophilic (water
loving) heads face outside
Inside the cell,
hydrophobic (water
fearing) tails are found
facing each other
Fluid Mosaic
Model
Plasma
COMPONENTS
Membrane
PHOSPHOLIPID
A phospholipid molecule is made of a
three-carbon glycerol backbone with
two fatty acid molecules attached to
carbons 1 and 2, and a phosphate-
containing group attached to the third
carbon
This arrangement gives the overall
molecule an area described as its
head (the phosphate-containing
group), which has a polar character
An area called the tail (the fatty
acids), which has no charge are non-
polar.
PHOSPHOLIPID
A molecule with this
arrangement of a
positively or negatively
charged area and an
uncharged, or non-polar
area is referred to as
amphipathic or “dual-
loving.”
CHOLESTEROL
Cholesterol is consists of a polar
head, a planar steroid ring and a
non-polar hydrocarbon tail.
It is important in the membrane as
it helps to maintain cell membrane
stability and fluidity at varying
temperatures.
Cholesterol is bound to
neighboring phospholipid
molecules via hydrogen bonds and
therefore at low temperatures,
reduces their packing.
CHOLESTEROL
Overall this means at low
temperatures, when rate of
movement is lowest, a fluid
phase is maintained. At high
temperatures, cholesterol helps
to stop the formation of
crystalline structures and the
rigid planar steroid ring prevents
intrachain vibration and
therefore making the membrane
less fluid.
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are the third
major component of plasma
membranes.
They are always found on the
exterior surface of cells and are
bound either to proteins or lipids
Along with peripheral proteins,
carbohydrates form specialized
sites on the cell surface that
allow cells to recognize each
other.
CARBOHYDRATES
These sites have unique
patterns that allow the cell
to be recognized.
This recognition function is
very important to cells, as
it allows the immune
system to differentiate
between body cells and
foreign cells
CARBOHYDRATES
The carbohydrate components of
both glycoproteins and glycolipids
—are collectively referred to as the
glycocalyx (meaning “sugar
coating”).
The glycocalyx is highly hydrophilic
and attracts large amounts of
water to the surface of the cell.
This aids in the interaction of the
cell with its watery environment
and the cell’s ability to obtain
substances dissolved in the water.
PROTEINS
Proteins maybe peripheral or
integral proteins
Peripheral proteins occur either
on the outside or the inside of the
surface of the membrane
Integral proteins are found
within the membrane and have
hydrophobic regions embedded
within the membrane and
hydrophilic regions that project
from both surfaces of the bilayer
PROTEINS
Plasma membrane of
various cells have their
own unique collection of
proteins
The proteins form
different patterns
according to the
particular membrane
Channel Proteins
Allows a
particular
molecule or ion
to cross the
plasma
membrane
freely
Carrier Proteins
Selectively
interacts with
specific
molecule or ion
so that it can
cross the
plasma
membrane
Cell Recognition Proteins
Serves as ID tags
It identifies cells
to the body’s
immune system
MHC (Major
Histocompatibilit
y Complex) –
regulate cell
adaptive immune
response
Receptor Proteins
Molecular
triggers that
set off cell
responses
Ex: release of
hormones;
opening of
channel
proteins
Enzymatic
Proteins
Catalyzes a
specific
reaction
Ex: adenylate
cyclase –
involved in ATP
metabolism
Fluidity of the Plasma
Membrane
At body temperature, the
phospholipid bilayer of the
plasma membrane has the
consistency if olive oil
The greater the
concentration of saturated
fatty acid residues, the
more the fluid is the bilayer
Fluidity of the Plasma
Membrane
In each of the monolayer,
the hydrocarbon tails wiggle
and the entire phospholipid
molecule can move
sideways
Fluidity of the bilayer means
cells are pliable
Fluidity of the membrane is
needed for the functioning of
some proteins
Permeability of the Plasma
Membrane
Plasma membrane is
differentially permeable
Some substances can move
across the membrane and
some cannot.
Macromolecules cannot
diffuse across the
membrane because they
are too large
Permeability of the Plasma
Membrane
Ions and charged molecules
cannot cross the membrane
because they are unable to
enter the hydrophobic
phase of the lipid bilayer
Molecules follow their
concentration gradient -
gradual decrease in
concentration over distance
Permeability of the Plasma
Membrane
Ways of crossing the
plasma membrane:
Passive – do not use chemical
energy (diffusion, facilitated
transport)
Active – requires chemical
energy (active transport,
endocytosis, exocytosis)
Transport
Mechanism
Movement across
There aremembrane
2 ways in which
substances can enter or
leave the cell:
1. Passive
a) Simple Diffusion
b) Facilitated Diffusion
c) Osmosis
2. Active
a) Molecules
b) Particles
Diffusion
Movement of molecules from
a higher to a lower
concentration – that is down
their concentration gradient
– until equilibrium is
achieved
Diffusion is a physical
process that can be
observed with any type of
molecule
Diffusion
Chemical and physical
properties of plasma
membrane allow only a
few types of molecules
to enter and exit the cell
Diffusion
Example:
Gas exchange at the alveoli
Gas exchange for
photosynthesis
Gas exchange for
respiration
Transfer of transmitter
substance
Osmosis
Osmosis is the diffusion
of water into and out of
the cells – down the
water potential gradient
A partially permeable
membrane is a barrier
that permits the passage
of some substance; but
not others
Osmosis
It allows the passage of
the solvent molecules
but not some of the
larger solute molecules
Osmotic pressure –
the pressure that
develops in a system
due to osmosis
Osmosis
The greater the possible
osmotic pressure, the
more likely water will
diffuse in that direction
Ex: absorption of water
by plant roots,
absorption of water by
the alimentary canal +
Osmosis
Tonicity – refers to the
strength of a solution in
relationship to osmosis
Isotonic solutions – the
solute concentration is the
same on both sides of the
membrane, therefore there
is no net gain or loss of
water
Osmosis
0.9% solution of the salt
sodium chloride (NaCl)
is known to be isotonic
to blood cells
Intravenous solutions
medically administered
usually have this
tonicity
Osmosis
Hypotonic solutions –
solutions that cause cells
to swell, or even burst
due to an intake of water
The swelling of a plant
cell in hypotonic solution
creates turgor pressure
Osmosis
Turgor pressure is
important in maintaining
the plants’ erect position
Hypertonic solutions –
solutions that cause the
cell to shrink or shrivel
due to a loss of water
Osmosis
If cells are placed in a
hypertonic solution ,
water leaves the cell
The net movement of
water is from the
inside to the outside of
the cell
Osmosis
Crenation – animal
cells shrink when
placed in hypertonic
solution
Plasmolysis – plant
cytoplasm shrinks due
to osmosis
Facilitated
Diffusion
Some proteins in the plasma
membrane are carriers
They transport biologically
useful molecules into and
outside of the cell
Facilitated diffusion allows
molecules (glucose & amino
acids) to cross the plasma
membrane even though they
are not lipid soluble
Facilitated
The Diffusion
passage of glucose
and amino acids across
the plasma membrane
is facilitated by carrier
proteins
Carrier proteins are
specific
Active Transport
During active transport, ions
and molecules move through
the plasma membrane,
accumulating either inside or
outside of the cell
Active transport moves against
the concentration gradient
It is estimated the 40% of
cell’s energy maybe used
through active transport
Active Transport
Both carrier proteins and
the expenditure of energy
are needed to transport
molecules against their
concentration gradient
Proteins involved in the
transport are often called
pumps
Active Transport
Example: Sodium-
Potassium Pump
Exocytosis
Vesicles formed by the Golgi
apparatus and carrying a
specific molecule fuse with
the plasma membrane as
secretion occurs
Endocytosis
Cells take in substances
by vesicle-formation
a portion of the plasma
membrane invaginates to
envelope the substance,
and then the membrane
pinches off to form an
intra cellular vesicle
Endocytosis
Phagocytosis – when
material taken in by
endocytosis is large
Common in unicellular
organisms like amoebas,
macrophages
Pinocytosis – occurs when
vesicles form around a
liquid or very small
Endocytosis
Receptor-mediated
endocytosis – a form of
pinocytosis that is specific
because it involves the use
of a receptor protein shaped
in such a way that a specific
molecule such as vitamins,
peptide hormones, and
lipoproteins can bind to it
