Membranes in cells

Chapter 2.3
Objectives of unit:
Understand the structure and properties of the plasma membrane

Investigate the properties of plasma membranes practically

Explain passive transport mechanisms of diffusion and facilitative diffusion,
including the role of transporter and carrier proteins

Define the process of osmosis

Explain the process of active transport and the role of proteins and ATP

Explain the processes of endocytosis and exocytosis

Describe the properties of gas exchange surfaces in living organisms

Explain how the structure of the mammalian lung is adapted for rapid
gaseous exchange

Cells have many membranes:
plasma membrane
tonoplast
outer mitochondrial membrane
inner mitochondrial membrane
outer chloroplast membrane
nuclear envelope
Membranes are flexible and able to break and
fuse easily
Neutrophil engulfing
anthrax bacteria.


Cover credit:
Micrograph by Volker
Brinkmann, PLoS Pathogens
Vol. 1(3) Nov. 2005.
5 m
Membranes allow cellular compartments to have
different conditions
pH 4.8
Contains digestive
enzymes, optimum
pH 4.5 - 4.8
pH 7.2
lysosome
cytosol
Membrane acts as
a barrier
Membranes are mainly made of phospholipids
phosphate group
glycerol
fatty acid
phosphoester bond
ester bond
hydrophilic
head
hydrophobic
tail
The polar hydrophilic heads are water soluble
and the hydrophobic heads are water insoluble
aqueous solution
Hydrophilic (water-loving) head
Hydrophobic (water-hating) tail
Phospholipids form
micelles when
submerged in water
air
In 1925 Gorter and Grendel proposed that the unit
membrane is formed from a phospholipid bilayer
Extracellular space (aqueous)

Cytosoplasm (aqueous)
phospholipid
bilayer
Phosphate heads
face aqueous
solution
Hydrophobic tails
face inwards
Question: Explain why phospholipids form a
bilayer in plasma membranes (4).
Phospholipids have a polar phosphate group which are
hydrophilic and will face the aqueous solutions
The fatty acid tails are non-polar and will move away from an
aqueous environment
As both tissue fluid and cytoplasm is aqueous
phospholipids form two layers with the hydrophobic tails facing
inward
and phosphate groups outwards interacting with the aqueous
environment

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Initial studies showed that the plasma membrane
had layers:
Scientists also found that protein were present in membranes so
Davson-Danielli proposed in 1935 the following model for
membrane structure:
Protein
Phospholipid
bilayer
The development and use of electron microscopes
showed that the Davson-Danielli model was incorrect
In the early 1970s Singer and Nicholson used techniques such as
freeze-etching to confirm the lipid bilayer.

They also showed that the proteins were distributed throughout
the protein in a mosaic pattern.

In addition they found that the membrane was fluid and had
considerable sideways movement of molecules within it.

Hence they proposed the Fluid-Mosaic Model for Plasma
Membrane Structure.

Activity:

Read pages 100 103 of your textbook

Answer questions 1 3 on page 103
The fluid mosaic model of the plasma
membrane:
The proteins can move freely through the lipid bilayer.

The ease with which they do this is dependent on the number of
phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acids in the phospholipids.
Fat-soluble organic molecules can diffuse through
the bilayer but polar molecules require proteins
Extracellular
space

Cytosoplasm
(aqueous)
Fat-soluble molecules Polar molecules
hydrophilic pore
Question 4: How can polar and non-polar
molecules pass through the membrane (2).
Polar molecules require proteins to enable them to pass through
the membrane

Non-polar molecules can diffuse directly through the phospholipid
bilayer

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The membrane contains many types of protein:
glycoprotein
carbohydrate chain
integral protein
peripheral protein
carrier protein
Glycocalyx: For cell
recognition so cells group
together to form tissues
Receptor: for
recognition by
hormones
Enzyme
or
signalling
protein
hydrophilic channel
Question: Label the diagram (11marks)
1
2
10
3
4
5
6
8
9
11
Note: label the proteins based on location
or structure, e.g. you do not need to
identify receptors and enzymes.
1) carbohydrate; 2) glycoprotein; 3)integral protein; 4) peripheral protein; 5) carrier
protein 6) hydrophilic channel; 7) phosphate group; 8) fatty acid; 9) phospholipid;
10) glycocalyx; 11) phospholipid bilayer click to cover answers
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7
Question: Explain why the model for membrane
structure is known as the fluid mosaic model (3).
The phospholipid molecules can move freely laterally and
makes the membrane fluid.
The proteins are distributed throughout the membrane un
evenly and in a mosaic pattern.
The agreed structure is based upon experimental and chemical
evidence and so is classed as a model.

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Question: Describe the structure and function of
the glycocalyx (3)
Consists of glycoproteins
Which are proteins with added carbohydrate chains
Used for cell recognition/receptors
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There are different types of carrier proteins in the
membrane:
ATP
Channel protein Gated-channel protein Carrier protein
(passive)
Carrier protein
(active)
Membrane bound proteins allow chemical processes
to occur on membranes in a sequential manner:
ATP synthase
Enzyme and transporter proteins
involved in aerobic respiration in the
inner mitochondrial membrane
membrane
Q
III
I
II
IV
Cyt c
proteins
Question: Other than as carrier proteins state two
functions of membrane bound proteins (2).
Receptors
Enzymes
Structural (attached to microtubules)
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Practical Activity:
Factors affecting membrane permeability
See practical sheets
Question 3: Describe an experiment by which you could
test to see whether alcohol concentration affected
membrane permeability (5).

Same volume discs of beetroot
Same volume of alcohol
Same temperature
Same time in alcohol
Range of alcohol concentrations
Use colourimeter to read amount of pigment in solution
Graph of colour intensity (% absorbance etc.) over alcohol
concentration

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Summary
The unit membrane consists of a phospholipid bilayer
Phospholipids consist of a polar, hydrophilic phosphate head and a non-
polar, hydrophobic tail consisting of fatty acid chains.
Proteins also occur in the membrane and float freely throughout it.
The model for membrane structure is known as the fluid mosaic model.
Peripheral proteins occur on the inner or outer face of the membrane and
integral proteins extend through both lipid layers.
Membrane bound enzymes occur allowing structured metabolic pathways.
Glycoproteins form the glycocalyx and allow cell to cell recognition.
Receptor proteins can act as binding sites for hormones and other
substances and can transmit the information to the interior of the cell.
A variety of carrier proteins allow for the controlled movement of substance
through the membrane using both passive diffusion or active transport.
Non-polar, lipid soluble molecules diffuse through the phospholipid bilayer.
Ionic, polar molecules require carrier proteins to enable them to pass
through the membrane.
Membrane structure loses integrity with high temperature or presence of
organic solvents such as alcohol, thereby increasing permeability.