AS Biology FOUNDATION Chapter 4

CELL MEMBRANES and TRANSPORT

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport 1

The Cell

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

Learning Objectives
1. 2. 3. 4.

Describe the fluid mosaic model of membrane structure and explain the underlying reasons for this structure. Outline the roles of phospholipids, cholesterol, glycolipids, proteins and glycoproteins in membranes. Outline the roles of the plasma membrane, and the roles of membranes within cells. Describe and explain how molecules can get in and out of cells (cross cell membranes) by the processes of diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis, active transport, endocytosis and exocytosis. Describe the effects on animal and plant cells of immersion in solutions of different water potential.

5.

6.
7.

Describe the features of the gaseous exchange surface of mammalian lung.

Describe the features of root hairs that enable the uptake of ions by active transport.
AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

Key words you should know

Phospholipids Polar Hydrophilic Hydrophobic Micelles Phospholipid bilayer Fluid mosaic model Glycoproteins Glycolipids Cholesterol Proteins Transport proteins Enzymes Receptor molecules Diffusion Concentration gradient Facilitated diffusion Osmosis

Solution Solute Solvent Partially permeable Water potential Solute Potential Pressure Potential Turgid Plasmolysis Plasmolysed Incipient plasmolysis Active transport Carrier protein Bulk transport Endocytosis Phagocytosis Phagocytes Phagocytic vacuoles
AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

Pinocytosis Micropinocytosis Exocytosis Gaseous exchange Alveoli Root hair Surface area Epidermis Passive transport

Cell membrane
All living things are surrounded by a membrane. A cell membrane is also known as plasma membrane.
Controls

exchange of materials such as nutrients and waste between cells and their environment.
Has
To

other important functions for example to enable cells to receive hormones.

understand the function of anything in biology, you must study the structure first!

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

Cell Membranes from Opposing Neurons (TEM x436,740).

Nerve cell
Cell membrane {

Gap between cells

}

cell membrane 7nm wide

Nerve cell

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

Cell membranes are made of PHOSPHOLIPIDs

HYDROPHILIC heads (water liking) -Attracted to the water called POLAR HYDROPHOBIC tails (water fearing) -Not attracted to the water called NON-POLAR
AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

A Phospholipid
7

Phospholipids are important structural components of cell membranes. Phospholipids are modified so that a phosphate group (PO4-) replaces one of the three fatty acids normally found on a lipid. The addition of this group makes a polar "head" and two nonpolar "tails".

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

A phospholipid
HYDROPHILIC HEAD At the other end of the phospholipid is a phosphate group and several double bonded oxygens. The atoms at this end of the molecule are not shared equally. This end of the molecule has a charge and is attracted to water. It is POLAR

HYDROPHOBIC TAILS The two long chains coming off of the bottom of this molecule are made up of carbon and hydrogen. Because both of these elements share their electrons evenly these chains have no charge. They are NON POLAR. Molecules with no charge are not attracted to water; as a result water molecules tend to push them out of the way as they are attracted to each other. This causes molecules with no charge not to dissolve in water.

3D model of a Phospholipid

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

A Phospholipid Bilayer
Phospholipids can form:

BILAYERS
-2 layers of phospholipids with hydrophobic tails protected inside by the hydrophilic heads.

The PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER is the basic structure of membranes.

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport 10

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

11

Structure of the cell membrane

Phospholipids
Cell membranes are made mainly of phospholipids. They have: HYDROPHILIC heads (water liking) -Attracted to the water POLAR HYDROPHOBIC tails (water fearing) -Not attracted to the water NONPOLAR Phospholipids can form BILAYERS -2 layers of phospholipids with hydrophobic tails protected inside by the hydrophilic heads. The PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER is the basic structure of membranes.

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

12

Diagram representing the cell membrane Remember the membrane is 7nm wide

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

13

Fluid mosaic model

Cell membranes also contain proteins within the phospholipid bilayer. This model for the structure of the membrane is called the: FLUID MOSAIC MODEL FLUID- because individual phospholipids and proteins can move around freely within the layer, like its a liquid. MOSAIC- because of the pattern produced by the scattered protein molecules when the membrane is viewed from above.
AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport 14

Diagram of a cell membrane

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

15

TEM of freeze-fractured cell membrane.

The fracture occurs between the two phospholipid layers. You can clearly see the exposed proteins sticking out of the two layers. Individual phospholipids are too small to see.

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

16

Cell Membranes from Opposing Neurons (TEM x436,740).

} Phospholipid Bilayer 7nm wide

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

17

Features of the fluid mosaic model

Double layer BILAYER of phospholipids which can move about by in their own . Phospholipid tails point inwards forming a . . interior. The phospholipid heads point outwards facing the aqueous (water containing) medium surrounding the membrane. Some phospholipids fatty acid tails are .. straight so fit together tightly. Some are bent so fit together . The more unsaturated tails there are the more the membrane becomes. The lower the temp, the .fluid. Most protein molecules . like icebergs in the layers, some are fixed to . inside the cell and dont float. Some proteins are embedded in the outer layer, some in the inner layer and some the two layers. Hydrophobic and Hyrdophilic parts of the protein molecules sit next to the and .. portions of the of the membrane. This ensures the proteins stay in the membrane. The membrane is nm thick on average. Some phospholipids have carbohydrates attached to them called.. Some of the proteins have carbohydrates attached to them called The membrane also contains molecules of ..
AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport 18

Features of the fluid mosaic model

Double layer BILAYER of phospholipids which can move about by DIFFUSION in their own MONOLAYER Phospholipid tails point inwards forming a NON-POLAR HYDROPHOBIC interior. The phospholipid heads point outwards facing the aqueous (water containing) medium surrounding the membrane. Some phospholipids fatty acid tails are SATURATED straight so fit together tightly. Some are UNSATURATED bent so fit together loosely. The more unsaturated tails there are the more fluid the membrane becomes. The lower the temp, the less fluid. Most protein molecules float like icebergs in the layers, some are fixed to structures inside the cell and dont float. Some proteins are embedded in the outer layer, some in the inner layer and some span the two layers. Hydrophobic and Hyrdophilic parts of the protein molecules sit next to the Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic portions of the phospholids of the membrane. This ensures the proteins stay in the membrane. The membrane is 7nm thick on average. Some phospholipids have carbohydrates attached to them GLYCOLIPIDS Some of the proteins have carbohydrates attached to them GLYCOPROTEINS The membrane also contains molecules of CHOLESTEROL
AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport 19

Roles of components of cell membranes

Using the following headings produce a table on A4 to summarise roles of t he different types of molecules found in the cell membrane. Try not to copy, pick out the relevant information and write it in note form You may want to use bullet points, different coloured pens etc basically whatever helps you to remember them. There will be a short test on this next lesson! Use pages 53-54. Component
1.
2. 3.

Function

Phospholipids
Cholesterol Proteins

4.

Glycolipids and Glycoproteins

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

20

Cell membranes have a basic structure composed of a PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER. Phospholipds have HYDROPHOBIC (non-polar) tails and HYDROPHILIC (polar) heads. The best model of the cell membrane is called the FLUID MOSAIC MODEL The average thickness of the membrane is 7nm. The fatty acid tails of phospholipids can be SATURATED (straight) or UNSATURATED (bent) Proteins can float or be fixed and also have hydrophobic and hydrophilic portions. Some proteins and phospholipids have carbohydrates attached to them to form GLYCOPROTEINS AND GLYCOLIPIDS.

Summary

Phospholipids form the bilayer, act as barrier to most water soluble substances
Cholesterol regulates the fluidity of the membrane, gives mechanical stability and help to prevent ions from passing through the membrane. Proteins act as transport proteins to act as channels for substances to move into or out of

the cell. Some act as membrane enzymes and some have important roles in membranes of
organelles.

Glycolipids and Glycoproteins help to stabilise membrane structure, some act as receptor molecules eg for hormones and neurotransmitters orCell antigens for other cells to AS Biology. Foundation. as membranes and Transport 21 recognise them.

Movement of selected molecules across the cell membrane

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

22

 Moving

amoeba

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

23

This powerpoint was kindly donated to www.worldofteaching.com

http://www.worldofteaching.com is home to over a thousand powerpoints submitted by teachers. This is a completely free site and requires no registration. Please visit and I hope it will help in your teaching.

AS Biology. Foundation. Cell membranes and Transport

24