Membrane structure and

transport across membrane

Jajah Fachiroh, Dewajani Purnomosari, Rina Susilowati
Department of Histology and Cell Biology
Faculty of Medicine Gadjah Mada University

Ref: Bray et al. 2010. Essential Cell Biology. 3rd ed.

CELL MEMBRANE
Cell membrane protects intracellular
compartments

 Cell Membrane:
 crucial to the life of the cell
 encloses the cell
 defines boundaries
 maintain essential differences between cytosol and extracellular
environment

 Inside the cytoplasmic: (Membrane of RE, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, etc

membrane-enclosed organelle)
 Maintain the characteristic differences between the content of each
organelle and the cytosol
 The structure of cell membrane

Figure 10-1 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

Amphiphilic of cell membrane

Hydrophilic / polar (head)

Hydrophobic / non polar (tail)
 Cholesterol tends to
stiffen the structure

Figure 10-4 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 The nature of lipid molecules in aqueous
environment

Figure 10-7 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

Figure 10-9b Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)
 The mobility of phospholipid molecules in lipid bilayer

Figure 10-11 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Different cell, different membrane
compositions

Bacterial plasma membrane; composed of one main type of

phospholipid, contain no cholesterol

Eucaryotic plasma membrane; composed mixture of

different phospholipids, contain large amount of cholesterol

Table 10-1 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Distribution of phospholipids and glycolipids in the
plasma membrane lipid bilayer is asymetrical

glycolipid

Functionally important especially in converting

extracellular signals into intracellular
Figure 10-16 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)
 Membrane Protein
 Performs most of the membrane’s specific tasks
 Give each type of cell membrane its characteristic
functional properties
 Amount and type of protein in membrane are highly
variable
 Myelin membrane, < 25%
 Membrane for ATP production, 75%
 Typical plasma membrane, around 50%
 Association of membrane protein with lipid bilayer
Protein attached
Lipid linked

Transmembrane protein
Monolayer
associated

1. single α helix
2. multiple helices
3. rolled up β-sheet
4. anchored in cytosolic surface by amphiphilic α helix
5. covalently attached lipid chain
6. via oligosaccharide linker
7, 8. non covalent interaction with other membrane protein
Figure 10-19 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)
 Sugar Membrane
Sugar-containing lipid molecules (glycolipids) found exclusively
in the noncytosolic monolayer of the lipid bilayer

Figure 10-18 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Many membrane proteins are
glycosylated

Figure 10-27 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Sugar membrane has functions

1. Protections & movement

2. Cell-cell recognition
CELL MEMBRANE
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
Extracellular concentration is often
higher
 Selective permeable occurs

Figure 11-1 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

THE DIFFUSION OF WATER ACROSS A
SEMIPERMEABLE MEMBRANE IS CALLED OSMOSIS.
How to avoid this to happen?
 Two main classes of membrane transport proteins
1. Transporter

Also called carrier or permeases

Bind to specific solute to be transported
Undergo a series of conformational changes

Figure 11-3a Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Two main classes of membrane transport proteins
2. Channel protein

Interaction with solute is very weak

Form aqueous pores, when open, allow specific solute
(inorganic ions) to pass
Figure 11-3b Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)
 Passive vs Active Transport

Figure 11-4a Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Electrochemical gradient combines the membrane
potential and the concentration gradient

Figure 11-4b Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Three ways of driving active transport

Figure 11-7 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Three types of transporter mediated movement

Figure 11-8 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Glucose transport

Glucose transporter driven by a Na+ gradient

Figure 11-9 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Active Transport
Driven by Ion
Gradients

Passive transport
by fascilitated
difussion

Figure 11-11 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Na+ K+ pumps

Figure 11-14 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)

 Various transporters

Table 12-2 Essential Cell Biology (© Garland Science 2010)

Membrane transport in the kidney tubules

 Active transport

 Cotransport
(countertransport; active
transport driven by ion
gradient)

 Passive diffusion
 Na reabsorption

Na K
ATPase
lumen

-70mV

Na K
ATPase

-70mV
 Water reabsorption
The permeability of cell membranes to water depends upon the presence of water channels
known as aquaporins.
There is a family of aquaporin proteins (AQP), with different types being expressed in
different tissues

AQP3 (blue in figure) is constitutively expressed on the basolateral surface of cells in the
collecting duct. AQP2 is found on the apical surface of these cells. The number of AQP2
channels on the membrane is regulated by the hormone vasopressin, which stimulates the
translocation of AQP2 to the membrane by causing vesicles containing the protein to fuse
with the plasma membrane
Water reabsorption
Uric acid transport in the proximal renal tubule

 Passive
transport by
facilitated
diffusion
Other types of molecule transporter
Simple difussion

Exocytosis
Cells Import Selected Extracellular Macromolecules
by Receptor-mediated Endocytosis
Cells Import Selected Extracellular Macromolecules
by Receptor-mediated Endocytosis

LDL bound to its receptor

is internalized in clathrin-
coated vesicles, which
shed their coats and fuse
with early endosomes.
At the acidic pH of early
endosomes, LDL
dissociates from its
receptor and the
endocytosed materials are
sorted for degradation in
lysosomes or recycling to
the plasma membrane.
 Protein reabsorption
 Cotransport driven by ion gradient
 Pinocytosis
 SUMMARY
Cell membrane protects cell from the extracellular environment, yet facilitate
biological functions

Figure 11-18 Molecular Biology of the Cell (© Garland Science 2008)