COMPONENTS OF THE CELL MEMBRANE

FLUID MOSAIC MODEL

FUNCTIONS OF THE CELL MEMBRANE

 Cell membrane separates the components of a cell

from its environment—surrounds the cell
 “Gatekeeper” of the cell—regulates the flow of
materials into and out of cell—selectively
permeable
 Cell membrane helps cells maintain
homeostasis—stable internal balance
COMPONENTS OF THE CELL MEMBRANE
phospholipids, a type of lipid made from two fatty
acid chain ‘tails’ attached to a phosphate group
‘head’.
The phosphate group head is polar and hydrophilic
(‘water-loving’), while the fatty acid chains of the tail
are nonpolar and hydrophobic (‘water-hating’).

hydrophilic hydrophobic tails

head
The shape of the structures that phospholipids form is due to
their polar nature, and the way they interact with water. ©Boardwork AP Biology
PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN CELL MEMBRANES
The role of phospholipids in membranes is to
act as a barrier to most substances, helping
control what enters/exits the cell.
 Generally, the smaller and less polar a molecule,
the easier and faster it will diffuse across a cell
membrane.
 Small, nonpolar molecules such as oxygen and
carbon dioxide rapidly diffuse across a membrane.
 Small, polar molecules, such as water and urea, also
diffuse across, but much more slowly.
 Charged particles (ions) are unlikely to diffuse across
a membrane, even if they are very small.
©Boardwork AP Biology
CHOLESTEROL IN CELL MEMBRANES
Cholesterol is very important in
controlling membrane fluidity. The
more cholesterol, the less fluid – and
the less permeable – the membrane.
Cholesterol is also important in
keeping membranes stable at
normal body temperature –
without it, cells would burst open.

©Boardwork AP Biology
PROTEINS IN CELL MEMBRANES
Integral (or intrinsic, or carbohydrate chain
transmembrane) proteins span
the whole width of the membrane. integral protein

Peripheral (or extrinsic) proteins

are confined to the inner or outer
surface of the membrane.
Many proteins are glycoproteins –
proteins with attached
carbohydrate chains. peripheral protein

©Boardwork AP Biology
INTEGRAL PROTEINS
Many integral proteins are carrier
molecules or channels.
These help transport substances, such
as ions, sugars and amino acids, that
cannot diffuse across the membrane
but are still vital to a cell’s functioning.
Other integral proteins are receptors
for hormones and neurotransmitters,
or enzymes for catalyzing reactions.
©Boardwork AP Biology
PERIPHERAL PROTEINS
may be free on the membrane surface or
bound to an integral protein.
Peripheral proteins on the extracellular
side of the membrane act as receptors for
hormones or neurotransmitters, or are
involved in cell recognition. Many are
glycoproteins.
Peripheral proteins on the cytosolic side
of the membrane are involved in cell
signalling or chemical reactions. They can
dissociate from the membrane and move
into the cytoplasm.
©Boardwork AP Biology
 DIFFUSION
is the net movement of a substance (liquid or gas)
from an area of higher concentration to one of lower
concentration.
allows the movement of hydrophobic molecules (O
and Co2) and small uncharged molecules such as urea,
glycerol.
not allows the movement of charged molecules, atoms
with positive or negative charge
🔑KEYWORDS
EQUILIBRIUM
 State of balance
 When equilibrium has been reached, there is no longer a
concentration gradient.

CONCENTRATION GRADIENT
 a difference in the number of molecules or ions of a
substance between adjoining regions.
 OSMOSIS
Diffusion of water
across a membrane
 Moves from HIGH water
concentration to LOW
water concentration
• Water is attracted to
solutes (like salt) so it
will also travel to areas
of low solute
concentration to high
solute concentration.
 TONICITY
Refers to the concentration of SOLUTES
Is a RELATIVE term, comparing two different
solutions
THREE TYPES OF SOLUTIONS:
 Hypertonic solution
 Isotonic solution
 Hypotonic solution
 HYPERTONIC SOLUTION
 there is a higher concentration of
water inside the cell than outside
the cell.
 has more solute (salt, sugar, etc.)
than the cell and this causes there 3% NaCl solution
to be less water in the solution. 97% H2O 5% NaCl
 Water flows from an area of high 95% H2O
concentration to an area of low Red Blood Cell
and leaves the cell. This loss of
water causes the cell to shrivel.
 Normal cell

Cell in plasmolysis
Crenated red blood cells
 ISOTONIC SOLUTION
there is the same percentage of
water on the outside of the cell
as the inside of the cell.
3% Na
has the same amount of solute 97% H2O
solution
3% Na
as the inside of the cell. 97% H2O
Water moves at a constant rate Red Blood Cell
in and out of the cell and the
cell maintains its original shape.
 Plant cells in an
isotonic solution

Red blood cell

in an isotonic
solution
 HYPOTONIC SOLUTION
the solution contains a higher
percentage of water than the
cell.
has less solute than the cell and
this causes the solution to have
more water than the cell. 3% Na solution
When a cell is placed in a 97% H2O
1% Na
hypotonic solution, water flows 99% H2O
from an area of high Red Blood Cell
concentration to an area of low
and rushes into the cell.
causes the cell to expand and
possibly burst.
Red blood cells beginning to lyse
Hypertonic and Hypotonic Solutions
Hypertonic and Hypotonic Solutions
The Effect of Osmosis in:
Hypertonic Isotonic Hypotonic
 FACILITATED DIFFUSION
 also known as facilitated transport or passive-mediated
transport
 is the process of spontaneous passive transport of molecules or
ions across a biological membrane via specific transmembrane
integral proteins
 Protein carriers often change shape when molecules attach to
them, and this change in shape enables the molecule to cross
the membrane.
 Because the carrier protein has to fit around the molecule, it is
specific to one molecule, or related class of molecules. So
still not all large molecules can pass through the membrane.
Transport of Glucose into the Cell
 ACTIVE TRANSPORT
movement of materials AGAINST the concentration
gradient from low concentration to high
concentration
Requires the cell to use energy (ATP)
2 kinds:
1. membrane pumps
2. vesicle transports
 SODIUM-POTASSIUM PUMP
 involves the use of carrier proteins, similar to those of
facilitated diffusion
 but these carrier proteins (membrane pumps) act as
pumps, using the energy from splitting ATP to pump specific
molecules against the concentration gradient.
 maintains a high concentration of Na ions outside
the cell, and a high concentration of K+ ions inside the
cell.
 particularly important in muscle contractions, nerve
impulses and the absorption of nutrients from the gut.
 VESICLE TRANSPORT
 Some substances (ex. Food) are too BIG to pass through
membrane
 OR
 large quantities need to pass through the cell

 These situations use vesicle transport

 Two kinds
 Endocytosis
 Exocytosis
 ENDOCYTOSIS
 Cells ingest external fluid, macromolecules &
large particles (including other cells)
 External materials are enclosed by part of
the cell, forming a pouch
 The pouch pinches off cell membrane &
becomes a membrane bound organelle
called  a vesicle
 Vesicles can fuse with lysosomes to digests
contents.
 Two kinds of Endocytosis:
 Phagocytosis – movement of large particles
or whole cells. *Possible feeding method, or a
method of defense to destroy bacteria/viruses
 Pinocytosis – transport of solutes or liquids
Endocytosis
 EXOCYTOSIS
Vesicles in cytoplasm fuse with
cell membrane and RELEASE
their contents into the external
environment OUTSIDE the cell
Used to release large molecules
such as proteins packaged by the
Golgi apparatus
Used in nervous & endocrine
system to control activities in
other cells.
Exocytosis
Endocytosis & Exocytosis
ANALOGY:

ENERGY NEEDED:
Active Transport

NO ENERGY NEEDED:
Diffusion
Osmosis
Facilitated Diffusion
SUMMARY
• Phospholipid Bilayer
• Fluid Mosaic Model
• Membrane Proteins
• Diffusion
• Facilitated Diffusion
• Osmosis
• Bulk Transport
• Active Transport