Cell and Molecular Biology

BS 4th Semester M/E

Course Code: ZOOL-303 Credit hours: 3(3-0)

Dr. Lubna Rasool

Department of chemistry
University of Sahiwal
 Objective

• To create an understanding about plasma membrane in cell

• To provide understanding about semipermeable regulates the

transport of materials entering and exiting the cell.

In last lecture we discussed about

• Plasma membrane and its functions

• Composition of membrane

• Fluid mosica model

 Components of the plasma
membrane
Component Location
Phospholipids Main fabric of the membrane

Tucked between the hydrophobic tails of the

Cholesterol
membrane phospholipids

Embedded in the phospholipid bilayer; may

Integral proteins
or may not extend through both layers

On the inner or outer surface of the

Peripheral proteins phospholipid bilayer, but not embedded in
its hydrophobic core

Attached to proteins or lipids on the

Carbohydrates extracellular side of the membrane (forming
glycoproteins and glyco
Transport across cell membrane
• Three basic transport • Vesicular transport

mechanisms: – Endocytosis

• 1. Passive transport • Pinocytosis

– Simple Passive diffusion • Receptor mediated endocytosis

– Facilitated diffusion • Phagocytosis

– Osmosis – Exocytosis

• Active transport
Conti…….
 Passive transport
Simple Diffusion

– Requires no energy

– Substances move down concentration gradients

– Small molecules pass directly through the phospholipid

by-layer (e.g. CO2, H2O, O2)

Facilitated Diffusion

– Molecules need assistance of channel proteins or carrier

proteins (e.g. ions, amino acids, sugars)
 Passive transport
Osmosis

– Movement of water from an area of high to area of low

across semi-permeable membrane

– Rate of diffusion depends on:

• Molecule size, Concentration gradient, Lipid solubility

 Osmosis in living cell
Hypotonic Solution

• Inside of cell has higher [solute] than outside of cell

Isotonic Solution

• Outside of cell has same [solute] as inside of cell

Hypertonic Solution

• Outside of cell has higher [solute] than inside of cell

Osmosis in living cell
 Active transport
– Requires energy (ATP)

– Substances move against concentration gradients

• Movement of potassium (K) inside the cell by potassium pump

across the cell membrane.

• Movement of sodium (Na) out of the cell by sodium pump.

• It is accomplished by special trans-membrane proteins known

as CARRIER PROTEINS
Active transport
 Vesicular transport

• Vesicles are formed by budding off from the cell membrane or

from the membranous organelles of the cell.

• These move to their target sites and fuse with the target

membrane to release their contents

 Endocytosis
▪ Movement of large particles into cells (vesicle formation)

▪ Pinocytosis (cell drinking) Uptake of fluid droplets

▪ Receptor-mediated Endocytosis:

▪ Uptake of specific molecules via coated pits

▪ Phagocytosis (cell eating) Uptake of large particles (e.g.

bacteria)
Conti…
 Exocytosis
– Movement of large particles out of cells (e.g. hormones
 Pinocytosis

• It is the processes by which macromolecules ( Protein

molecules) are taken up by the cell along with small quantity

of extracellular fluid.

• Macromolecule to be endocytosed comes in contact with the

cell membrane, a shallow depression is first formed.

 Pinocytosis

• It gradually deepens to form a flask shaped invagination.

• Narrowing and subsequent closure of the neck of invagination

detaches it from the plasmalemma as pinocytotic vesicle.

• occurs in almost all body cells

Receptor-mediated endocytosis

• Depends on the presence of receptor proteins called Cargo

proteins in the cell membrane.

• These proteins bind to Ligands which come in contact with the

cell membrane.

• Internally, the cargo receptors become associated with special

proteins called Clathrin.

Receptor-mediated endocytosis
• They are assembled beneath the cargo receptors, thus, pulling
the cell membrane and forming a Clathrin coated pit.

• It then becomes a Coated vesicle, pinching off from the cell

membrane and reaching the cytoplasm. Here the coated
proteins are removed.

• Uncoated pinocytotic vesicle remains which fuses with

endosome.
Conti…
PHAGOCYTOSIS (cell eating)

• It is the processes by which large particles like cell debris and

bacteria are engulfed by the phagocytic cells.

• When a bacterium comes in contact with the cell membrane, it

produces processes which surround that large particle. The

edges of these processes fuse, forming a vesicle called

PHAGOSOME.
 Prokaryotes

• Prokaryotes are divided into two different groups

• Archaea and Bacteria

• Bacteria dividing further into gram-positive and gram-negative.

• Gram-negative bacteria have both a plasma membrane and an outer

membrane separated by periplasm, however, other prokaryotes have

only a plasma membrane.

 Conti….
• Bacteria are also surrounded by a cell wall composed of

peptidoglycan (amino acids and sugars).

• Some eukaryotic cells also have cell walls

• The outer membrane of gram negative bacteria is rich in

lipopolysaccharides, which are combined poly- or oligosaccharide

and carbohydrate lipid regions that stimulate the cell's natural

immunity.
 How Diverse Are Cell
Membranes?
• Plasma membrane is part of an extensive endomembrane system that

includes the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the nuclear membrane, the Golgi

apparatus, and lysosomes.

• Membrane components are exchanged throughout the endomembrane

system in an organized fashion.

Membranes of the ER and the Golgi apparatus have different compositions,

and the proteins that are found in these membranes contain sorting signals
Conti….

• Mitochondria and chloroplasts are also surrounded by

membranes, organelles has two surrounding membranes

instead of just one.

• The outer membrane of mitochondria and chloroplasts has

pores that allow small molecules to pass easily.

Conti….

• The inner membrane is loaded with the proteins that make up

the electron transport chain and help generate energy for the

cell.

• The double membrane enclosures of mitochondria and

chloroplasts are similar to certain modern-day prokaryotes and

are thought to reflect these organelles' evolutionary origins.

 Key Terms
Specialized structure that surrounds the cell and
Cell membrane its internal environment; controls movement of
substances into/out of cell

Hydrophobic Molecule that repels water (“water-fearing”)

Molecule that is attracted to water (“water-

Hydrophilic
loving”)
Molecule that contains both a hydrophobic and a
Amphipathic
hydrophilic end
Amphipathic lipid made of glycerol, two fatty
Phospholipid
acid tails, and a phosphate group

A biological membrane involving two layers of

Phospholipid bilayer
phospholipids with their tails pointing inward

Membrane that allows certain substances to pass

Semipermeable membrane
through
Reference books:
Read the discussed topics from

1. Principles of Biochemistry by Nelson,D. L., Lehninger

Thank you