Alexa Riley, Sofia Sanchez

Ap Bio
Mrs. Magee
Period 1

Cell Membrane: The

Most Important Organelle
September 23, 2020

What is the Cell Membrane?

Brief Definition
The cell membrane is the membrane that
surrounds the cell. It is semipermeable and is
composed of a phospholipid bilayer. The cell
membrane plays a vital role in cell function
and the well being of the cell. It separates the
interior of the cell from outside surroundings
and provides the cell with key nutrients.

“The Guardian of the Cell”

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Where and What Does a Cell Membrane Look

Like?
The cell membrane can be found on the outer perimeter of all cells (prokaryotic and eukaryotic).
They are composed of a combination of different proteins and a phospholipid bilayer that acts
as a fluid mosaic. This layer can be envisioned as proteins floating in a fluid bilayer of
phospholipids. These clusters of proteins are embedded in the fluid matrix of the lipid bilayer.
Two major populations of
proteins exist in the membrane:
peripheral and integral
proteins. Integral proteins
penetrate the interior of the
hydrophobic bilayer. These
types of proteins have many
functions, but their main
functions include functioning
as transporters and channels
with various other roles. Peripheral proteins are not actually embedded in the bilayer at all, but
are loosely attached to the surface of the membrane. Much like integral proteins, peripheral
proteins have no singular function,
but many that they partake in.
These proteins are vital in cell
signalling, in which they are able to
attach to other molecules on the
extracellular surface of the
membrane to send signals to the
cell. A special type of integral
proteins called aquaporins exist in
the cell membrane. These channels
are exclusive to water diffusion
across the membrane. It allows water to diffuse across the membrane at a faster rate. Another
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special type of transport proteins are ion channels. These channels specialize in transporting
ions across the membrane. All of these separate elements work together to form a functional
membrane that the cell can use for a variety of different purposes.

What is the Purpose and Function of a Cell

Membrane?
Many cell functions would not happen if not for the cell membrane. Some of its key functions
include:

- Providing structure and acting as a barrier

- Selective permeability and intake of nutrients and molecules
- Endocytosis and Exocytosis
- Cell Signaling

Endocytosis and Exocytosis

Endocytosis and exocytosis are two vital functions of the cell that allow in and excrete
waste and nutrients. Exocytosis is the secretion of waste from the cell. This occurs when a
transport vesicle carrying waste travels along the
microtubules of the cytoskeleton to the cell
membrane. When the vesicle membrane touches the
cell membrane the two membranes fuse. This allows
for the contents inside the vesicle to exit out of the
cell. Afterwards the vesicle membrane fuses
completely and becomes one with the cell
membrane. Endocytosis is the process of intake in
molecules and nutrients. This happens when the cell
membrane sinks in, forming a small pocket. As this pocket becomes deeper, it pinches in,
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trapping in contents out of the cell and forming a vesicle. This allows for important nutrients
to reach the inside of the cell for other organelles to use.

Structure and Protection:

A cell membrane’s structure is made up of a phospholipid
bilayer and proteins. In order for cells to change structure, the
cell membrane needs to be very flexible when they go through
the narrow passageways of the capillaries. The wall of the
membrane helps with the support and structure for the cells
inside, it is able to let cells in and out of the membrane. If a
rupture were to happen the cells inside would die. The cell
membrane is also useful in the shape of the cell and helps
connect to other cell groups in order to create tissues. The
cell membrane's main purpose is to provide protection of the
cell from its surroundings.

Cell Signaling:
Cell membrane receptors help with the attachment sites for effectors,
which then signal the intracellular responses. These could include
growth factors and hormones. There is a possibility of these cells
being sabotaged and viruses try to enter the cell, which would later
lead to infections. An important factor of the membrane is that it can
allow cells to recognize when it sees another cell, this helps with the
tissue and organ formation early on in development.
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Selective Permeability and Intake of Nutrients:

When the cell structure is changed, it causes the membrane to be selectively permeable.
Meaning that only certain substances, meeting a specific point, are allowed to pass through
without any assistance. Cell membranes only require small amounts of saturated fats and
cholesterol. Another good nutrient for the cell membrane is fish oil and foods that maintain high
protein. Without the proper nutrients in the membrane, the cell would not be able to function
properly.

“... [cell membranes

are] vital to all life,
because it's not just
how cells acquire
what they need and
get rid of what they don't. It’s also how cells
communicate with one another.”
- John Green
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Why We are Important

The Cell Membrane plays a role in many vital functions in the cell. Here’s a brief list of important
things that the cell membrane (can) do/ play a role in:

Immunology:
Proteins found in the cell membrane
play a vital role in the medical field and
are used in the development and
research of diseases and treatments.
For example the research done on a
membrane protein called CCR5 was key
in the development of a treatment
against HIV. A drug called maraviroc
was approved for treatment in 2007 and a clinical trial in 2012 was approved to see if the drug
could prevent HIV in uninfected, at risk patients. Without the cell membrane many critical
medical discoveries would have not been found which would mean less treatments for possible
diseases and conditions out here. Only a great organelle like the cell membrane can do that.

Water Intake and Osmoregulation:

Cell membranes are able to intake water due to aquaporins. Water is vital for both animal
and plant cells in different ways. Kidney cells for example have a high number of aquaporins
embedded in their cell membrane. This allows for them to recapture water from the urine before
it is excreted. This in turns allows for the
kidneys to regulate homeostasis,
without enough water in the kidneys, the
sodium concentration could go up. This
could lead to kidney stones, and if there
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is a total lack of water, then complete kidney failure could occur. Osmoregulation is the
control of solute concentrations and water balance. This is very critical to the kidneys and is one
of their main functions. Kidneys help take out waste from the blood. They are able to do this
because their cell membrane aid is osmoregulation. Without the cell membrane, kidney function
would be able to happen and many mammals would exist with health problems as a result.

Cell Organelle Function:

One of the major functions of the cell membrane stated previously is that it intakes
necessary molecules and nutrients for the cell. Other cell organelles rely on these nutrients and
molecules to perform their own duties. For example the mitochondria relies on certain nutrients
provided by the cell membrane. The mitochondria helps create energy needed for the cell. It
does this my intaking molecules and turning them into ATP. The necessary molecules for this
would be oxygen and sugar, both of which are provided by the cell membrane. Without the cell
membrane, the mitochondria would not be able to provide energy for the cell.

Cell Protection:
Because of the nature of the cell membrane and its selective permeability, it also
functions as a barrier and protector of the cell. It helps keep out unwanted/foreign molecules
that could potentially harm the health of the cell. Since animal cells do not have a cell wall, the
plasma membrane is its only form of protection from the outside environment. Without the cell
membrane, all the contents inside like the cytoplasm, nucleus, golgi, etc would be exposed to
outside pathogens and other cells.
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DON’T trust other Organelles, Here's Why:

Ribosome:
When a ribosome malfunctions there is a
possibility that a mistake could occur when
there is a translation in the genetic code.
Mutant ribosomes could also be changing
patterns of the gene expression. If these
changes were to occur, it could lead to cancer.

Nucleus:
When a nucleus malfunctions, this could lead
to heart failure, vascular disease, muscle
wasting, and more. If there is a defective
nucleoli is present, it could cause very rare hereditary diseases, like Alzheimer’s and
Huntington’s disease

The Cell Membrane would never fail you! That's exactly why you should
give your vote to the us; we'll protect and provide the cell!
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To all of our haters: