CELL MEMBRANE

ALIZA NAEEM
UNIT MEMBRANE MODEL OF CELL MEMBRANE
Robertson proposed the unit membrane model of the
plasma membrane in 1959 A.D. The Biomembrane
model proposed by Robertson stated that these are
made up of three layers and out of these three layers,
two are protein layers and one is a phospholipid layer.
FLUID MOSAIC MODEL
Fluid mosaic model of cell membrane was proposed by
Singer and Nicolson.

According to Fluid mosaic model, the quasi-fluid nature of

lipid enables lateral movement of proteins within the overall
bilayer, and the ability to move within the membrane is
measured as its fluidity.
COMPOSITION OF CELL MEMBRANE :
Cell membrane is composed of protein and
lipids with small amounts of carbohydrates
The composition in percentage is as follows
● 55% PROTEIN
● 25 % PHOSPHOLIPIDS
● 13 % CHOLESTEROL
● 4 % OTHER LIPIDS
● 3 % CARBOHYDRATES
SELECTIVE PERMEABILITY

Cell membrane is selectively permeable. The

small molecules having low molecular weight,
the non polar molecules can easily cross the lipid
bilayer. However, the molecules with large
molecular weight, the ions having charge, the
polar substances are repelled by the lipid bilayer
PROTEIN CHANNELS :

There are special type of proteins in the cell

membrane embedded in the lipid bilayer.
These channel proteins are specialized and
facilitate the passage of large molecules ions
and polar substances through them
The channels are water filled so water soluble
substances can pass through them and cross
the bilayer
Types of protein in cell membrane

● Integral protein : Facilitate the transfer of water

soluble substances
● Peripheral protein : Transport substances that
cannot penetrate in lipid bilayer
● Receptor protein : serves as receptors for water
soluble chemicals such as peptide harmones
which cannot easily pass through membrane

PERIPHERAL PROTIEN : Attached to integral

ASYMMETRICAL STRUCTURE OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS

The structure of phospholipid is not symmetrical or identical its

asymmetric
● Outer leaflet : phsphotidylcholie +
sphingomyline
● Inner leaflet : phosphotidyletanolamine+
phsphotidylserine
● Outer leaflet have carbohydrate moleculars
while in e doest not have
● Proteins attached to outer leaflet is different
than the inner one
This shows asymmetry of cell membrane
MEMBRANE CARBOHYDRATES :

(GLYCOCALYX)

● The glyco portion of the molecule protrude

outwards of the cell surface

● PROTEOGLYCANS : Carbohydrates
substances bounded to small protein cores
and loosely attached to outer cell surface
FLUIDITY OF CELL MEMBRANE

● Cell membrane shows the property of fluidity.

● Due to this cell shows Exocytosis and Endocytosis

● Show Membrane Biogenesis

● Phospholipids are not fixed they are motile allowing

fluidity