The cell membrane – manus

Slide 1

Hi!

In this video you will learn about the cell membrane. You will learn about its structure and function
in relation to transport. Cells are the basic unit of the body. It is very foundational to understand
how substances, molecules and ions get in and out of cells so that the cells can function properly so
that the whole body can function. You will see and hear about:

Phospholipids

Transport proteins

Passive transport (diffusion) concentration gradients, ion channels, facilitated diffusion

Active transport: sodium-potassium pump, endocytosis, exocytosis, secondary active transport

First, we need to look at the two key functions and structure of the cell membrane

Slide 2

One function of the cell membrane acts as a boundary against the environment. Delimits what is
inside the cell against what is outside the cell. The second key function is the transport of in and out
of the cell. The cell membrane must always be passed whether it is ions, substances or molecules.
The cell membrane also plays a role in regulating the cell's internal environment in relation to
molecules, ions and substances.

Now we look at the structure:

First phospholipids which are fats. We will take a closer look at them in a moment.

The second molecule is cholesterol which is a fat.

The third type of molecule is proteins, many of which are found in the cell membrane, e.g.,
Transport, but also communication. The protein molecules that make communication are called
receptors. In this video we focus on the transport proteins e.g. the ion channels.

Back to the phospholipids. Look at the drawing. They are drawn as balloons. They consist of a
glycerol molecule, a phosphate group and two fatty acids. The balloon in the drawing is the
phosphate group and the glycerol part. It is thus also the hydrophilic part. This means that they like
water or dissolve in water. The two fatty acids that are the strings in the balloon in the drawing.
They are the hydrophobic part of the phospholipid molecule.

Now you can begin to understand why the cell membrane is built the way it is. As I said, they
consist of two layers of phospholipids, where the fatty acids face towards the middle. They do this
because the fatty acids are water repellent and want to turn away from the water outside the cell and
inside the cell. The glycerol moiety and the phosphate group face towards the water, precisely
because they are hydrophilic. That is the explanation behind why the phospholipids are arranged the
way they are. It also has a big impact on how ions, molecules and substances get through the
membrane. We'll take a closer look at that in a moment.

Slide 2

Now we just have to try and take a closer look at the transport that takes place in and out of the
cells. Now, I cannot just name them all here, but I am trying to name some of the most important
substances that need to enter the cells. Oxygen is needed by cells to make energy in the form of
ATP and it is made in the mitochondria. Then glucose and amino acids must also enter the cells
which are called nutrients. Glucose is used for burning to make energy in the form of ATP and
amino acids use cells to make proteins but can also be used to make energy. There are also ions
such as Na + and Ca2 + and must enter cells which must perform special functions. It could be
nerve cells. There are also substances that need to get out of the cells. The key is CO2. It is a waste
product from the cells’ energy production. There are also many other waste substances that need to
be removed, but we will not elaborate here. Proteins also need to get out of the cells because they
need to be used by other cells. It can be salivary glands that make digestive enzymes. Then there are
also ions that must come out of the cells e.g., K + ions which diffuse out if possible due to
concentration difference.

Slide 3

Now we need to take a closer look at the different transportation methods that are available. The
first is passive transport through the cell membrane. Passive transport is also called diffusion. What
is characteristic is that it is transport from a high concentration to a low concentration. The other
thing that is characteristic is transport without using ATP. Diffusion is a bit like having a bike on a
hill and rolling downhill.
Let's look at a few examples that diffuse. There are e.g., a high Ca2 + outside the cells and a low
inside the cells. Therefore, Ca2 + diffuses into the cells if possible. Reverse with K + ions. Here
there is a high K + concentration inside the cells and a low outside and therefore K + ion will
diffuse out of the cell.

Slide 4

Diffusion through the cell membrane can happen in 3 different ways and we need to look at them
now. The first way is the simple diffusion. It is diffusion through the phospholipid layer without
any transport proteins involved. It is e.g., substances such as O2 and CO2 as well as small and fat-
soluble molecules. Oxygen and CO2 are substances that can diffuse via. simple diffusion. The
drawing shows how O2 comes from the blood and into the extracellular fluid and then into the cells
via. the cell membrane into the intracellular fluid where there is a low O2 concentration. So, there is
always a constant transport from high to low concentration.

Slide 5

Another form of diffusion. It is the diffusion through the ion channels. Of course, it is ions that
diffuse through ion channels. It is a transport protein that makes a channel through the cell
membrane. They are also specific which means that a certain type of ion per channel. There are ion
channels for Na +, K +, Ca2 + and Cl-. There are 4 examples of ions that can be transported
through.

In the drawing you can see that the ion channels alternate between having an open or a closed state.
When they are closed, of course, ions cannot get through but while they are open, well then, they
can. The cell can control when they are open and when they are closed.

Slide 6

The third form of transport through the cell membrane which is also diffusion is the facilitated
diffusion. Here, transport proteins are also needed, but they are different. In the facilitated diffusion,
there is a binding site which can be seen from the drawing. Here, the transport protein must bind
along the way and make a conformational change. The substances that use this transport route are
e.g., glucose and amino acids. There is no need for energy in this type of transport.
Now we leave the diffusion because now we have to look at a completely different way of
transporting substances through the cell membrane.

Slide 7

The first thing we need to look at is active transportation via. pumps. But first we need to look at
what is characteristic of active transportation. It requires energy supply, i.e., ATP. Often, active
transport from low concentration to a high concentration is thus against the concentration gradient.
The transport takes place by means of pumps.

Now we look at the sodium-potassium pump. It is a transport protein that transports 3 Na + out of
the cells and 2 K + into the cells. In this process, 1 ATP molecule is consumed. We have many of
these pumps in the membranes of our cells. It has been calculated that these pumps actually account
for 20-25% of the body's total energy consumption. It's impressive!

Slide 8

Two other forms of active transport are endocytosis and exocytosis. These are transport methods if
a larger number of molecules are to be transported in or out of cells. Endo means into and cyt means
cells. Endocytosis is thus transport into cells. As can be seen from the drawing, it is about some
material such as molecules being enclosed by the cell membrane and a vesicle is formed in the
membrane and the material is now inside the cell.

Exocytosis is outside the cell and is the reverse of endocytosis. This is where we would like to have
drugs transported out of the cell. Here, the vesicle in the cell will contain material. The vesicle fuses
with the cell membrane and thus the material is outside the cell.

Now we need to look at the last form of active transport through the cell membrane.

Slide 9

It is in a way active transport which seems to be passive. It is an important transport method in

many of the body's cells. E.g., when we need to absorb glucose from the gut or when we need
glucose out of the kidneys. Let's look at how it goes. Na-K + pumps all the time and they pump na
+ out of the cell and thus a high concentration of Na + occurs outside the cell and a low Na + inside
the cell. This means that Na + will actually diffuse back into the cell and they do this through some
special transport proteins which simultaneously transport glucose into the cell. They can only
transport something when both Na + and glucose are bound. Na + is transported from high to low.
And glucose is actually transported against their concentration gradient. It seems that Glucose gets a
free ride into the cell and no ATP is consumed, but it actually does. Because ATP has first been
used to build the concentration gradient for Na +. The energy in the concentration gradient is then
subsequently used to transport glucose into the cell. This is why it is called secondary active
transport. The primary transport will then in this case be the transport of Na + and the secondary
active transport will be the transport of glucose.

Before the video ends, there is a short summary of what you have learned.

Slide 10

You have learned about the structure of the cell membrane below:

Phospholipid

Double lipid layer

Cholesterol and proteins

Slide 11

You have learned about passive transport:

Simple diffusion

Ion channels

Facilitated diffusion.

Slide 12

You have learned about active transport:

The sodium-potassium pump

Endocytosis and exocytosis

Secondary active transport