The fluid mosaic model of a cell

membrane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=CNbZDcibegY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNbZDcibegY
Hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of
the plasma membrane.
 The exterior heads (circles in picture) are
hydrophilic. The fatty acid tails (zigzag in picture)
are hydrophobic. The bilayer configuration serve as a
barrier to many molecules.

Hydrophilic phosphate heads -

water loving

Hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails

- water repelling
Amphipathic: hydrophilic part
plus hydrophobic part
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKN5sq5dtW4&feature=related
The hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of
phospholipids help to maintain the structure of the
cell membranes.

- The 'head's have large phosphate

groups, thus they are hydrophilic (attract
water) or polar. These sections are suited to
the large water content of the tissue fluid
and cytoplasm on opposite sides of the
membrane.
- The fatty acid tails are non-charged,
hydrophobic meaning they repel water. This
creates a barrier between the internal and
external 'water' environments of the cell. The
'tails' effectively create a barrier to the
movement of charged molecules
- The individual phospholipids are attracted
through their charges and this gives some
stability. They can however move around in
this plane
 The functions of membrane
proteins.
 Hormone binding sites (e.g. insulin receptor)

 Immobilized enzymes

 Cell adhesion to form tight junctions

 Cell to cell communication (e.g. receptor for neurotransmitters at

synapses)

 Channels for passive transport across the membrane (facilitate diffusion

for hydrophilic particles)

 Pumps for active transport (using ATP)

The functions of membrane
proteins.
 The functions of membrane
proteins.

The more active is a membrane, the higher is its protein

content (cloroplasts and mitochondria have high protein
content).
Drawing the fluid mosaic
model

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=TSH2xw9L1Dg&index=3&list=PLb1wF0xa6W
I-NHL2aVgqXxBgwEqiWo8m8
CHOLESTEROL
Cholesterol is a steroid.
It is mainly hydrophobic so it stays in the centre
of the membrane. It has also an hydrophilic
group that is attracted to the phosphate heads
of phospholipids.
It reduces membrane fluidity and permeability to
some solutes.
 Davson-Danielli model

• Gorter and Grendel in 1920s: membrane made

by bilayer of phospholipids

• Davson and Danielli in 1930s: sandwich model:

bilayer of phospholipids + bilayer of proteins on
both sides of the membrane.

• Singer and Nicolson in 1966: fluid mosaic

model.
Davson-Danielli model
Evidence for the Davson–Danielli model
When clear electron micrographs of membranes became
available, they appeared to show support for Davson–
Danielli’s model, showing a three-layered structure.
intracellular space (blue)
This was taken to be the
phospholipid bilayer 1st cell
(light) surrounded by two membrane
layers of protein (dark).

1 light layer =
phospholipid bilayer

2 dark layers:
protein
2nd cell membrane
11 of 10 © Boardworks Ltd 2009
Evidence for the Davson–Danielli model
Later, it was discovered that the light layer represented the
phospholipid tails and the dark layers represented the
phospholipid heads.
intracellular space (blue)

1st cell
membrane

1 light layer =
phospholipid tails

2 dark layers:
phospholipid heads
2nd cell membrane
12 of 10 © Boardworks Ltd 2009
Problems with the Davson–Danielli model
By the end of the 1960s, new evidence cast doubts on the
viability of the Davson–Danielli model.

 The amount and type of

membrane proteins vary greatly
between different cells.

 It was unclear how the proteins

in the model would permit the
membrane to change shape
without bonds being broken.

 Membrane proteins are largely hydrophobic and therefore

should not be found where the model positioned them: in
the aqueous cytoplasm and extracellular environment.

13 of 10 © Boardworks Ltd 2009

Evidence from freeze-fracturing
In 1966, biologist Daniel Branton used freeze-fracturing to
split cell membranes between the two lipid layers, revealing
a 3D view of the surface texture.

This revealed a
smooth surface E-face:
with small bumps looking up at
sticking out. outer layer of
These were later membrane
identified as
proteins. P-face:
looking down
on inner layer
of membrane

14 of 10 © Boardworks Ltd 2009

The fluid mosaic model
The freeze-fracture images of cell membranes were further
evidence against the Davson–Danielli model.

E-face
They led to the
development of
the fluid mosaic
model, proposed
by Jonathan
Singer and Garth
Nicholson in 1972.
P-face protein

This model suggested that proteins are found within,

not outside, the phospholipid bilayer.

15 of 10 © Boardworks Ltd 2009

 Diffusion and osmosis
 Diffusion- The movement of
any molecules from an area of
high concentration to an area
of low concentration. It’s a
passive process

 Osmosis- the passive

movement of water molecules
across a partially permeable
membrane, from a region of
lower solute concentration to a
region of higher solute
concentration
 Differences in the concentration of substances dissolved in water Osmosis
 Passive process
 Water molecules: very small polar molecules that can pass through the
phospholipid bilayer or use water channels (aquaporins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3_8FSrqc-I
 OSMOLARITY
 Osmolarity of a solution is the total
concentration of osmotically active solutes.
 Solute molecules form bonds with water
molecule  regions with higher solute
concentration have a lower concentration of
water molecules free to move than regions
with a lower solute concentration.
 Units for osmolarity: mOsm (milliosmoles)
 Osmolarity of human tissue: 300 mOsm
(normal saline).
Passive diffusion across
membrane  particles
passing between the
phospholipids.
- Non polar particles can
diffuse easily.
- Polar particles diffuse at
a low rate (they must be
small!)
Facilitated diffusion: ions
and other particles that
cannot diffuse between
phospholipids can pass
through the membrane if
there are channels
(holes with a narrow
diameter) for them. These
channels are proteins
with chemical properties
that allow only one type
of particle pass through.
Active Transport:

Energy Required

S-B-7-3_Active Transport PPT

Active Transport
 Process that moves materials across the plasma
membrane
 Requires energy from the cell in the form of ATP
 Materials move against the concentration gradient in
two directions:

low concentration high concentration

S-B-7-3_Active Transport PPT

Active Transport Pumps
 Pump proteins = integral globular proteins
 1- The molecule enters the pump.
 2- Conformational change of the protein thanks to
energy from ATP.
 3- The molecule passes to the opposite side.
 4- The pump protein returns to its original
conformation.
 There are many types of pump proteins and they
only carry specific molecules across the plasma
membrane.

S-B-7-3_Active Transport PPT

Endocytosis
 When a cell actively takes large molecules
into itself by folding the plasma membrane
inward, forming a vesicle, using energy from
ATP

Source: http://kenpitts.net/bio/images/endocytosis.gif

S-B-7-3_Active Transport PPT

Endocytosis
 A vesicle containing material from the outside
of the cell is formed using ATP (a region of
the membrane is pulled and pinched off).
 Vesicles contain water, solutes and large
molecules.
 Unicellular organisms use endocytosis for
“eating”.
 White blood cells take in bacteria and viruses.

S-B-7-3_Active Transport PPT

 Exocytosis
 When a vesicle fuses with the plasma membrane.
 Used to release enzymes (secretion) or waste
product
 Used by unicellular organisms (Paramecium) to
release excess of water.
 It is also used to increase the plasma membrane.

Source: http://kenpitts.net/bio/images/exocytosis.gif

S-B-7-3_Active Transport PPT

How vesicles carry materials from the
ER Golgi apparatus plasma membrane

1. ​Ribosome makes a protein.

2. ER forms a vesicle (vacuole) and places protein
in it.
3. Vesicle carries protein to Golgi apparatus and
drops it off.
4. Protein is modified in Golgi apparatus.
5. Golgi apparatus forms new vesicle and places
protein in it.
6. If protein is leaving the cell, the vesicle moves
to the plasma membrane and fuses with it.
7. Exocytosis – protein is moved out of the cell.
S-B-7-3_Active Transport PPT
Exocytosis and endocytosis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rx3c-
y0nn0&index=4&list=PLb1wF0xa6WI-
NHL2aVgqXxBgwEqiWo8m8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=bVCJ_36ODSk&index=5&list=PLb1wF0xa6W
I-NHL2aVgqXxBgwEqiWo8m8
 Example of active transport:
sodium-potassium pump in nerve cells
- Inside the cell: sodium ions are
at low concentration and
potassium ions are at higher
concentration.
- Outside the cell, it is the
opposite.
- When a nerve message is sent,
the ions pass across the
membrane to send the message.
- After the message has passed, Source:
the ions must be actively www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/enger/student/olc/art_q
uizzes/genbiomedia/0645.jpg
transported back to their starting
positions across the membrane.
S-B-7-3_Active Transport PPT
Sodium potassium pump

http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072495855/
student_view0/chapter2/
animation__how_the_sodium_potassium_pump_works.html
Active Transport vs. Passive
Transport

Source: http://thebasisoflife.wikispaces.com/file/view/c8x16types-transport.jpg/30540339/c8x16types-transport.jpg

S-B-7-3_Active Transport PPT

Explain the role of protein pumps and ATP in
active transport across membranes.

 Protein pumps
embedded in the
plasma membrane
help move molecules
in and out of a cell
against their
concentration gradient.
This requires energy,
in the form of ATP.
Describe how the fluidity of the membrane allows
it to change shape, break and reform.
 Fluid mosaic model- phospholipid
molecules are like buoys bobbing in
the ocean, and can move laterally.

 Exocytosis- the fusion of a vesicle

with the plasma membrane to
release protein. Enlarges size of
overall membrane.

 Endocytosis- the engulfing of

material from outside the cell into a
vesicle which breaks off inside the
cell. Reduces size of overall
membrane.