1.

3 BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES
Functions of Membranes?
- Control what enters and exits cell (because they’re partially permeable)
- Contain internal parts of cell
- To isolate organelles
- Flexible to allow cells to change shape (E.g Phagocytes doing phagocytosis)

Describe the structure of phospholipids (3 MARKS)

Phospholipids are polar lipids that consist of hydrophilic charged phosphate heads bind to
glycerol and these orientate towards water (because it can form bonds and attract to water)
and 2 hydrophobic fatty acid tails that orientate away from water (because they can’t form
bonds with water). 2 layers of the phospholipids help form the phospholipid bilayer of cell
membranes.

Drawing 

Explain the relation between phospholipids structure with its and properties
The presence of a phosphate head and 2 fatty acid tails allows the phospholipids to be both
hydrophilic and hydrophobic. The phosphate head is charged and so it can form bonds with
water so its hydrophilic. The hydrocarbon chains in the 2 fatty acid tails can’t form bonds with
water and so they’re hydrophobic.
What can and can’t pass through cell membrane?
Can: Fat soluble organic substances pass easily through

Can’t: Ionic polar substances that dissolve in water can’t pass through. (Proteins and Salts)

Structure of Cell Membrane:

1. Phospholipids: (3 MARKS)
a. Hydrophilic phosphate head, that orientates to outside of cell towards water because
it can form bonds with water (Attracts water). Hydrophobic Fatty acid tails point to
centre of cell because it can’t form bonds with water (Repels water).
2. Cholesterol:
o Small rigid nonpolar molecule that fills gaps between phospholipid tails and the higher
the concentration of cholesterol in membranes the lower the permeability of cell
 Function of Cholesterol : It makes cell membrane more stable and stronger.
3. Proteins:
- (These are scattered everywhere around the cell membrane depending on position they’re
categorised)
a. Peripheral (extrinsic) proteins = Found on 1 side of the membrane (usually side facing
cytoplasm)
b. Integral (intrinsic) proteins = Those are embedded in the phospholipid bilayer such as
protein channels or carriers
i. Protein Channels = Allow polar particles to pass through the cell membrane by
facilitated diffusion
ii. Carrier Proteins = Involved in facilitated diffusion and active transport
iii. Protein receptors
iv. Glycoproteins
4. Carbohydrates:
o Attached to either PROTEINS to form GLYCOPROTEINS
OR
Attached to LIPIDS to form GLYCOLIPIDS

Proteins located in cell membrane

Cholesterol that increases stability of cell since it’s a rigid molecule

Arranged in fluid mosaic structure where proteins and phospholipids exchange within the
phospholipid monolayer.
Examples of membranes:

Nuclear Membrane

Mitochondrial Membrane

Cell Surface Membrane

Lysosomal membrane

RER Membrane
The Fluid Mosaic Model:
- Definition (2 Marks)
o Phospholipids and proteins can exchange their places within the monolayer
positions.
- This model states that biological membranes are described as being fluid where
phospholipids can move within the membranes and the proteins can move within the
phospholipid bilayer and are scattered or embedded within layer like a mosaic.

- EVIDENCE FOR CELL MEMBRANE FLUIDITY

o During phagocytosis the membranes of the white blood cells change their shape
which is evidence of membrane fluidity.
o When 2 cells fuse with each other the proteins from the 2 cells were mixed
randomly in the fusion cell which shows that proteins can float around withing
the phospholipid bilayer.
Investigating Membrane Permeability
- Biological Membranes are partially permeable because they allow only certain particles
to pass through
- The membrane permeability is affected by external factors such as temperature or
alcohol concentration
- Beetroots are used to investigate membrane permeability due to the red pigments found
inside the tonoplasts (cell vacuole)
- An increase in membrane permeability will cause the pigment to diffuse out of the cell
- The colorimeter can be used to determine membrane permeability by measuring the
degree of red pigment that diffuses out of the cell.

EXPERIMENT
- The effect of temperature or alcohol concentration on membrane permeability can be
studied according to this investigation.
a. Beetroots cut first into cylinders of beetroots of same age and species into
equal length and surface area using a cork borer and ruler.
b. The cylinders are rinsed with distilled water to remove any pigment produced
in the cutting process (the some are cut so pigment is released)
c. Cylinders are then placed in Cuvettes containing distilled water
d. Now we place cuvettes in different temperatures or alcohol concentrations
e. They’re then removed, and the intensity of the colour is measured using the
colorimeter. (Make sure the colorimeter is zero- calibrated)
f. SAFTEY: Keep alcohol away from any flames because its flammable

Variable How is it controlled

Temperature (If it’s not the independent)
pH
The volume of liquid in cuvettes
Size of beetroot cylinders
Pigment leaked during cutting process
Variety of beetroots
Pre- Treatment
Using thermostatically stable water bath set
at room temp
Calibrate the starting temperatures
Using pH buffer
Using measuring cylinder
Cut into equal shapes using cork borer and
ruler
Rinse all of them for same amount of time
Take all beetroots from same plant and
same part of tuber