Cell  

Membranes

cell  
membrane
 Cell  Membrane  Structure  
Tutorial
• http://socratic.org/biology/movement-­in-­
and-­out-­of-­cells/cell-­membrane

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPKvH
rD1eS4
 Essential  Idea
• The  structure  of  biological  membranes  
makes  them  fluid  and  dynamic.
 Cell  Membrane
• The  cell  membrane  is  a  barrier  that  
separates  a  cell  from  the  external  
environment.
cell  membrane

cell  membrane
What  are  the  many  functions  of  the  
cell  membrane?
Functions  of  the  cell  membrane:
– Maintain  cell’s  shape
– Hold  cell’s  contents  together
– regulate  what  enters  and  leaves  a  cell.
outside  cell
cell  membrane

inside  cell
 Cells  membrane  functions
• Cell  membrane  is  semi-­permeable.
• Semi-­permeable  means  only  specific  
things  can  get  in  and  out  of  the  cell.
• What  pass  through  the  cell’s  membrane  
has  to  do  with  the  following  factors:
– Size  of  substance
– Chemical  properties  of  substance
– The  needs  of  the  cell
 IB  Assessment  Statement
Explain  how  the  hydrophobic  and  hydrophilic  
properties  of  phospholipids  help  maintain  
the  structure  of  cell  membranes
What  is  a  cell  membrane  made  of?
• A  cell  membrane  is  made  up  of  four  
types  of  molecules:
1. Phospholipids
2. Proteins
3. Carbohydrates
4. Cholesterol
 Phospholipids

Phospholipids  are  the  most  abundant  molecule  

in  the  plasma  membrane

Phospholipids  are  molecules,  containing  

hydrophobic  and  hydrophilic  regions
 Hydrophobic  vs.  Hydrophilic

The  cell  membrane  

has  hydrophilic    
components
Hydrophilic   =  loves  
water

And  Hydrophobic  
components  
Hydrophobic   =  water  
fearing
 Phospholipids
• In  a  phospholipid,  one  of  the  fatty  acids  is  replaced  by  
a  phosphate  group  (-­-­PO4)  
• The  over  structure  of  a  phospholipid  consists  of
– two  fatty  acids  
– and  a  phosphate  group  
– attached   to  glycerol  
• The  two  fatty  acid  tails  are  hydrophobic,  but  the  
phosphate  group and  its  attachments  form  a  
hydrophilic  head
 LE  5-­13

Phosphate

Fatty   acids

Hydrophilic
head

Hydrophobic
tails

Structural   formula Space-­filling   model Phospholipid   symbol

The  hydrophobic  tail  and  hydrophilic  head  of  
phospholipids  form  the  structure  of  the  cell  
membrane.

• When  phospholipids  are  added  to  water,  they  self-­

assemble  into  a  bilayer,  with  the  hydrophobic  
tails  pointing  toward  the  interior
• The  structure  of  phospholipids  results  in  a  bilayer  
arrangement  found  in  cell  membranes
• Phospholipids  are  the  major  component  of  all  cell  
membranes
Phospholipids’ Structure -­ Hydrophilic   head   lines  up  near  the  
water  and  hydrophobic   cells  stay  inside    

WATER
Hydrophilic
head

Hydrophobic
WATER
tails
 Cells  Membranes
• The  cell  membrane  is  made  of  two  
phospholipid  layers.

• Thus,  it  is  called  a  lipid  bilayer or  a  

phospholipid  bilayer.
LE  7-­2

WATER

Hydrophilic
head

Hydrophobic
tail

WATER
 IB  Assessment  Statement
List  the  functions  of  membrane  proteins.
 Membrane  proteins
• There  are  two  types  of  membrane  
proteins:

1. Integral  proteins
2. Peripheral  proteins
 LE  7-­3

Protein

Phospholipid
bilayer

Protein
 Integral  Protein  Location
– penetrate  the  hydrophobic  core and  
often  span  the  membrane
Integral  Protein
 Functions  of  Integral  Proteins
• Protein  pumps – use  energy  to  pump  
things  across  the  membrane
• Enzymes – catalyze  reactions.
• Binding  site  for  a  hormone – signal  from  
hormone  is  transmitted  to  the  inside  of  the  
cell.  
• Protein  channels -­ Allow  substances  to  
pass  insideor  outside  of  cell.
Peripheral  Proteins  Location
– are  not  embedded  in  the  membrane.
– They  are  appendages loosely  bound  to  
the  surface  of  the  membrane

Peripheral  
Protein
 LE  7-­4

Extracellular  
layer

Proteins
Knife

Plasma Cytoplasmic  
membrane layer

Extracellular  layer Cytoplasmic  layer

Functions  of  Peripheral  Proteins
• Electron  carriers
• Enzymes – speed  up  chemical  reations
• Cell  to  cell  recognition
• Binding  sites  for  molecules.
Six  major  functions  of  membrane  proteins:

1. Transport  (Channels  for  passive  transport,  

Pumps  for  active  transport)
2. Enzymatic  activity
3. Signal  transduction  (Hormone  binding  sites)
4. Cell-­cell  recognition  (Cell-­to-­cell  
communication)
5. Intercellular  joining  (Cell  adhesion)
6. Attachment  to  the  cytoskeleton  and  
extracellular  matrix  (ECM)
 Glycoproteins  &  carbohydrate  
chains
• A  small  chain  of  carbohydrate bonded  to  
a  peripheral  protein  is  called  a  
glycoprotein.
• The  three  main  functions of  
glycoproteins  are  
– cell  to  cell  recognition
– Allow  cells  to  bond  to  other  cells  and  tissue
– Receptor  site for  chemical  signals
 Membrane  Structure
Outside
of  cell

Carbohydrate
Proteins chains
Cell
membrane

Inside
of  cell
(cytoplasm) Protein Lipid  bilayer
channel
 Cholesterol  
• Cholesterol  is  imbedded in  the  cell  
membrane.
• The  function  of  Cholesterol  within  the  
membrane  is  to  maintain  the  fluidity  of  
the  membrane.
– Reduces phospholipids  movement in  
moderate  temperatures.
– Hinders  solidification at  low  temperatures  
by  disrupting  regular  packing  of  
phospholipids.
LE  7-­5c

Cholesterol
Cholesterol  within  the  animal  cell  membrane
LE  7-­7

Glycoprotein

Carbohydrate

Glycolipid
EXTRACELLUL
SIDE  OF
MEMBRANE

Cholesterol
Peripheral
Integral
proteins
protein CYTOPLASMIC  S
OF  MEMBRANE
 IB  Assessment  Statement
• Draw  and  Label  a  diagram  to  show  the  
structure  of  membranes.    Diagram  should  
show  the  following  structures
– Phospholipid   bilayer
– Cholesterol
– Glycoproteins
– Integral   proteins
– Hydrophobic   tails
– Hydrophilic   heads
 Nature  of  Science
• Using  models  as  representations  of  the  
real  world—there  are  alternative  models  of  
membrane  structure.  (1.11)

• Falsification  of  theories  with  one  theory  

being  superseded  by  another—evidence  
falsified  the  Davson-­Danielli  model.  (1.9)
 Models
Gorter &  Grendel,  
proposed   a  bilayer.  

Davson &  Danielli,  

proposed   layers  of  
proteins.  
High  magnification  
electron   microscopes.  
Evidence   of  proteins.  

Singer   &  Nicolson,  

peripheral/integral   proteins.  
Fluid  mosaic  model.  
Figure  8.2    Two  generations  of  membrane  models
Fluid  mosaic  model
 Skills

àAnalysis  of  evidence   from  electron   microscopy  that  led  

to  the  proposal   of  the  Davson-­Danielli model.  

àAnalysis  of  the  falsification   of  the  Davison-­Danielli

model  that  led  to  the  Singer-­Nicolson   model.  
 Falsification  of  theories

Who  proposed  
this  model?

Davson &  Danielli

Evidence  proved  this  theory

• X-­ray  diffraction  studies

• Electron  microscopy  etc.
 Falsification  of  theories

Who  proposed  
this  model?

Davson &  Danielli

In  1950’2/60’s  evidence  appeared  that  DID  NOT  
fit  the  model.  

• Freeze-­etched  electron  microscopy

• Extracting  &  analysing  membrane  proteins
• Fluorescent  antibody  tagging
Membrane  proteins
 Fluid  Mosaic  Model
• The  molecular  structure  of  a  membrane  is  
called  is  described  by  the  Fluid  Mosaic  
Model.

• Because  the  membrane  has  the  

consistency  of  a  thick  fluid and  it  is  a  
mosaic  (mixture) of  phosphoplipids,  
and  scattered  proteins,  cholesterol  and  
carbohydrates.  
 Nature  of  Science
• Compare  the  Davison  Danielle  Model
to  the  fluid  mosaic  model.    In  your  
comparison:
– Describe  and    make  an  annotated  drawing  of  
both  models
– State  evidence  that  supports  the  current  fluid  
mosaic  model.