6

Cell Membranes
Objectives

• What Is the Structure of a Biological

Membrane?
• How Is the Plasma Membrane Involved in Cell
Adhesion and Recognition?
6.1 What Is the Structure of a Biological Membrane?

• The general structure of membranes is

known as the fluid mosaic model.

• Phospholipids form a bilayer which is like a

“lake” in which a variety of proteins “float.”
Phospholipid Bilayer
6.1 What Is the Structure of a Biological Membrane?

Membranes lipid composition can vary

• fatty acid chain length
• degree of unsaturation (double bonds)
• polar groups

Fluidity depends on temperature and lipid

composition.
More fluid membranes have:
 Shorter chain FA (fatty acids)
 Unsaturated FA
 Less cholesterol

*At low temperatures, molecules move more slowly and fluidity drops
– decline in membrane functions
6.1 What Is the Structure of a Biological Membrane?

• Membranes are
dynamic and are
constantly forming, Lateral movement Flip-flop
(~107 times per second) (~ once per month)
transforming, fusing, Movement of phospholipids
and breaking down. Fluid Viscous

Unsaturated hydrocarbon Saturated hydro-

tails with kinks carbon tails
Membrane fluidity

Cholesterol
Cholesterol within the animal cell membrane
Membrane Proteins Location

Membrane Proteins 2. Integral membrane

proteins have hydrophobic
1. Peripheral membrane
and hydrophilic regions or
proteins lack exposed
domains. – can extend
hydrophobic groups and
through membrane
do not penetrate the
(transmembrane) or only
bilayer.
partially

Peripheral Integral
6.1 What Is the Structure of a Biological Membrane?

Protein – Lipid interactions

The proteins and lipids in the

membrane are independent and only
interact noncovalently.

Some membrane proteins can move

freely within the bilayer, while some
are anchored to a specific region.
6.1 What Is the Structure of a Biological Membrane?

Cell Recognition
Membranes also have carbohydrates on the
outer surface that serve as recognition
sites for other cells and molecules.

• Glycolipids—carbohydrate + lipid

• Glycoproteins—carbohydrate + protein
6.2 How Is the Plasma Membrane Involved In Cell Adhesion and
Recognition?

Cells arrange themselves in groups by:

• cell recognition – one cell specifically

binds to another cell of a certain type

• cell adhesion – in which the connection

between the two cells is strengthened

These processes can be studied in sponge

cells—the cells are easily separated and
will come back together again.
Figure 6.6 Cell Recognition and Adhesion
6.2 How Is the Plasma Membrane Involved In Cell Adhesion and
Recognition?

Cell recognition

Molecules involved in cell recognition

and binding are glycoproteins.

Glyco-
protein

Cell-cell recognition
6.2 How Is the Plasma Membrane Involved In Cell Adhesion and
Recognition?

Cell adhesion
In complex multicellular organisms, cell recognition
proteins allow specific types of cells to bind to one
another.

Cell junctions are specialized structures that hold

cells together:

• Tight junctions
• Desmosomes

• Gap junctions
Figure 6.7 Junctions Link Animal Cells Together (A)

Tight junctions seal tissues

•Prevent substances moving through spaces between the cells i.e.

bladder
•Help ensure directional movement of materials
Figure 6.7 Junctions Link Animal Cells Together (B)

• Plaque –

Desmosomes hold cells together

•Connect adjacent plasma membranes but permit intercellular
movement of materials.
Figure 6.7 Junctions Link Animal Cells Together (C)

Gap junctions allow communication

•Made up of specialized channel proteins – connexins
•Span plasma membrane of adjacent cells and intercellular space in
between
•Water, dissolved ions can pass from cell to cell
6.2 How Is the Plasma Membrane Involved In Cell Adhesion and
Recognition?

Cell membranes also adhere to

the extracellular matrix
(ECM).

The transmembrane protein

integrin binds to the matrix
outside epithelial cells, and to
actin filaments (microfilaments
– cytoskeleton) inside the Attachment to the
cytoskeleton and extra-
cells. cellular matrix (ECM)

The binding is noncovalent and

reversible.
Watch this video to review the many important aspects of the cell membrane:
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