Cell: structure

Plasma membrane: structure

- Extent of a cell, separate intracellular fluid and

extracellular fluid.
- Mozaic model : thin 7-10nm, double layer
(lipid molecules with protein molecules
dispersed in it)
Plasma membrane
Plasma membrane: structure

1.Lipid bilayer: fabric of the membrane. Constructed mainly

of phospholipid and smaller amount of cholesterol. Both
have 2 polars: head: hydrophilic( love water) and tail:
hydrophobic( hate water). Polar head attract water→lie
on both the inner and outer surfaces of the membrane.
Nonpolar tail avoid water→ lie in the center of the
membrane.
- All biological membrane has sandwich-like structure: 2
parallels sheets of phospholipid lying tail to tail in the
center, polar head exposed to water inside and outside
the cell.
- Cells differ with each other in the kind and amout of lipid
they contain.
Plasma membrane: structure

2. Protein layer: mostly glycoprotein nature:

- Integral protein:firmly insert into the lipid bilayer.
Transmembrane proteins: span entire width of the
membrane, protrude on both sides. Function is transport:
form channels, pores, through which water molecules and
water-soluble substances, especially ions, can diffuse.
Other act as carrier proteins for transporting substances
that otherwise could not penetrate the lipid bilayer.
- Peripheral protein: attach loosely to integral Pr or membrane
lipids→easily remove without disrupting the membrane,
somes are enzymes, somes involve in mechenical function.
Plasma membrane
Plasma membrane: structure

3. Carbonhydrate of the membrane: invariably in

combination with proteins or lipids in the form of
glycoproteins or glycolipids. Loose carbohydrate coat
the outside of cells called the glycocalyx.
- Functions:
1. Have a negative electrical charge, which gives cells an overall
negative surface charge that repels other negative objects.
2. The glycocalyx of some cells attaches to the glycocalyx of
other cells, thus attaching cells to one another.
3. Act as receptor substances for binding hormones, such as
insulin; when bound, this combination activates attached
internal proteins
Membrane transport

- Interstitial fluid( derive from the blood): rich,

nutritiuos soup. ( aminoacids, sugers, fatty
acid, vitamins, hormones, salts, waste
product…)
- Transport through the cell membrane, either
directly through the lipid bilayer or through
the proteins, occurs by one of two basic
processes: diffusion or active transport
Membrane transport

- Passive processes ( Diffuse): substance across

the membrane without any energy: simple
diffusion and facilitate diffusion
- Active processes: cells provide the metabolic
energy( ATP) needed to move substance
across the membrane.
Membrane transport:simple
diffusion
- Simple diffusion means that kinetic movement
of molecules or ions occurs through a membrane
opening or through intermolecular spaces
without any interaction with carrier proteins in
the membrane.
- Conditions: lipid soluble, small enough or
assisted by a carrier molecule
Membrane transport:simple
diffusion
1. Across lipid bilayer : most important factor
is ability of lipid soluble
+substance of lipid nature : easy
+ substance of nonlipid nature but lipid soluble(
oxygen,CO2, vitamin, alcohol…): easy
+ water and molecules lipid- non soluble: small
→ fast through protein channels.
+ Ion is non soluble because it combines with
water → bigger → can’t go through. …
Membrane transport: simple
diffusion
-The rate of diffusion is determined by the
amount of substance available, the velocity of
kinetic motion, and the number and sizes of
openings in the membrane through which the
molecules or ions can move.
Membrane transport: simple
diffusion
Membrane transport: simple
difusion
2. Diffusion through protein channels, and
“gating” of these channels.
- The protein channels are distinguished by two
important characteristics:
(1)they are often selectively permeable to certain
substances
(2) many of the channels can be opened or closed by gates.
Can : transmembrane protein, transport ions or
water, through aqueous channels from one side
to the other of the membrane.
Diffusion through protein
channels
Membrane transport: simple
difusion
 Many of the protein channels are highly
selective for transport of one or more specific
ions or molecules. This results from the
characteristics of the channel itself: its
diameter, its shape, and the nature of the
electrical charges and chemical bonds along
its inside surfaces…
Membrane transport: simple
difusion
- Gating of Protein Channels: provides a means of
controlling ion permeability of the channels
The opening and closing of gates are controlled in two
principal ways: Voltage gating and Chemical (ligand) gating
+ Voltage gating:when there is a strong negative charge on the
inside of the cell membrane, cause the outside sodium gates to
remain tightly closed; conversely, when the inside of the
membrane loses its negative charge, these gates would open
suddenly and allow tremendous quantities of sodium to pass
inward through the sodium pores .
Potassium gates are on the intracellular ends of the potassium
channels, and they open when the inside of the cell membrane
becomes positively charged
Open-State and Closed-State of
Gated Channels for potassium and
sodium
Diffusion through protein channels:
ligand

+ Chemical (ligand) gating. Some protein channel gates are opened by

the binding of a chemical substance (a ligand) with the protein; this
causes a conformational or chemical bonding change in the protein
molecule that opens or closes the gate. This is called chemical gating or
ligand gating
Membrane transport

1.1.2. Facilitated diffusion:

- Glucose, others sugars, amino acids, ions…
unable to pass through lipid bilayer.
- Carriers: transmembrane intergral protein.
Acts as ferryboats, changes its shapes , envelopes
substane then release it inside the cell.
Carriers are limited by the number of the receptors
→ facilitated diffusion gets to Vmax ( maximum
speedy), then stop.
Membrane transport: facilitate
diffusion

Carrier protein with a pore large enough to

transport a specific molecule.The molecule to
be transported enters the pore and becomes
bound.Then, a conformational or chemical
change occurs in the carrier protein, so that
the pore now opens to the opposite side of the
membrane.
Membrane transport
Membrane transport

Factors influence the diffusion speed:

- Permeability : P
Factors influence the permeability of the membrane:
+ the thickness of the membrane
+ lipid solubility of the membrane
+ number of channels of protein
+ temperature : the wamer, the faster
+ size, weigh of the substance
- Concentration gradient
- Electrical gradient for ionic diffusion
Membrane transport: Active
transport
When cell uses the energy of ATP to transport molecules
or ions, whose movement is against the eletrical
gradient or too large or unable to dissolve in the lipid
bilayer.
1. Primary active transport: This pump is responsible for
maintaining the sodium and potassium concentration
differences across the cell membrane, for establishing a
negative electrical voltage inside the cells
- Sodium-potassium pump: carrier is an enzyme Na – K
ATPase, 3 receptors for Na in the inner surface and 2
recpetors for K in the outer surface.
- Mecanisme: when 3 sodium attached inside and 2 potassium
attached outside →activate enzym Na-K ATPase, operate 1
ATP and release energy.
Sodium-potassium pump
Primary active transport
When 2 potassium attached
outside and 3 sodium attached
inside, the Na – K ATPase
function of the protein becomes
activated. This then releases 1
ATP, splitting it to adenosine
diphosphate (ADP) and liberating
a high-energy phosphate bond of
energy→ cause a chemical and
conformational change in the
protein carrier molecule,
extruding the 3 sodium to the
outside and 2 potassium ions to
the inside.
Membrane transport: Active
transport
2. Secondary active transport: sodium-potassium
pump can drive secondary active transport of others
substance.
- Na-K ATPase create high concentration of sodium outside
the cells → augment concentration gradient , create store
house of energy → excess sodium outside the cell
membrane is always attempting to diffuse to the interior,
under appropriate conditions, this diffusion energy of
sodium can pull other substances along with the sodium
through the cell membrane = co-transport (combines with
others substance).
- Others substances diffuse outside along with the diffusion
inside of sodium owning to carrier protein = counter
transport
Secondary active transport
 Membrane transport
4.Endocytosis, exocytosis,
4.1. Endocytosis:
- Phagocytosis (cell eating)
- Pinocytose( cell drinking)
4.2. Exocytosis
Phagocytosis:cell eating

-Phagocytosis (cell
eating): eat some
relative large of
clump of bacteria or
cell debris,
macrophage or white
blood cell…
Pinocytosis(cell drinking)

A bit of infolding membrane surround

very small volume of extracellular
fluid containing dissolved molecules.
Exocytosis

The substance( hormone

secretion, neurotransmitter
release, mucus release,
wastes…) are enclosed in
a sac called vesicle →
migrate to the plasma
membrane, fuses with
it→ruture→spilling the sac
contents outside the cells.
This process needs
energy.