Cell Membrane

Hypothesis for cell membrane

structure

A few hypotheses have been proposed to

explain the distribution of
various biochemical components in the cell
membrane. The most
important hypothesis is the fluid mosaic
model of Singer and Nicolson.
The fluid mosaic model of membrane
structure
 • Phospholipid bilayer is the basic continuous structure
forming the cell membrane. The phospholipids are present
in fluid form. This fluidity makes the membrane quite
flexible, and thus allows the cells to undergo considerable
changes in the shape without disruption of structural
integrity.
 • The protein molecules are present as a discontinuous
mosaic of globular proteins which float about in the fluid
phospholipid bilayer forming a fluid mosaic pattern.
Arrangement of lipid bilayer of the cell
membrane
 Each lipid molecule in the lipid bilayer of the cell
membrane primarily consists of phospholipid, cholesterol
and glycolipids. The presence of cholesterol is responsible
for the characteristic which has the consistency of olive
oil. The lipid molecule is clothes’ pin shape and consists of
a head end and a tail end.
 The major types of phospholipids are phosphatidyl
choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, glycospingolipids,
sphingomyelin and cholestero
Arrangement of proteins in the cell
membrane
 Most protein molecules float about in the phospholipid
bilayer forming a fluid mosaic pattern. The two types of
proteins recognized in the cell membrane are:
 Lipoproteins, i.e. The proteins containing lipids which
function as enzymes and ion channels, and
 Glycoproteins, i.e. The proteins containing carbohydrates
which function as receptors for hormones and
neurotransmitters.
Arrangement of carbohydrates in
the cell membrane
 The carbohydrates are attached either to
the proteins (glycoproteins) or the lipids
(glycolipids). Throughout the surface of cell
membrane, carbohydrate molecules form a
thin loose covering called glycocalyx.