FACTORS AFFECTING

CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

(A-LEVEL BIOLOGY)
CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

1. The cell membrane is a thin, flexible layer that

surrounds the cell and separates its internal
environment from the external environment.
It is also known as the plasma membrane.
CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

2. The structure of the cell membrane is described as a

fluid mosaic model, which means that it is made up of
a
mosaic of different components that are able to move
around and change position within the membrane.
CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

The main components of the cell membrane include:

A. Phospholipid bilayer:
This is the main component of the cell membrane and consists of two layers
of phospholipid molecules. Each phospholipid molecule has a hydrophilic
(water-loving) head and a hydrophobic (water-fearing) tail.
The hydrophilic heads face outward towards the aqueous environments,
while the hydrophobic tails face inward and form a barrier
that prevents water-soluble substances from passing through the membrane.
CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

The main components of the cell membrane include:

B. Proteins:
These are embedded within the phospholipid bilayer and have a variety
of functions, such as acting as channels or pumps to allow specific molecules
to pass through the membrane, or as receptors to allow the cell to respond
to signals from other cells or the environment.
CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

The main components of the cell membrane include:

D. Cholesterol:
This is found within the phospholipid bilayer and helps to maintain the fluidity
of the membrane. It helps to prevent the membrane from becoming too rigid
or too fluid, allowing it to function optimally.
FACTORS AFFECTING
CELL MEMBRANE
A. EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE
ON CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
- Cell membranes are sensitive to temperature.
Changes in temperature can affect the fluidity and permeability
of cell membranes, which impacts cell structure and function.
A. EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE
ON CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
Below 0°C
• Increase in membrane rigidity. As the temperature drops to below zero,
phospholipids lose much of their kinetic energy. Therefore, the membrane loses
its fluidity which causes it to become very rigid.
• Increase in membrane permeability. Proteins within the membrane become
heavily denatured, which increases the permeability of the membrane. Ice
crystals can form in the membrane, which can cause the membrane to fracture,
especially during thawing, which also increases permeability.
A. EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE
ON CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
0°C – 45°C
• Membranes are fluid. Between 0-45°C, phospholipids can easily move
(although their movement is naturally restricted by cholesterol).
• Membranes are semi-permeable. At these temperatures, the membrane is
also semipermeable. As temperatures increases, the kinetic energy of the
phospholipids also increases, which increases their movement. This increase
in movement leads to an increase in permeability of the membrane.
A. EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE
ON CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
Above 45°C
• Phospholipid bilayer begins to break down. Increasing kinetic energy allows the
phospholipids to move far away from each other, which destroys the structural integrity of
the membrane, causing it to “melt”.
• Cell Membrane Structure becomes freely-permeable. Transport and channel proteins
denature, thus making them unable to regulate what gets into and out of cells, which leads
to increased membrane permeability.
• The membrane may burst. The heat causes water inside of the cells to expand which puts
pressure on the membrane, causing it to burst.
A. EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE
ON CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
Above 45°C
• Phospholipid bilayer begins to break down. Increasing kinetic energy allows the
phospholipids to move far away from each other, which destroys the structural integrity of
the membrane, causing it to “melt”.
• Cell Membrane Structure becomes freely-permeable. Transport and channel proteins
denature, thus making them unable to regulate what gets into and out of cells, which leads
to increased membrane permeability.
• The membrane may burst. The heat causes water inside of the cells to expand which puts
pressure on the membrane, causing it to burst.
B. EFFECT OF SOLVENTS
ON CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
• Solvents such as ethanol increase membrane permeability. Lipids dissolve in
alcohol, therefore, the phospholipids in a cell membrane will easily dissolve in
solutions such as ethanol. As a result, the cell membrane becomes more fluid
and permeable as it starts to break down.
• The effect on membrane permeability depends on solvent type. Certain types
of solvent can cause a greater degree of membrane permeability than others,
for example, ethanol causes greater membrane permeability than methanol.
B. EFFECT OF SOLVENTS
ON CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
• Increasing solvent concentration increases membrane permeability.
Solvent concentration and membrane permeability are directly correlated
i.e. increasing solvent concentration increases membrane permeability.
This is because as the solvent becomes more and more concentrated, it has
a greater ability to dissolve phospholipids and disrupt the membrane
structure, making it more permeable to external substances.