CELL MEMBRANE

Objectives
At the end of the conference, the students must be able to:
Discuss the structure and composition of the cell
membrane
Discuss features of membranes in relation to
membrane lipids:
Membrane fluidity
Selective permeability
Self-sealing capability
Asymmetry
Differentiate integral protein and peripheral protein in
the cell membrane and their roles
Identify the major membrane proteins found in
erythrocyte membranes and their functions
Describe membrane assembly
Explain signal hypothesis and its process
Identify the significance of biological membranes in
relation to:
Transport
Neural transport
Receptor interaction
Cell Membrane
Plasma Membrane
Thin, pliable elastic structure that envelopes the cell
7.5 10 nanometers thick
Composed of:
Proteins 55%
Phospholipids 25%
Cholesterol 13%
Other lipids 4%
Carbohydrates 3%
Form closed compartments
Selective permeability
Lipids
1. Phospholipids
o Main lipids in the plasma membrane
a. Phosphoglycerides
more common
consist of glycerol backbone
a. Sphingomyelin
second major class
consist of sphingosine backbone
Amphipathic character
Hydrophilic
o soluble in water
o phosphate end
Hydrophobic
o soluble in fats
o fatty acid portion
Two layers of phospholipids leaflets

2. Glycosphingolipids
GSLs
Sugar-containing lipids on a backbone of a
ceramide
Located in plasma membranes with the sugar
components facing the cell exterior
3. Sterols
Essential component of mammalian
membranes
Obtained from diet or can be synthesized
from acetyl-CoA
Carbohydrates
Glycoproteins and Glycolipids in combination with
protein and lipids
Proteoglycans bound to small protein cores
Glycocalyx outside surface of the cell
loose carbohydrate coat
Proteins
Associated with lipid bilayer
Provide structural channels and carriers
Other proteins act as enzymes

1. Membrane Fluidity
Ability of the membrane components to diffuse
laterally
Dependent upon the lipid composition of the
membrane
Increased by the presence of unsaturated fatty acid
Increases with increased temperature
Modified by the cholesterol
Decreased transition temperature = increases the
fluidity
Increased transition temperature = decreases or
limits the fluidity
2. Selective Permeability
Hydrophobic nature
Serves as a barrier
Specific membrane proteins regulate movement of
substances into and out of the cell
3. Self- sealing capability
Lipid bilayers immediately and spontaneously reseal
Forming hydrophilic edges consisting of polar head
groups
Exocytosis release of materials outside
Endocytosis taking in of materials from the outside

CELL MEMBRANE
4. Asymmetry
Inside-out asymmetry
o Provided by the external location of the
carbohydrates attached to membrane proteins
o Choline-containing phospholipids = outer leaflet
o Aminophospholipids = inner leaflet
Regional heterogeneities
Integral Membrane Proteins
Anion Exchange Protein (Band 3)
Is a transmembrane glycoprotein with its carboxyl terminal
end on the external surface of the membrane and its amino
terminal end on the cytoplasmic surface.
It serves as a multipass membrane.
CELL MEMBRANE
Cruz, Marsha Alyssa
Cruz, Everick
Cruz, Rhaiz
Cuaresma, Wilson James
Cuevas, Jaymie Louise
Objectives
At the end of the conference, the students must be able to:
Discuss the structure and composition of the cell membrane
Discuss features of membranes in relation to membrane lipids:
Membrane fluidity
Selective permeability
Self-sealing capability
Asymmetry
Objectives
Differentiate integral protein and peripheral protein in the cell
membrane and their roles
Identify the major membrane proteins found in erythrocyte
membranes and their functions
Describe membrane assembly
Explain signal hypothesis and its process
Identify the significance of biological membranes in relation to:
Transport
Neural transport
Receptor interaction
Cell Membrane
Plasma Membrane
Thin, pliable elastic structure that envelopes the cell
7.5 10 nanometers thick
Composed of:
Proteins 55%
Phospholipids 25%
Cholesterol 13%
Other lipids 4%
Carbohydrates 3%
Form closed compartments
Selective permeability
Lipids
1. Phospholipids
Main lipids in the plasma membrane
Phospholipids
Lipids
1. Phospholipids
Amphipathic character
Hydrophilic soluble in water
phosphate end
Hydrophobic soluble in fats
fatty acid portion
Two layers of phospholipids leaflets
Lipids
2. Glycosphingolipids
GSLs
CELL MEMBRANE
Sugar-containing lipids on a backbone of a ceramide
Located in plasma membranes with the sugar components
facing the cell exterior
Lipids
3. Sterols
Essential component of mammalian membranes
Obtained from diet or can be synthesized from acetyl-CoA
Cholesterol
most common
mainly resides in the plasma membrane
lesser quantities in the mitochondria, golgi complexes,
nuclear membrane
not present in plants
Carbohydrates
Glycoproteins and Glycolipids in combination with protein and
lipids
Carbohydrates
Proteoglycans bound to small protein cores
Glycocalyx outside surface of the cell
loose carbohydrate coat

Proteins
Associated with lipid bilayer
Provide structural channels and carriers
Other proteins act as enzymes
Features
1. Membrane Fluidity
Ability of the membrane components to diffuse laterally
Dependent upon the lipid composition of the membrane
Increased by the presence of unsaturated fatty acid
Features
1. Membrane Fluidity
Increases with increased temperature
Modified by the cholesterol
Decreased transition temperature = increases the fluidity
Increased transition temperature = decreases or limits the
fluidity
Features
2. Selective Permeability
Hydrophobic nature
Serves as a barrier
Specific membrane proteins regulate movement of substances
into and out of the cell
Features
3. Self- sealing capability
Lipid bilayers immediately and spontaneously reseal
Forming hydrophilic edges consisting of polar head groups
Features
3. Self- sealing capability
Exocytosis release of materials outside
Endocytosis taking in of materials from the outside
Features
4. Asymmetry
Inside-out asymmetry
Provided by the external location of the carbohydrates attached
to membrane proteins
Choline-containing phospholipids = outer leaflet
Aminophospholipids = inner leaflet
Regional heterogeneities
Fluid Mosaic Model
Integral Membrane Proteins
Anion Exchange Protein (Band 3)
CELL MEMBRANE
is a transmembrane glycoprotein with its carboxyl terminal
end on the external surface of the membrane and its amino
terminal end on the cytoplasmic surface.
It serves as a multipass membrane.
2. Peripheral Membrane Protein
a. Ankyrin
Is a pyramid-shaped protein that binds
spectrin.
also ankyrin binds tightly to band 3 securing attachments of
spectrin to the membrane.
c. Spectrin
Is a fibrous polypeptide
Framework of blood cytoskeleton
Isoform of alpha and beta spectrin form loosely
wounded helix forming single tetramere.
Major Membrane Proteins of Erythrocytes
Membrane Assembly
Occurs due to thermodynamics
Formed from membranes of rough endoplasmic reticulum and
golgi apparatus.
Lipids and proteins are asymmetrically distributed.
Signal Hypothesis
Proposed in 1971 by Gnter Blobel and David Sabatini
Refers to the events involved in the synthesis of
protein in the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
The signal hypothesis showed that cytoplasmically
synthesized proteins targeted to the ER use a signal
sequence to direct them to the ER membrane.
Significance of Biological Membranes
1. Transport
Plasma membrane are selectively permeable,
allowing some substances, but not others, to pass
into or out of the cells.
Transport Mechanism
1. Passive transport
-Transports substances along an electrochemical
gradient.
-Does not require energy.
- Does not need carrier except facilitated diffusion.
a. Diffusion
-Simple diffusion
-Facilitated diffusion
b. Osmosis
Simple Diffusion
- The passive flow of a solute from a higher
concentration to a lower concentration due to random
thermal movement.
Facilitated Diffusion
- Passive transport of a solute from a higher to a lower
concentration mediated by a specific transporter.
Osmosis
- Passive movement of water across a semi permeable
membrane down its concentration gradient.
- Rapid movement of water through the plasma
membrane occurs through water channels or
aquaporins.
- Osmotic pressure required to stop the movement of
pure water into the solution.
Osmosis
Transport Mechanism
2. Active Transport
- ATP- powered pumps combined with substances and move
them across the plasma membrane.
- ATP and carrier are required.
- Substances can be moved from areas of lower to
higher concentration.
a. Primary Active Transport
b. Secondary Active Transport
CELL MEMBRANE
-Uniport
-Symport/cotransport
-Antiport/Counter transport
Primary Active Transport
-transport substance against electrochemical gradient
- Directly linked to cellular metabolism (ATP)
-Transport one or more substances

Primary Active Transport
Secondary Active Transport
- The concentration gradient established by the active
transport of one substances the energy to move a
second substance
- 2 types:
a. Cotransport or Symport movement of two or more
different ions or molecules in the same direction across the
plasma membrane.
b. Countertransport or Antiport - movement of two or more
different ions or molecules in opposite directions across the
plasma membrane.
Secondary Active Transport
Significance of Biological Membranes
2. Neural Transmission
Occurs when a neuron is activated, or fires (sends out an
electrical impulse).
The Myelin Sheath of a neuron consists of fat-containing cells
that insulate the axon from electrical activity.
This insulation acts to increase the rate of transmission of
signals.
Neural Transmission
Significance of Biological Membranes
3. Receptor Interaction
Cell surface receptor are specialized integral membrane
proteins that takes part in communication between cell and
outside world.
Extracellular signaling molecules (usually hormones,
neurotransmitters, cytokines, growth factors or cell recognition
molecules) attach to the receptor, triggering changes in the
function of the cell. This process is called signal transduction
Signal Transduction
There are three stages in the process of cell signaling or
communication:
1. Reception-a protein at the cell surface detects chemical
signals.
2. Transduction-a change in protein stimulates other changes
including signal-transduction pathways.
3. Response-almost any cellular activity.
Signal Transduction
References
Hall, J.E., and Guyton, A.C. (2011). Guyton and Hall Textbook of
Medical Physiology. 12th ed. USA: Saunders Elsevier.
Mckee, T., Mckee, J.R., (2004). Molecular Basis of Life. 3rd ed.
USA: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Murray, R.K., Bender, D.A., Botham, K.M., Kennelly, P.J.,
Rodwell., V.W., and Weil, P.A. (2012). Harpers Illustrated
Biochemistry. 29th ed. USA: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Thank You!