Cell membrane structure

All cells have a surrounding membrane, and in eukaryotic cells many of the organelles inside the cell
have their own membranes to separate them from each other. Other than separating cell components
from each other, cell membranes have a number of other purposes:

they separate the cell contents from each other and the cells outside environment
they are involved in cell recognition and signalling
they control the transport of certain materials going into or coming out of the cell

The basic structure of all cell surface membranes is the same. They consist of a number of arranged
phospholipids.
A phospholipid consists of a phosphate head which is very hydrophilic (water-loving), attached to two
fatty acid tails which are hydrophobic (water-hating). When the phospholipids are mixed with water,
they arrange themselves in a layer at the surface of the water with the hydrophobic tails sticking out, as
shown by below.
If phospholipids become completely surrounded by water, a phospholipid bilayer can form.
Phosphate heads on each side of the bilayer stick into the water, while the hydrophobic fatty
acid tails point towards each other in the centre. This means the hydrophobic tails are held away
from the water molecules. In this state, the phospholipid molecules can move freely, just as fluid
molecules do. This phospholipid bilayer is the basic structure of all biological membranes.
A simple phospholipid bilayer would be incapable of performing all of the functions of biological
membranes. It would also be too fragile to function as a barrier within or around cells. Other
components are needed to make it a fully-functional biological membrane.
All membranes are permeable to water because water molecules can diffuse through the lipid bilayer.
Some membranes are up to 1000 times more permeable to water because they contain aquaporins
(protein channels that allow water molecules through them). Cell membranes that are permeable only
to water and some solutes are described as partially permeable membranes.
Why is it called the fluid mosaic model?
The plasma membrane is described to be fluid because of the lipids and membrane proteins that can
move freely. The membrane is called mosaic because like a mosaic that is made up of many different
parts so is the plasma membrane, eg. Proteins, cholesterol, carbohydrates.
The fluid mosaic model shows the components found in a membrane. It is now widely accepted as the
model which explains how membranes form and function. Its main features are:
a phospholipid bilayer giving its basic structure

various protein molecules floating around in the bilayer, some completely free, others bound to
other components

some proteins (extrinsic) partially embedded in the bilayer on the inside or the outside face,
other proteins (intrinsic) completely spanning the bilayer

When a phospholipid has a carbohydrate part attached to it, it is called a glycolipid.

When a protein has a carbohydrate part attached to it, it is called a glycoprotein.

The cholesterol gives the membranes of many eukaryotic cells some mechanical stability. This
steroid fits nicely between the fatty acid tails and makes the barrier more complete, so that
water molecules and other substances cannot pass through the membrane so easily.
Channel proteins allow the movement of some substances across the membrane. Molecules of
sugars, such as glucose, are too large and too hydrophilic to pass directly through the
membrane and so they use these channel proteins instead.
Carrier proteins actively move substances around the membrane.
Other features found on membranes might include receptor sites. These can allow hormones to
bind with the cell so that a cell response can be carried out. These are also important in allowing
drugs to bind, and so affect metabolism.
Enzymes and coenzymes are also present, which are used in some stages of respiration (in the
membranes of the mitochondrion) and in photosynthesis (in the membranes of the
chloroplasts).

MEMBRANES AND TEMPERATURE

Increasing the temperature gives molecules more kinetic energy, so they move faster. This increased
movement of phospholipids and other components makes membranes leaky, which allows substances
that would normally not do so to enter or leave the cell.
Organisms that live in very hot or very cols environments need differently adapted molecular
components of their membranes, for example the cholesterol content, so that their membranes can
perform the functions needed to maintain life.
Phospholipid bilayer:

The cell surface membrane consists of a bilayer that contains two layers of phospholipids.

In a phospholipid there are two fatty acids and a negatively charged phosphate group.

the phosphate head of the molecule is polar one end is slightly positive and the other negative

so this makes the phosphate head attract other polar molecules like water so it is hydrophilic

fatty acid tails are non-polar so they are hydrophobic

Cells are filled with watery cytoplasm and are surrounded by aqueous tissue fluid. So the phospholipids
form a bilayer. This stops the hydrophobic fatty acids tails from being in contact with the water on both
sides of the membrane and ensures that the hydrophilic phosphate heads are in contact with the water.