#2 - Cell Membrane and Structure

External Environment of Cell

Cells in the human body need to be in a stable environment. This means they
must have continual supply of the materials they need, and continual removal of
materials they produce.
The external environment is a fluid that surrounds the cell, known as extracellular
fluid. There is continual exchange of materials, between cells and the extracellular
fluid. Homeostasis is the process at which the body systems work together to
make sure cellular environment is kept constant constant temperature and
concentration of fluids.
All cells release oxygen for respiration. Respiration is the process that releases the
energy needed for cells activities. Needed for respiration is glucose, the
substance that is broken down to release energy. Respiration in return produces
carbon dioxide and water, substances that are not able to build up in the cell.
What is a cell membrane?
Each cell is surrounded by a cell membrane, also known as plasma membrane.
The cell membrane is selectively permeable membrane (semi-permeable
membrane), so it allows certain substances to cross more easily than others.
Functions of cell membrane are:
-

Acts as a gate-keeper determines what substances will get into or out of

the cell
Separates cell separates the cell contents from external environment
Cell-to-cell communication and recognition act like surface receptors
Bonds the cell together
Sensitive to external environment

Structure of a cell membrane

The cell membrane is a fluid that is composed of lipids and proteins. The lipid
molecules, phospholipids, consist of a phosphate head (which are hydrophilic
love water), and two fatty acid tails (which are hydrophobic hate water). When
water comes into their surroundings, the phosphate heads always go towards
them as the fatty acids acts like a tail. The cell membrane is a bi-layer, so there
are two layers of phospholipids.
Besides the phospholipids, there are also proteins, variety of different proteins
that are embedded throughout the membrane, and serve different functions. They
act as gates to allow substances travel through. In addition to proteins, there are
carbohydrates and cholesterol, as they can be attached or be in the membrane.
The individuals of the cell membrane act as a fluid and so they move and have
physical features like a fluid.
In summary, the cell membrane is made up of:
- Phosphate head
- Two fatty acid tails
= Phospholipids
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Cholesterol
Functions of each individual

Carbohydrates roll of cell-to-cell recognition attaches to cell-identity

markers
Proteins transport (channel/carrier), enzymatic (help catalyze reaction),
signal transduction (receptors) and cell-to-cell recognition and junctions
Cholesterol stuck between the phospholipids, regulates the fluidity of the
cell membrane and keeps the structure of the cell membrane (membrane
stability)

Properties of the cell membrane

-

Looks/structured like a mosaic - composed of many different kinds of

molecules
Selectively permeable membrane allow certain ions and molecules to
pass through, but restricts others
Fluid molecules of which it is made are constantly changing position

What type of particles can move through?

There are different types of transport methods that substances can move through
the cell membrane, but there are common features that are required in order to
move through in a simple way. These are; particles have to be small to move
through, they have to be non-charged and non-polar. Water, Oxygen and Carbon
dioxide can move through.
Functions of the cell membrane:
-

Physical Barrier the membrane separates the cell cytoplasm from the
extracellular fluid around the cell. Isolation of the cytoplasm from the
surrounding fluid is important because of the composition of the cytoplasm
and the extracellular fluid being very different.
Regulation of passage of materials Controls the movement of materials
into and out of the cell
Sensitivity the cell membrane would be the first part of the cell affected
from any changes in extracellular fluid. It contains receptors, and
according their sensitivity, the react to particular molecules in its
immediate environment
Support the internal part of the cell membrane is attached to
microfilaments of the cells cytoskeleton, giving support to whole cell, and
also giving support to whole tissue (microfilaments are connected between
cells also)

Different Membrane Proteins

Proteins are very large molecules, making up 55% of wieght of membrane. They
are important in many ways for the cell to function properly.
1) Channel Proteins
Form a channel through the membrane and have a central pore to allow
ions, water and other small molecules to pass through. Water-soluble
molecules and only certain small ions such as sodium, calcium and
chloride, enter through membrane channels. These substances enter
through diffusion. Alcohol, steroids and fatty acids do not use the channel
proteins as they simply diffuse through the lipid portion of the membrane.
2) Carrier Proteins
These proteins are involved in carrier-mediated transport (passive), as they
bind to molecules to be transported and help their passage across the
membrane.

Carrier proteins are specific only bind to particular molecule

Carrier proteins can become saturated once all the available carriers are
occupied, any increase in the concentration of molecules to be transported
cannot increase the rate of movement
Carrier activity is regulated by hormones hormones coordinate the
activities of carrier proteins
Carrier proteins also help in facilitated diffusion in which substances move
with concentration gradient (high to low). Large molecules, such as
glucose, are transported as they attach to the binding site on the carrier.
The carrier changes shape and the molecule is released

3) Receptor Proteins
These proteins lie on the membrane, and are sensitive to certain molecules
outside the cell. When these molecules are present, they bind with
receptor protein, and trigger off changes within the cell. Example
hormones bind to the receptor protein, and this triggers changes.
- Receptor proteins are specific; each type of receptor will bind with only one
specific molecule.
- There is also limited number of receptor proteins in each cell, so when all
are used up, there is no further increase in the rate of the cells activity,
there is a limit.
Eg: Insulin receptor - cells rate of glucose uptake does not increase, but
the amount of insulin increases.
- Also, different cells have different types and number of receptor proteins
provides variation in sensitivities of cells to hormones and other
substances.
- Receptor proteins play role in communication between cells substances
produced by one cell can stimulate changes in nearby cells.
- It binds to enzymes and hormones like the lock and key model
4) Cell-identity markers also called a glycoprotein
These have carbohydrate chain attached to it. Also called recognition
proteins identifies the cell to prevent attack by the bodys immune
system.