THE CELL

MEMBRANE
OBJECTIVES

1. Explain the fluid mosaic model of the

cell membrane.
2. Relate the structure and composition
of the cell membrane to its function.
3. Explain transport mechanism in cells:
those requiring no energy ( passive
transport) and those requiring energy
( active transport and bulk transport.
 THE CELL MEMBRANE
• The primary responsibility of the cell membrane is to
facilitate the entry and exit of different substances in the
cell.
• Enables the cell to carry out different chemical reactions
that are necessary to sustain life.
• Separates cell from outside.
• Recognizes signals from other cells
-allow communication between cells.
 Fluid-Mosaic Model
- it was proposed by
Seymour Jonathan
Singer (American
biologist) & Garth L.
Nicolson (American
Biochemist) in 1972
to describe the
arrangement the
molecules in the
cell membrane.

• Proteins • Carbohydrates
• Phospholipids • Cholesterol (peripheral (glucose)
and integral)
 The Fluid Mosaic Model
- “fluid” - various functional macromolecules embedded in the phospholipid
matrix of the cell membrane can move about the surface of the cell, this
membrane is made up of various parts ( proteins, carbohydrates and
cholesterol) that pave the surface of the matrix just like individual tile.
Hence the “mosaic” appearance
- The mosaic model allows the membrane to perform multiple functions
1. act as channels- allowing particular molecules to pass through the
membrane.
2. serve as labels- allowing recognition of the cell
3. act as a sensor- that detect various features of the ambient
environment (i.e.,surrounding all sides) of the cell.
• Phospholipid

 Amphipathic which means it has hydrophilic

and hydrophobic ends.
 Hydrophilic head-made up of a phosphate
group, has affinity with water.
 Hydrophobic tail make up of fatty acid.
 Kink- prevents the tight packing of the
phospholipid
• Phospholipid
-can move on its axis through
rotation, sideward through
lateral diffusion and it can also
move from the inner layer to
the outer layer or vice versa
through transversal diffusion.
• Cholesterol
- Found in between the
phospholipids
- Act as reinforcing
material for plasma
membrane in animal
cell; also keeps the
plasma membrane its
optimum fluidity
• PROTEIN
- Found lying on surface of the cell
membrane (peripheral proteins) or
cutting across (integral) across the
plasma membrane.
They serve different functions in
the cell
- Passageway for molecules
- Site for enzymatic activities
- Receptor for signals
- Identification marker
- Adhering molecule to nearby cells
 Transport across the Cell
Membrane
is
Passive Transportthe movement of
molecules across the cell
does not require energy.
Active transport
require energy in the
Bulk transport-
form of ATP to transport
substances across the
cell.
Passive Transport
Simple Diffusion
 Molecules move from area
of greater concentration to
an area of lesser
concentration
 Doesn’t require energy
Diffusion of materials
across the cell is influenced
by the molecules properties;
size, polarity and charge
Size- Small molecules and larger hydrophobic molecules move
through easily. e.g. O2, CO2, H2O
Ions, hydrophilic molecules larger than water, and large
molecules such as proteins do not move through the membrane
on their own.
Polarity- Hydrophobic nonpolar molecules travel across the cell
easily because lipid bilayer is non polar
Hydrophilic polar have difficulty to move across the lipid
bilayer.
Charged- Charged particles of any size have difficulty in crossing
the membrane, sodium and potassium ion are small but they are
Passive Transport
Facilitated diffusion
needs transport proteins to allow
particles to pass through the
membrane.
Move molecules from an area
with greater concentration to an
area of lesser concentration.
Examples: Glucose or amino
acids moving from blood into a
cell.
Transport proteins may come as carrier proteins or
channel proteins
Channel proteins create a
hydrophilic path through the
bilayer. Some channels are
large allowing hydrophilic
molecules. Some channels are
small allowing ions to pass
through.
Ion Channels- membrane
Carrier that
protein proteins can
allowing ionschange
to
shape
pass to transfer molecule. The
through.
enclosure of the carrier
proteins prevent the
hydrophilic or charged
molecules to interact with the
nonpolar part of the cell
membrane.
 OSMOSIS (diffusion of water)
- Water molecules move from an area of higher water
concentration (more water molecules) to an area of
lesser water concentration (fewer water molecules).
The environment of the cell may be described as isotonic, hypotonic
and hypertonic
Isotonic- the Hypotonic - the solute Hypertonic - the solute
solute concentration is lower concentration is higher
concentration is than the cell. than that of the cell.
equal
10% NaCL
to that of 10% NaCL 15% NaCL
85% H2O
the
90% Hcell.
2O 90% H2O
Enviroment
Environment Environment

CELL CELL CELL

NO NET
10% NaCL 20% NaCL 5%
MOVEMENT
90% H2O NaCL
80% H2O
95% H2O
 Active
Transport
Molecules moves
from an area of LOW
concentration to HIGH
concentration
AGAINST
concentration
gradient
Requires energy or
 Active
Transport
Allows the uptake of nutrients from
external environment even if there
are higher amount of these inside the
cell.
It allows secretions and wastes to
exit the cell even if the concentration
outside the cell is higher than the
concentration inside the cell.
 The bulk
transport
1. endocytosis- happens when a portion of a plasma membrane
invaginates ( folds inward) to close the substance.
Endocytosis occurs in three ways

“Cell eating” Cell

“
Uses specific receptor
proteins to signal the cell
Drinking” invagination
Phagocytosis -
Capture of a
Yeast Cell
(yellow) by
Membrane
Extensions of an
Immune System
Cell (blue)
Exocytosis
The opposite of
endocytosis is exocytosis.
Large molecules that are
manufactured in the cell
are released through the
cell membrane.