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Structure and Functions of The Plasma Membrane

The plasma membrane helps cells conduct necessary chemical reactions through selectively permitting substance movement. It is composed of a phospholipid bilayer with integral and peripheral proteins embedded. Phospholipids form the bilayer with hydrophobic tails inward and hydrophilic heads outward. Proteins facilitate transport and communication. Together this fluid mosaic structure acts as a selective barrier, regulates substance transfer, and enables cell identification and signaling.

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Danessa Mina Balboa
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55 views

Structure and Functions of The Plasma Membrane

The plasma membrane helps cells conduct necessary chemical reactions through selectively permitting substance movement. It is composed of a phospholipid bilayer with integral and peripheral proteins embedded. Phospholipids form the bilayer with hydrophobic tails inward and hydrophilic heads outward. Proteins facilitate transport and communication. Together this fluid mosaic structure acts as a selective barrier, regulates substance transfer, and enables cell identification and signaling.

Uploaded by

Danessa Mina Balboa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STRUCTURE AND

FUNCTIONS OF THE
PLASMA MEMBRANE

Prepared by:
ARGEL JOSEPH C. MAYO, RN, LPT, MAN, MSc.Bio
SHS Teacher III / SHS Nurse
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE
PLASMA MEMBRANE
• The plasma membrane (also known as the cell membrane) helps
our cells conduct many chemical reactions that are necessary for
sustaining life and preserving every cell's healthy internal
environment.
• An important step in the origin of life was the evolution of biological
membranes that separate from their external environment.
• Those membranes later made it possible for complex cells to
develop.
• The extensive external membranes of eukaryotic cells form
numerous compartments with specific environments that allow
the occurrence of highly specialized ones
THE FLUID MOSAIC MODEL EXPLAINS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANE

• Proposed by S. Jonathan
Singer and Garth Nicolson
(University of California, San
Diego) in 1972.
• According to their model, a
cell membrane is a fluid bilayer
of phospholipid molecules in
which the proteins are
incorporated or otherwise
connected, similar to the
mosaic image tiles
THE FLUID MOSAIC MODEL EXPLAINS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANE
What’s It Made Up
of?
• The cell membrane
consists basically of
the following:
• A. Lipids
(Phospholipids and
Cholesterol)
• B. Proteins
• C. Carbohydrates
THE FLUID MOSAIC MODEL EXPLAINS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANE
What’s It Made Up of?
• The cell membrane
consists basically of
the following:

• A. Lipids
(Phospholipids
and
Cholesterol)
• B. Proteins
• C. Carbohydrates
THE FLUID MOSAIC MODEL EXPLAINS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANE
A. Phospholipids
- Phospholipids are mainly
responsible for the physical
characteristics of biological
membranes.
- A phospholipid contains:
1. Three-carbon glycerol molecule
2. Two fatty acid tails (attached to
carbons 1 and 2)
3. Phosphate-containing group
(attached to third carbon)
THE FLUID MOSAIC MODEL EXPLAINS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANE

• The fatty acid chains make up


the nonpolar, hydrophobic
(water-fearing) portion.
• The phosphate group makes
up the polar, hydrophilic
(water-loving) portion of the
phospholipid.
• Amphipathic molecules are
molecules that have separate
hydrophobic and hydrophilic
regions.
PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER
PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER
• Phospholipids are cylindrical
amphipathic molecules.
Cylindrical shape permits them
to associate with water more
effortlessly as a bilayer.
• The fatty acid chains
(hydrophobic tails are facing
inward) are not exposed to
water, while the phospholipids
(hydrophilic heads facing
outward) are exposed to water.
• These two regions make the
phospholipid strongly
amphipathic.
PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER
Cholesterol
• Cholesterol is a type of steroid
that helps to regulate
molecules that enter and exit
the cell.
THE FLUID MOSAIC MODEL EXPLAINS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANE
What’s It Made Up
of?
• The cell membrane
consists basically of
the following:
• A. Lipids
(Phospholipids and
Cholesterol)

• B. Proteins
• C. Carbohydrates
PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER
B. Proteins
• The cell membrane is
composed of two distinct
forms of proteins, or
"groups":
(1)Integral proteins
(2) Peripheral proteins
PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER
B. Proteins
• Integral proteins nestle
in the bilayer of
phospholipids and stick
out on either end.
• Integral proteins are
useful for the
transportation of larger
molecules through the
cell membrane, such as
glucose.
PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER
B. Proteins
• Peripheral proteins, do
not reach across the
membrane.
• They can or may not be
connected to integral
protein ends, and may
help with transportation
or communication.
THE FLUID MOSAIC MODEL EXPLAINS THE
STRUCTURE OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANE
What’s It Made Up of?
• The cell membrane
consists basically of
the following:
• A. Lipids
(Phospholipids and
Cholesterol)
• B. Proteins
• C.
Carbohydrates
PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER
C. Carbohydrates
• These are usually
present on the outer
surface of cells and are
either:
(1) bound to proteins
(glycoproteins) or
(2) bound to lipids
(glycolipids)
Functions of the Plasma Membrane

A. It acts as a barrier
separating the inside and
outside of the cell.
B. It regulates the transfer of
substances into and out of the
cell.
C. It supports to identification
of the cell to other cells.
D. It plays a part in intercellular
signaling.
Membrane Permeability
. The word permeable means that a structure allows
substances to pass through it, while impermeable
means that a structure does not allow substances to
pass through it.
• The permeability of the plasma membrane differs
across various substances.
• Plasma membranes allow more preparation for some
substances to move than others.
• This membrane property is called selective
permeability

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