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Cell Membrane and Its Functions

The document discusses the composition and functions of the cell membrane. The cell membrane is made up of a lipid bilayer, proteins, and carbohydrates. It functions to protect the cell, maintain cell potential, and selectively transport substances in and out through channel proteins and carrier proteins.

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10 views13 pages

Cell Membrane and Its Functions

The document discusses the composition and functions of the cell membrane. The cell membrane is made up of a lipid bilayer, proteins, and carbohydrates. It functions to protect the cell, maintain cell potential, and selectively transport substances in and out through channel proteins and carrier proteins.

Uploaded by

hifzaaijaz366
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Cell membrane and its functions

Composition of Cell Membrane


 Outer covering of the cell that isolates individual
cell from its neighbors.
 It is a dynamic structure and semi permeable.
 Basic structure is made up of :
 Lipid bilayer.
 Proteins.
 carbohydrates.
Lipids

 Main lipids in the cell membrane are phospholipids and


cholesterol.
Phospholipids:
 phospholipids molecules have head end with phosphate part
and soluble in water i.e , polar , hydrophilic and a tail end
made up of fatty acids and it is water insoluble that is non
polar and hydrophobic.
 Hydrophilic ends are directed towards inner and outer
surfaces of lipid bilayer and contact with aqueous
environment.
Lipids

 Hydrophobic ends meet in the center of the


membrane.
 Phospholipidsare not attached to any structure
and each molecule is free to move.
 Thisallow free movements of both lipids and
proteins of the cell membrane.
 Lipid bilayer is highly flexible fluid in nature.
cholesterol

 Cholesterol is dispersed through out cell membranes , in


the irregular spaces between the hydrophobic tails of the
membrane lipids. It makes the membrane stiff and gives it
strength.
Proteins

Two types of proteins are present in the cell membrane.


 Peripheral proteins.
 Integral proteins.
Peripheral proteins;
These are attached to inside or outside the lipid bilayer.
Integral proteins;
 These cross the whole thickness of the lipid bilayer.
 Many of the integral proteins provide structural channels
Proteins

through which water molecules and water soluble substances


can defuse between the ECF and ICF like ions.
 These proteins also have selective properties that prefer the
diffusion of some substances over others.
 Some integral proteins act as carrier proteins that transport
substances across the cell membrane.
 Some times these carrier proteins even transport substances
in the direction opposite to their electro chemical gradients
for diffusion which is called “active transport”.
Proteins

 some proteins act as enzymes.


 These proteins can also serve as receptors for water
soluble chemicals such as peptides hormones and
receptors for drugs.
Carbohydrates (glycocalyx)

 On external surface of cell membrane , membrane


proteins and lipids are conjugated with short chains of
poly saccharides.
 This layer formed is called glycocalyx.
 The carbohydrates attach to the outer surface of the cell
have several important functions ;
• Many of them have negative electrical charge which gives
most cells an overall negative surface charge that repels
other negatively charged objects.
Carbohydrates (glycocalyx)

• Formation of inter cellular adhesion.


• Many of the carbohydrates act as receptor substances for
binding hormones such as insulin when bound this
combination activates attached internal proteins that in
turn activate cascade of inter cellular enzymes.
Function

 It protects and supports cell components and separates


ECF from ICF.
 Membrane is permeable to lipid soluble substances like
O2, CO2 and alcohol while water soluble substances like
some ions glucose and urea cross it via channel pumps or
with the help of carrier proteins.
 Helps to maintain the cell potential contains receptors for
the chemical and drugs involve in chemical reaction
through enzymes.

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