STRUCTURE OR ORGANIZATION OF PLASMA MEMBRANE

The fundamental structure of plasma membrane is the phospholipids bilayer which forms a stable barrier
between two aqueous compartments. In the case of plasma membrane, these compartments are the inside and
outside of the cell. The following models have been proposed to elaborate the structure and organization of
plasma membrane .
Lipid – Lipid Bilayer Model:
In 1902, Overton proposed that cell membranes are composed of lipid layers because membrane permeation of
substances was found to be related to lipid solubility.
He noted that substances soluble in lipid could selectively pass through the membranes. On the basis of this, he
said that the cell membrane is composed of a thin layer of lipid.
Gorter and Grendel (1926) were the first scientists to propose a possible structure of the cell membrane.
On the basis of studies of plasma membranes of red blood cells, they showed that the lipid obtained from the
red cell spread in area two times that of a simple molecular film.
So, it was believed that the membrane comprised of two
layers of lipid molecules, the polar hydrophilic groups of the
molecules positioned on the outside and hydrophobic ends
placing at right angles to the surface positioned on the
inside.
The models of Gorter and Grendel could not describe the
appropriate structure of plasma membrane, but they laid the
groundwork for future models of membrane structure.
Sandwich Model (Davson –Danielli Model)
In 1935, Hugh Davson and James Danielli sandwich proposed a model, called sandwich trilamellar model,
for plasma/ cell membrane structure in which a lipid bilayer was coated on its either side with hydrated proteins
(globular proteins). According to this model, the plasma membrane is a sheath-like structure that consists of
two lipid layers sandwiched between uninterrupted or continuous layers of proteins.
In this model, the arrangement of phospholipid molecules is so that hydrophilic heads of the phospholipid
molecules face outside and hydrophobic non-polar lipid tail face in the inner region of the membrane.
The model also suggested that the polar ends of lipid molecules are associated with a single molecular layer of
globular proteins. So, the cell membrane thus, consists of a double layer of phospholipid molecules sandwiched
between two uninterrupted layers of protein. This model is also called a lipo-protein sandwich model because
the lipid layer is sandwiched between two protein layers.
From the speed at which various molecules penetrate the
membrane, they predicted the lipid bilayer to be about 6.0 nm in
thickness, and each of the protein layers of about 1.0 nm
thickness, giving a total thickness of about 8.0 nm.
A protein-lipid sandwich, Proteins coat the outer surface
Proteins do not permeate the lipid bilayer
Lipid bilayer composed of phospholipids (hydrophobic tails
inside, hydrophilic heads outside)
Unit Membrane/ Robertson Model
In 1959, Robertson suggested that, the unit membrane model says that all cellular membranes have the
same membrane structure. They named this same membrane structure as the unit membrane.
As per this model, the unit membrane comprises of bimolecular lipid present in between outer and inner
layers of protein. In the unit membrane model, the protein coatings are asymmetrical.
Mucoprotein (mucus) is present on the outer surface, while on the inner surface, non-mucoid protein is
present.
Fluid mosaic model
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed by Seymour Jonathan Singer and Garth L. Nicolson in (1972) to
describe the composition of the cell membrane. It is currently the most accepted model of the cell membrane
This model explains the structure of the cell membrane as a mosaic-like structure (diverse or varied
arrangement) that contains phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates.
Each component plays a critical role
Phospholipids: Form the main fabric with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.
Cholesterol: Maintains membrane fluidity by preventing the phospholipids from packing too closely.
Proteins: Integral, peripheral, and glycoprotein's support transport, signalling, and cell communication.
Carbohydrates: Attached to proteins on the external surface, aiding in cell
A fluid mosaic model diagram typically illustrates these components and their arrangement, highlighting the
‘mosaic’ pattern of proteins floating within the phospholipids sea.
According to fluid mosaic model, cell membranes have a quasi fluid consistency (both liquid and solid).
Proteins occur like a mosaic both in the interior of lipid bilayer as well as on the two surfaces are known as
proteins iceberg in a sea of lipids
This model not only explains how these elements interact but also helps us understand vital cellular
processes.
It provides the cell membrane with a fluid character, the thickness of cell membranes ranges from 5 to 10 nm.
The amount of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates in the cell membrane differs with cell type.
For example, myelin has 18% protein and 76% lipid whereas the mitochondrial internal membrane has 76% protein and
24% lipid, human red blood cells, visible via light microscopy, are approximately 8 µm wide, or approximately 1,000 times
wider than a plasma membrane
Fluid part – the phospholipid bilayer is viscous (thick), and single phospholipids can move position.
Mosaic part – the phospholipid bilayer is inserted with proteins, developing in a mosaic of components.
Every phospholipid molecule has a head that is hydrophilic (attracted
to water, hydro = water; philic = loving), and a tail that is hydrophobic
(repulses water, hydro = water; phobic = fearing).
Both layers of the cell membrane have the hydrophilic heads facing
outside and the hydrophobic tails facing inside of the bilayer.
Because cells live in an extracellular fluid (watery solution), and they
contain a cytoplasm (liquid) inside them, the cell membrane creates a
circle all-around every cell so that the water-loving heads are in contact
with the extracellular fluid, and the water-fearing tails are safe on the
internal side.
Membrane proteins: They are of two types intrinsic and extrinsic.
a) Intrinsic Integral proteins: These occur inside the lipid bilayer passing to its different depths. Some
proteins are of intrinsic proteins run throughout the thickness of the membrane and are called
transmembrane or tunnel proteins. Singly or in group, the tunnel proteins form channels for the passage of
water, ions and other water-soluble sized solutes. For this, they expose hydrophilic regions to them. Some of
the channels have gate mechanism to provide entry to specific substances. Intrinsic proteins make
connections with both lipophilic tails and hydrophilic heads of phospholipid molecules. Because of this,
intrinsic proteins cannot be easily separated from the membrane without disrupting it. 70% of the membrane
proteins are intrinsic in nature but 30% are extrinsic.
b) Extrinsic or Peripheral proteins: These are found on the two surfaces of the membrane. Their number is
higher on the inner s as compared to the outer side. Extrinsic proteins are attached to the intrinsic proteins
and polar heads of lipid molecules by ionic bonds and salt bridges. Therefore, peripheral proteins are easily
displaced by sonication (sound energy), mild detergents and hypotonic solutions with chelates (metal).
Types of Membrane proteins:
Structural: The protein molecules provide stability to the membrane and some structural proteins form pores
or channels for the passage of water and some dissolved substances
Permeases: They provide pathways for facilitated diffusion
Transport Carriers: The proteins are specialized to actively transport substances across the membrane
Enzymes: A number of membrane proteins function as enzymes, e.g., ATP synthase or the synthesis and
ATPase for breakdown of ATP, Cyt P450 (E.R. for hydroxylation). Cy (E.R. for desaturation of fatty acids),
Receptor Proteins: They receive information as that of neurotransmitters, hom immunoglobulins, several
solutes and other chemicals triggering changes in the menbos as well as membrane bound enzymes e.g.,
adenylate cyclase that changes ATP
Evidences in support of fluid mosaic model
The model is able to explain the occurrence of particles inside the cell membranes
The model provides for permeation to lipid soluble substances, water, electrolytes and polar non electrolytes
Quasi fluidity of the membrane and its change with change in temperature is explained
Lateral movement of protein particles has been observed
Selective permeability and retentivity are accounted
The membrane is highly dynamic in nature
It explains for quick repair, growth, expansion and contraction of membranes
Different membranes are structurally and functionally different
Enzyme activity on the surface of membrane has been verified.