Structural Components of The Cell Membrane

Structural
Component of
the Cell
Membrane
Sylvia S. Moral
General Biology
1-Subject Teacher
Learning Competencies:
1. Describe the structural components of
the cell Membrane-
STEM_BIO11/12-Ig-h-11
2. Relate the structure and composition of
the cell membrane to its function-
STEM_BIO11/12-Ig-h-12
C
E
L
L MITOCHONDRIA
RAW
MATERIALS M
- Food particles E
M
- Minerals B
- Ion R RIBOSOME
- water A
N
E WASTE
PRODUCTS
The Cell / Plasma Membrane
- It is the outer layer of
the cell.
- Its primary function is to
regulate what substances
enter and leave the cell
- It is selectively
permeable, or
"semi-permeable“- that
the membrane only
allows certain substances
to enter or leave the cell.
https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/The_Cell_Membrane#/media/File:Cell_membrane_detailed_diagram_3.svg
Functions of the Cell Membrane
1. It is responsible for keeping homeostasis (balance)
cellular level
2. It separates their contents from the outside
environment
3. It controls how and when and how much of these
materials can enter and leave the cell- The
presence of other structures along the cell
membrane allows the cell to maintain an interior
environment that differs from the outside
environment keeping some substances out, and
others in
Components of the
Cell Membrane and
their Functions
• Phospholipid Bilayer
• Proteins
• Carbohydrate Chains,
or glycolipids/glycoprote
ins
• Cholesterol Chains
https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/The_Cell_Membrane
Components of the Cell Membrane
1. Phospholipid Bilayer
- It is made up of a double layer of
phospholipids (phosphate heads + lipid
tails) called “lipid bilayer”
a. Hydrophilic region (water-loving) region
of heads that face out- Polar heads, facing
closest toward the water
b. Hydrophobic region of tails (water
–fearing), that face in
- Non polar tails far from the water
https://www2.nau.edu/lrm22/lessons/polar_nonpolar/polar_nonpolar.html#:~:text=When%
20things%20are%20different%20at,attract%2C%20alike%20charges%20repel).
What can pass
through the plasma
membrane?
• It allows small molecules such

as water, oxygen and carbon
dioxide to enter or leave the
cell.
• Water- soluble substances
are unable to move easily as
they will be stopped by the
nonpolar tails in the middle
thus, the plasma membrane
can filter what will enter and
exit the cell
Molecules that can pass through the Plasma Membrane
https://youtu.be/rqQSlEViNpk
• So why do soaps and detergents clean our dishes and our clothes? Soaps are
chemically similar to cell membranes. When soap is added to water, it forms
structures called "micelles." The heads of the soap micelles are polar and the
tails, which face inward to retreat from the polar water, are non-polar. When a
soap micelle encounters oil or grease, these non-polar materials are forced to the
inside of the micelle to get away from the polar water and polar heads of the
micelle, where they are trapped. When the soapy water is rinsed away, the
trapped grease and oil is washed away with it.
Mini-Experiment 1: Pour some water into a shallow bowl. Now take a length
of thread or a long hair and lay it on top of the water in a closed loop. Put a few
drops of vegetable oil inside the loop of thread and gently stir the oil. Now add
some dish detergent outside the loop of string and gently stir it into the water.
Remove the thread and watch what happens.
• Mini-Experiment 2: Here's a dramatic experiment you can do with food
coloring, dish soap, and milk. Watch the video to see how it will look. Why does
this work? Hint: milk contains fats, and soap repels fats. The food coloring is
carried along in the milk as it retreats from the fats.
https://www2.nau.edu/lrm22/lessons/polar_nonpolar/polar_nonpolar.html#:~:text=When%20t
hings%20are%20different%20at,attract%2C%20alike%20charges%20repel).
2. Proteins
- can be found within or on the surface of the cell membrane and are able to do
many vital functions:
a. Transportation- Proteins transport large molecules in and out of cells. They
create tunnels, which selectively allow certain substances to enter and exit
the cell
b. Enzyme Activity- regulate chemical reactions that happen around the cell
membrane
c. Messenger- send messages to other cells (found at the surface) and transmit
message to cells interior
d. Cell Recognition- recognize cell invaders/harmful cells
e. Support - proteins reinforce the structure of the cell membrane. They are
found at the inner surface; some proteins attach themselves to the internal
support structure providing cell shape
https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/The_Cell_Membrane
Plasma Membrane Proteins
3. Carbohydrate Chains,
or glycolipids/glycoproteins
• These are chains found on
the exterior surface of the
cell and are bound either to
proteins (forming
glycoproteins) or to lipids
(forming glycolipids)
• The primary function of
these chains is to recognize
harmful cells (cell-cell
recognition).
4. Cholesterol Chains
Components of the Cell - help with the structure
Membrane of the cell membrane
and its ability to control
the passage of different
molecules such as
sodium ions (Na+).
- Prevents fatty- acid tails
of the phospholipid
layer from sticking to
each other which,
contributes to the fluidity
of the cell membrane

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• It allows small molecules such

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