Lesson 4.

1
Structure and Functions
of the Cell Membrane Importance of Fluidity
 It imparts flexibility to the membrane which is important for cells
FUNCTIONS OF THE PLASMA MEMBRANE that particularly move.
 The fluidity allows the synthesized membrane proteins and
General Functions of Cell Membrane phospholipids to be easily incorporated into the membrane.
 primary barrier of the cell
 receives information or stimulus The unicellular amoeba is capable of moving using its pseudopods or
 allows the cell to move and grow false feet because of the natural fluidity of the plasma membrane.

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF PLASMA

MEMBRANE

MOLECULES EMBEDDED IN THE MEMBRANE

The presence of double bonds in fatty acids helps maintain membrane

fluidity.

MEMBRANE PROTEINS

Transport proteins may either be channel proteins or carrier proteins.

The cell membrane consists of a diversity of lipids, carbohydrates, and
proteins. Adhesion proteins fasten adjacent cells together in animal tissues.

PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER Recognition proteins help in recognition when the body is being
invaded by pathogens so that the necessary immune response may be
triggered.

Receptor proteins have certain shapes that allow only specific

molecules to bind to them.

The aqueous nature of the intracellular and extracellular environments

energetically favors the formation of the phospholipid bilayer.

MOLECULES EMBEDDED IN THE MEMBRANE

CHOLESTEROL

 prevents the membrane from becoming too fluid at higher

temperatures
 prevents the membrane from becoming too solid at lower CARBOHYDRATE CHAINS
temperatures
The carbohydrate chains occur only on the outside surface of
the lipid bilayer or on the proteins. The primary function
of these chains is to recognize harmful cells.

Molecules that are free to move across the membrane

PERMEABILITY OF THE CELL MEMBRANE

Selectively permeable
 polar and larger molecules
 small, non-charged molecules

Lesson 4.2
Cell’s Transport
Mechanism I: Diffusion and Osmosis

CELL’S TRANSPORT MECHANISM I

DIFFUSION

Simple Diffusion
Small, uncharged particles trying to cross the plasma
membrane

1.

Molecules that require energy expenditure for them to be 2.

transported across the membrane

3.

 passive transport
 no energy required
 movement of molecules
 high to low concentration
 state of dynamic equilibrium

Facilitated Diffusion

Tonicity
 relative concentration of solutes in fluids
 depends on the concentration of solutes
 ability of a surrounding solution to cause a cell to gain or lose
water
 can be isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic

Isotonic

Molecules such as ions and water outside the cell are being
transported across the cell membrane through channel proteins via
facilitated diffusion.

Isotonic solutionis when water molecules move at the same rate in

both directions.

Hypotonic

OSMOSIS

Hypotonic solution can cause the cell to swell or even burst due to
the intake of water more than the cell can accommodate.

Hypertonic

Hypertonic solution can cause an animal cell to shrink or shrivel due

to water loss.
 Diffusion is the movement of molecules down their
concentration gradient, i.e., from an area of higher concentration
to an area of lower concentration.
 A solution contains both the solute, which is usually solid and a
solvent, which is usually a liquid. A solute added in a solvent will
naturally diffuse to form a solution.
 Diffusion is an example of passive transport in which molecules
are moved across the membrane without spending energy.
 Facilitated diffusion involves the movement of molecules
across the membrane but with the aid of either channel or carrier
proteins. These molecules are usually those that cannot cross
due to their molecular size or chemical nature.

Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a selectively

permeable membrane from high to low
concentration.
 Solutions with an equal solute concentration are said to be
isotonic.
 Hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes than
inside the cell.
 Hypertonic solution is one with a higher concentration of solute
outside of the membrane.

Diffusion and osmosis both involve movement of molecules without

spending energy.
Lesson 4.3 4.
Cell’s Transport
Mechanism II: Active and
Facilitated Transport

Cell’s Transport Mechanism II

ACTIVE TRANSPORT

 It is a cellular transport mechanism that involves the

movement of molecules against their concentration
gradient with energy expenditure.
 It allows cells to maintain internal concentrations of small Calcium Pump
solutes that significantly differ from environmental
concentrations.
 Cells that perform active transport have a relatively large
number of mitochondria. This is very evident and
important in muscle cells and nerve cells of the body.

Molecules outside the cell going against the concentration

gradient (from low to high concentration).

Sodium-Potassium Pump
1.

FACILITATED TRANSPORT
 It involves the movement of molecules down their
concentration gradient, but with the aid of membrane
transport proteins.
 The transport proteins can only transport a certain type of
molecule or ion across the membrane. They can either
be carrier proteins (also called transporters) or channel
proteins.

2. Glucose Transporters

1.

3.

2.
  Facilitated transport is the movement of molecules or
ions down the concentration with the help of membrane
transport proteins.
 Ion channels, such as that of sodium, potassium,
and chloride ions, are essential in modifying the
charge of the cell’s interior.

3.

Ion Channels

 Ion channels are very specific because they only allow

the passage of certain ions.
 Note that the cell maintains relatively different
concentrations of ions inside and outside the cell.
 Na+ is abundant outside, while K+ is more abundant Molecules that cannot pass through the bilayer are assisted by
inside the cell. membrane proteins.
 To balance these charges, the cell also maintains a
relatively high Cl− outside the cell (alongside
sodium ions) and a relatively higher concentration
of organic and inorganic ions or anions (alongside
potassium ions).

 The sodium-potassium pump helps restore the

concentration of sodium and potassium ions outside and
inside the cell, respectively. As mentioned, these
channels are not normally open, thus they are said to be
gated.

 Active transport is a mechanism that allows the

movement of molecules across the membrane against
the concentration gradient.
 For a certain molecule to be transported against the
concentration gradient, it needs a carrier protein
and an expenditure of energy.
 Active transport is a mechanism that allows the
movement of molecules across the membrane against
the concentration gradient.
 The sodium-potassium pump moves sodium ions
(Na+) to the outside of the cell and potassium ions
(K+) into the cell.
 Active transport is a mechanism that allows the
movement of molecules across the membrane against
the concentration gradient.
 The calcium pumps do not need binding to a
second ion for the protein pump to return to its
original shape. It simply binds to the calcium ions
and pumps them out of the cell.
 Facilitated transport is the movement of molecules or
ions down the concentration with the help of membrane
transport proteins.
 Glucose transporters are found at the base of the
epithelial cells of the intestines. These are carriers
that supply glucose molecules to the underlying
tissues and into the bloodstream.