1. Biological Membranes

2. Biological membranes
Complex, dynamic structures made of lipid and protein molecules
Perform many functions
Define cell as a compartment
Regulate passage of materials
Participate in chemical reactions
Transmit signals between cell interior and the environment
Act as part of energy transfer and storage

3. Biological membranes
Physically separate cell interior from extracellular environment
Form compartments within eukaryotic cells
Plasma membrane
Regulates passage of materials
Participates in biochemical reactions
Receives information about environment
Communicates with other cells

4. Fluid mosaic model
Membranes consist of fluid phospholipid bilayer with a mosaic pattern of associated proteins
Phospholipid molecules are amphipathic and contain
Hydrophobic regions which are repelled by water
Hydrophilic regions which are attracted to water

5. Phospholipid molecules

6. Since the cell is a very watery environment, the heads of the phospholipid molecules face toward the cell.
The fatty acid “tails” of the molecules face inward toward the center of the bilayer.

7. Phospholipids in water Detergent in water
Phospholipids form bilayers in water
Phospholipids in water
Detergent in water

8. Plasma membrane of mammalian red blood cell

9. Membrane properties
Orderly arrangement of phospholipid molecules make the cell membrane a liquid crystal
Allow molecules to move rapidly
Proteins move within membrane
Lipid bilayers are
Flexible
Self-sealing
Can fuse with other membranes

10. Detailed structure of the plasma membrane

11. Proteins are embedded in the bilayer
Integral membrane proteins
Embedded in the bilayer
Transmembrane proteins
Integral proteins that extend completely through the membrane
Peripheral member proteins
Associated with the surface of the bilayer

12. Asymmetrically positioned to bilayer
Membrane proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates
Asymmetrically positioned to bilayer
Sides have different composition and structure
Function of member proteins
Transport of materials
Acting as enzymes or receptors
Cell recognition
Structurally linking cells

13. Asymmetry of the plasma membrane

14. Functions of membrane proteins

15. Membranes are selectively permeable (only some materials are allowed in and out)
Physical processes
Osmosis
Diffusion
Carrier-mediated processes
Channel proteins
Carrier proteins

16. Diffusion: the movement of molecules from a region of higher concentration to one of lower concentration.

17. Rate of diffusion depends on:
Temperature (higher temperature, more movement of molecules)
Size of molecules (smaller molecules tend to diffuse faster)
Electrical charge (like charges repel and opposites attract)
Difference in concentration (concentration gradient)

18. Some molecules easily diffuse through the membrane
Water
Gases
Small polar molecules
Large, lipid soluble molecules

19. Osmosis
The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from a region where there is a greater concentration of water to a region where there is less water.
Osmotic pressure: the tendency of water to move into a solution.

21. Osmotic pressure Concentration of dissolved substances in a solution
Isotonic: equal solute concentration
Hypertonic: solution has a greater concentration of solutes than the cell, loses water in plasmolysis
Plasmolysis (collapse of a cell due to loss of water.
Hypotonic: solution has a lesser concentration of solutes than the cell, gains water and swells

23. Turgor pressure
The internal hydrostatic pressure usually present in walled cells.
Turgor pressure provides structural support in plants which do not have wood.

25. Movement of particles through proteins
If substances cannot pass through the lipid bilayer, they may still move through the membrane via protein channels.
This may or may not require energy from the cell.
Passive transport: no energy expenditure
Active transport: energy expended by the cell.

26. Facilitated diffusion does not require energy
Occurs down a concentration gradient
Active transport requires energy
Moves ions or molecules against a concentration gradient
Cotransport requires energy
ATP-powered pump maintains a concentration gradient

27. Sodium-Potassium Pump

28. Sucrose proton cotransport

29. Cells expend metabolic energy to carry on physiological processes
Exocytosis: large molecules leave the cell through fusion with the membrane
Endocytosis: large molecules enter the cell through fusion with the membrane
Phagocytosis
Pinocytosis
Receptor-mediated endocytosis

30. Exocytosis

31. Phagocytosis

32. Phagocytosis is used by macrophages to help defend the body from bacteria

33. Amoebae feed using phagocytosis

34. Pinocytosis

35. Receptor-mediated endocytosis

36. Cells communicate by cell signaling Signaling molecules include
Neurotransmitters
Hormones
Regulatory molecules

37. Cell signaling involves
Synthesis and release of signaling molecule
Transport to target cells
Reception by target cells involving special surface receptors where the signaling protein docks.
Signal transduction cells convert an extracellular into an intracellular one.
Response by the cell: interior of the membrane protein undergoes a change in conformation, which activates proteins in the cytoplasm—often in a chain reaction.
Termination of signal

38. Signal transduction

39. Cells in close contact often develop intercellular junctions
Anchoring junctions connect epithelial cells
Desmosomes composed of filaments which hold cells subject to mechanical stresses together (in animal cells)
Adhering junctions cement cells together with proteins
Tight junctions seal off intercellular spaces in some animal cells. Seals are protein links.

40. Gap junctions: permit transfer of small molecules and ions
Gap junctions: permit transfer of small molecules and ions. These contain pores that connect cells. Allow rapid chemical and electrical communication between cells.
Plasmodesmata: allow movement of certain molecules and ions between plant cells. Plasma membranes are continuous though the gaps.

41. Desmosomes

42. Tight
junctions

43. Gap junctions

44. Plasmodesmata