UNIT F211

Section 1.1.2

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Membran
e
Structure
&
Function
Learning Outcomes

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 State that plasma (cell surface) membranes are partially

permeable barriers.
Outline the roles of membranes within cells and at the
surface of cells.
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Describe the fluid mosaic model of membrane structure.
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Describe the roles of the components of the cell

membrane, including phospholipids, cholesterol,
glycolipids, proteins and glycoproteins.
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Outline the effects of changing temperature on membrane
structure and permeability.
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Explain the term cell signalling.
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Explain the role of membrane-bound receptors as sites

where hormones and drugs can bind.
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Lesson 1: Functions of Cell Membranes

Every living cell is surrounded by a membrane. This is called the
plasma membrane or the cell surface membrane.
Example
Function
The plasma membrane allows small or
Membranes are partially
uncharged perticles to pass trhough it;
permeable, controlling what
protein channels and transporters
passes through them.

control the passage of larger or charged

particles

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Membranes produce different

compartments inside cells.

Mitochondria are surrounded by two

membranes, which isolate the reactions
taking place inside from the reactions
taking place in the cytoplasm.

Membranes are important in

cell signalling.

A substance produced by one cell docks

into a receptor in the plasma membrane
of another, causing something to happen
in the second cell.
The membrane of the axon of a motor
Membranes allow electrical
neurone transmits action potentials from
signals to pass along them.
the central nervous system to a muscle.
Membranes provide attachment The inner membrane of a mitochondrian
contains molecules needed for the
sites for enzymes and other
production of ATP. The inner membrane
molecules involved in
of a chlororplast contains chlorophyll
metabolism.
needed for photosynthesis.

The plasma membrane defines the limits of the cell. It seperates the
cells contents from its external environment, and it controls what can
pass from this environment into the cell, and from the cell into the
external; environment.
It is partially permeable.
Membranes are also found inside cells. Soem organelles are
surrounded by a single membrane for example, lysosomes. The
nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts each have two membranes
around them making up an envelope.
Most eukaryotic cells also have an
extensive network of membranes within
their cytoplasm, forming the RER, SER and
golgi apparatus.
Like the plasma membrane, these
membranes inside the cell are partially
permeable, and therefore able to control
what can pass through them. They
seperate what happens inside the
organelle from what is happening in the
rest of the cell.

Figure 1: SEM of a Cell

Homework

-6Table 1: Functions of Membranes

Answer the following questions:

1) Why do we describe the plasma membrane as being partially
permeable?
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2) Name 3 membrane-bound organelles and explain their function in
the cell.
A
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B
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C
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Lesson 2: Structure of Cell Membranes

All cell membranes have a similar structure.

They are normally between 7nm and 10nm thick (*Remember this
fact).
- This makes them invisible with a light microscope but they can
be seen with an electron microscope.

Hey are formed from a double layer of molecules called

phospholipids in which many proteins are situated.

Phospholipid Bilayer
Phospholipid molecules have an unusual property. Their heads have a
tiny charge, and this attracts them to water molecules. But their tails
dont have a charge, and they are repelled from water molecules.

We say that the heads of the phospholipids are hydrophilic (waterloving) and the tails are hydrophobic (water-hating).

The cytoplasm inside a cell

contains a lot of water, and so
does the fluid outside cells.
The hydrophilic heads of
phospholipid molecules are
therefore drawn to these
fluids, while they repel the
hydrophobic tails. This causes
the phospholipids to rearrange
Figure 2: Structure of a Phospholipid
themselves in a double layer,
with heads facing outwards
and tails facing inwards. This is called a phospholipid bilayer.

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Other components
Membranes also contain another type of lipid. This is
cholesterol. Cholesterol molecules lie alongside the
phospholipids, helping to make up the bilayer.

There are also many different protein molecules in cell

membranes. They are much larger than phospholipid
molecules. Some of the proteins lie in the membrane, protruding from
both sides. Others float in
just the outer layer or inner
layer.
Many of the lipid molecules
and protein molecules have
short strings of sugar
molecules attached to them,
forming glycolipids and
glycoproteins.

Figure 3: The fluid mosaic model

Figure 3 shows the structure

of a plasma membrane,
including all of these components. This is called the fluid mosaic
model of membrane structure.

The term fluid refers to the fact that the molecules in the
membrane are in constant motion, moving around within their own
layer (they dont normally swap sides).

The term mosaic refers to the way the membrane would look if
viewed from above, with a mosaic pattern formed by the protein
molecules that are scattered throughout.

Component

Roles
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Phospholipid

Forms the bilayer which is

fundamental basis of the
membrane in which all
components are embedded

Provides a barrier to watersoluble (hydrophilic)

substances, such as ions and
molecules that carry a charge

Cholesterol

Helps to maintain the fluidity of

the membrane, preventing it
from becoming too stiff when
temperatures are low, or too
fluid when temperatures are
high

Protein and Glycoprotein

Forms channels through which

hydrophilic substances can
pass; the channels can be
opened and closed

Act as transporters that can

move substances across the
membrane up their
concentration gradients, with
the use of energy from ATP

Act as receptor sites, allowing

specific molecules from outside
the cell, such as hormones, to
bind with them and then set up
responses within the cell

Act as recognition sites,

because their precise structure
may be specific to a particular

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type of cell or to a particular

individual

Glycolipids

Act as enzymes

Provide energy
Serve as markers for cellular
recognition.

Table 2: Roles of the components of cell

membranes

Lesson 3: How Temperature Affects Membrane Permeability

A rise in temperature has an effect on both the proteins and the
phospholipids in the cell membrane.

As the phospholipid molecules get hotter, they vibrate more and

more. They move much more than previously, leaving temporary
gaps in the membrane through which the pigment can pass.

The protein molecules, too,

vibrate more and more as the
temperature increases. They
may vibrate so much that
they begin to come apart and
lost their shapes. This, too,
leaves gaps in the cell
membrane.

Very low temperatures, on

the other hand, decrease
membrane permeability. The phospholipids vibrate
much less, packing together
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tightly and only rarely providing pathways between themselves

through which molecules might pass.
- Protein channels remain in place, but transporter proteins may not
work as well, because the low temperatures make it difficult for the
cell to provide ATP needed for active transport.
- At low temperatures all molecules and ions will be moving around
less, so few of them will hit the membrane and pass throug

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Activity 1: The effect of temperature on membrane permeability

Objective
To determine some properties of a membrane
To show the effect of temperature on membranes

Equipment/mate
Water baths pres
Thermometer
Distilled water
A large beetroot (o
Cork borer size N
Ruler
White tile
Knife
Syringe
Pipette
Procedure
Test tubes
Prepare six water baths preset to a range of temperatures: 3080 C.
Colorimeter
Use a syringe to add 10 cm3 of distilled water (buffered to pH 7) to six test tubes. Label each test tube with a temperature from the preset
range.
Cuvettes
Place each tube into the corresponding temperature water bath for five minutes.
Labels
Check the temperature is correct using a thermometer.
Forceps
Cut six beetroot cylinders using a cork borer No. 5. Using a knife, ruler and white tile, trim them to the same length. Wash the cylinders thoroughly with
Add one beetroot cylinder to each of the six tubes and leave for 15 minutes.
Now shake the tubes once, and then, using forceps, carefully remove the cylinders from each tube and discard.
Decant enough liquid from each test tube to exactly fill a colorimeter cuvette (6 cuvettes together).
Set the colorimeter to green filter and absorption. Zero the colorimeter using a blank cuvette filled with distilled water.
Place each cuvette in turn into the colorimeter and read the absorption recording your results in a suitable table.
Plot a graph of absorption against temperature.

From the examin

Explain means usi
Safety
Take care with sharp items such as the cork borer and knife.

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Questions
1.
Suggest why the tubes were placed in the water baths for five minutes before the cylinders
were added.
2.
Why were the tubes washed with distilled water and dried before the experiment began?
3.
Which variables were controlled during the experiment?
4.
Use the trend line of your graph to describe the effect of temperature on the % transmission
between 30 C and 80 C.
5.
Explain your results in terms of what is happening to the beetroot membrane.
6.
From the graph, explain why the absorption changes significantly at one particular
temperature.

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Lesson 4: Cell Signalling

A cell must be able to stay on contact with itys environment and with
other cells to survive. Cells must be able to react to changes in their
environment.
In multicellular organism , cells in one part of the body must be able to
communicate with cells in other parts. A cell therefore needs to be able
to pick up signals at its surface to which it may need to respond.
Signals arrive at the plasma membrane from outside the cell as
particular substabces for example, a hormone or changes in
electrical potebtial- as happens in nerev impulses. A receptor in the
cells plasma membrane picks up these signals, and brings about
actions within the cell. This process is known as cell signalling.

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Mechanisms of Cell Signalling

There are 3 different ways In which cell signalling can occur:
1) The signal is a chemical that attaches to a protein or glycoprotein
acting as an ion channel. When the chemical attaches to the
rceptor, it makes the channel open and let ions into the cell,
bringing about a response.
2) The receptor in the plasma membrane interacts with another
molecule, a G- protein. When the signal molecule attaches to
the receptor, the G protein is activated. The G-protein then
activates an enzyme, which brings about a reaction inside the
cell.
3) This involves a recpetor that is also an enzyme. The recptor is
made up of two parts. When the signal molecules arrives, it slots
into both of these parts, connecting them to one another and
forming them into an active enzyme. The enzyme then brings
about reactions inside the cell.
Homework 2
1.

The diagram below represents the structure of a plasma (cell surface)

membrane.

(a)

(i)
Name molecules A, B and F.
In your answer you should spell the names of the molecules
correctly.
A ..............................................................................................
B ..............................................................................................
F ..............................................................................................
[3]

(ii)

E represents the width of the plasma (cell surface) membrane in

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a typical animal cell.

State the approximate width of the membrane.
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(b)

(i)

Describe the structure of molecule A.

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[2]

(ii)

State one function of molecule C.

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[1]

(iii) Molecule D is a glycoprotein. This molecule consists of a protein

embedded in the membrane with a branched carbohydrate chain
projecting out from the surface of the cell.
Outline three roles of glycoproteins in membranes.
1 ..............................................................................................
........................................................................................................
2 ................................................................................................
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3 .....................................................................................................
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[3]
[Total 10 marks]

2.
In this question, one mark is available for the quality of spelling, punctuation
and grammar.
Outline the roles of membranes at the surface of cells and within cells.
(Allow one lined page)

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[9]
Quality of Written Communication [1]
[Total 10 marks]

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