BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES

Lesson 15 — Complete Study Guide

University of The Gambia | School of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences

Molecular Composition: Lipids (40–50%): phospholipids, cholesterol, glycolipids | Proteins (50–60%): integral &
peripheral | Carbohydrates: on outer surface only

■ MEMORY ACRONYMS

■ FIRM — Importance of Membrane Fluidity

Fusion
Makes membrane fusion possible — e.g. fertilization, vesicular transport, myoblast fusion to form
F syncytium of skeletal muscle

Interaction
I Allows membrane proteins to diffuse in the plane of the membrane and interact with each other

Redistribution from synthesis

R Allows redistribution of proteins and lipids from site of synthesis to their final destination

Migration after cell division

M Allows redistribution of proteins and lipids following cell division

■ PRICE — Biological Roles of Membranes

Permeability (Selective)
P Acts as a selective permeability barrier — pumps, gates, sieves — enabling cell compartmentalization

Receptors for external stimuli

R Contains receptors for hormones, neurotransmitters, and other external signals

Intercellular communication
I Facilitates communication between cells — e.g. nerve impulse transmission

Cell recognition
C Involved in cell recognition for immune response and tissue formation

Energy transduction
E Structurally organizes cellular processes: respiration, photosynthesis, vision

■ MABAD — Structural Features of Membranes

Multiple components
M Lipids (phospholipids, glycolipids, cholesterol), proteins (peripheral, integral), and carbohydrates
 Asymmetric
A Inside is different from outside: outer face rich in PC; inner face rich in PE and PS

Broad compositional variability

B Composition varies between membranes; correlated with specific function

Assembling (mostly self)

A Hydrophobic and electrostatic forces drive bilayer formation and protein incorporation

Dynamic structure
D Exhibits fluidity, flexibility, and two-dimensional diffusion

■ DCI — Medical Correlations

Drug Transport
Lipophilic (hydrophobic) drugs cross the membrane easily by simple diffusion. Hydrophilic drugs require
D transport proteins.

Chanopathies
Diseases caused by defective membrane channels — e.g. Cystic Fibrosis (defect in CFTR chloride
C channel)

Insulin Signaling
Insulin binds to its receptor (integral protein) on the membrane, triggering an internal biochemical
I cascade. Defective receptor is relevant in Type 2 Diabetes.
 ■ KEY CONCEPTS

Amphipathic Nature of Phospholipids

Phospholipids have a polar (hydrophilic) head and a nonpolar (hydrophobic) tail. In aqueous solution, they
self-assemble into a bilayer — heads facing outward, tails facing inward — creating a semipermeable barrier.

Cholesterol as Fluidity Buffer

At high temperatures: increases rigidity, preventing the membrane from becoming too fluid.
At low temperatures: prevents crystallization, maintaining fluidity.
Also forms lipid rafts with sphingolipids — important for cell signaling, receptors, immunity, and viral entry.

Phosphoglycerides — 4 Types

PC (Phosphatidylcholine) — most abundant; outer surface; maintains membrane integrity.

PE (Phosphatidylethanolamine) — inner surface; conical shape; promotes membrane curvature; important in
vesicles and exocytosis.
PS (Phosphatidylserine) — inner surface; negative charge modulates membrane potential; when on outer surface
= apoptosis signal.
PI (Phosphatidylinositol) — least abundant but very important; participates in cell signaling.

Membrane Asymmetry

Outer face: rich in PC (Phosphatidylcholine).

Inner face: rich in PE and PS.
Maintained by flippases and translocases.
Glycosylation occurs only on the exoplasmic (outer) face.
Asymmetry is essential for: Signaling, Apoptosis, Cell interactions (SAC).

Fluidity Determinants

Shorter fatty acid tails = more fluid | Longer tails = less fluid.
More unsaturated tails (more double bonds/kinks) = more fluid.
More saturated tails (straight, tight packing) = less fluid.
Cholesterol acts as a fluidity buffer at both extremes.

Dynamic Fluid Mosaic Model

Proposed by S. Jonathan Singer and Garth Nicolson (1972).

The membrane is a thin lipid bilayer embedded with proteins — constantly changing (mosaic).
Key features: selective barrier, highly dynamic, has functional microdomains.
 ■ MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. What percentage of the plasma membrane is made up of proteins?

A. 10–20%

B. 30–40%

C. 50–60%

D. 70–80%

■ Answer: C. 50–60%

2. Which phosphoglyceride is the MOST abundant in the plasma membrane?

A. Phosphatidylinositol

B. Phosphatidylserine

C. Phosphatidylethanolamine

D. Phosphatidylcholine

■ Answer: D. Phosphatidylcholine (PC)

3. Phosphatidylserine (PS) appearing on the OUTER surface of the membrane signals:

A. Cell growth

B. Apoptosis

C. Cell division

D. Vesicle formation

■ Answer: B. Apoptosis — it is an 'eat me' signal for cell elimination

4. What is the role of cholesterol at HIGH temperatures?

A. Prevents crystallization

B. Increases fluidity

C. Increases rigidity

D. Promotes fusion

■ Answer: C. Increases rigidity — prevents membrane from becoming too fluid

5. The Dynamic Fluid Mosaic Model was proposed by:

A. Watson and Crick (1953)

 B. Singer and Nicolson (1972)

C. Alberts and Johnson (1980)

D. Lodish and Berk (1990)

■ Answer: B. Singer and Nicolson (1972)

6. Which phospholipid promotes membrane CURVATURE and is important in vesicle formation?

A. Phosphatidylcholine (PC)

B. Phosphatidylinositol (PI)

C. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)

D. Phosphatidylserine (PS)

■ Answer: C. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) — conical shape promotes curvature

7. Which of the following INCREASES membrane fluidity?

A. Longer fatty acid tails

B. More saturated fatty acid tails

C. High cholesterol content

D. More unsaturated fatty acid tails

■ Answer: D. More unsaturated fatty acid tails (double bonds create kinks, preventing tight packing)

8. Cystic Fibrosis is an example of which medical correlation?

A. Drug transport

B. Chanopathy

C. Insulin signaling

D. Lipid raft dysfunction

■ Answer: B. Chanopathy — caused by a defect in the CFTR chloride channel

9. Carbohydrates in the membrane are found ONLY on which surface?

A. Inner (cytosolic) face

B. Both faces equally

C. Outer (exoplasmic) face

D. Embedded within the bilayer

■ Answer: C. Outer (exoplasmic) face — glycosylation is face-specific

10. Which type of membrane protein is embedded within the bilayer and is most commonly a
transporter or receptor?

A. Peripheral protein

B. Lipid-anchored protein

C. Integral (transmembrane) protein

D. Cytoskeletal protein

■ Answer: C. Integral (transmembrane) protein

 ✏■ FILL IN THE BLANK

Complete each statement. Answers are provided below each question.

1. The plasma membrane is made up of approximately ______% lipids and ______% proteins.

■ Answer: 40–50% lipids; 50–60% proteins

2. The amphipathic nature of phospholipids means they have a polar ______ head and a nonpolar
______ tail.

■ Answer: hydrophilic; hydrophobic

3. The most abundant phospholipid in the plasma membrane is ______, which predominates on the
______ surface.

■ Answer: Phosphatidylcholine (PC); outer

4. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) has a ______ shape that promotes membrane ______.

■ Answer: conical; curvature

5. When Phosphatidylserine (PS) appears on the outer surface, it signals ______, marking the cell for
elimination.

■ Answer: apoptosis

6. Cholesterol increases ______ at high temperatures and prevents ______ at low temperatures.

■ Answer: rigidity; crystallization

7. Lipid rafts are rich in ______ and ______, and function primarily in cell ______.

■ Answer: cholesterol; sphingolipids; signaling

8. The Dynamic Fluid Mosaic Model was proposed by ______ and ______ in the year ______.

■ Answer: S. Jonathan Singer; Garth Nicolson; 1972

9. ______ proteins are embedded in the membrane while ______ proteins are loosely attached and
easily dislodged.

■ Answer: Integral (transmembrane); Peripheral

10. Membrane fluidity is dependent on the ______ of fatty acid tails, the degree of ______, and ______
content.
 ■ Answer: length; unsaturation; cholesterol

11. Shorter fatty acid tails result in ______ (more/less) fluid membrane, while more unsaturated tails
result in ______ (more/less) fluidity.

■ Answer: more; more

12. The outer face of the membrane is rich in ______, while the inner face is rich in ______ and ______.

■ Answer: PC (Phosphatidylcholine); PE (Phosphatidylethanolamine); PS (Phosphatidylserine)

13. Membrane asymmetry is maintained by proteins called ______ and ______.

■ Answer: flippases; translocases (phospholipid translocases)

14. Carbohydrates are found only on the ______ face of the membrane, where they are added by a
process called ______.

■ Answer: exoplasmic (outer); glycosylation

15. Cystic Fibrosis is caused by a defect in the ______ chloride channel, making it an example of a
______.

■ Answer: CFTR; chanopathy

16. A drug's ______ determines its ability to cross the membrane by simple diffusion.

■ Answer: lipophilicity

17. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is normally located on the ______ surface of the membrane and its negative
charge contributes to the cell's ______ environment.

■ Answer: inner (cytosolic); electrical

18. Phosphatidylinositol (PI) is the ______ (most/least) abundant phospholipid but is very important in
cell ______.

■ Answer: least; signaling

19. Membrane fluidity allows membrane ______ to be possible — examples include fertilization,
vesicular transport, and ______ fusion to make syncytium.

■ Answer: fusion; myoblast

20. The two faces of the membrane are called the ______ face (outside/lumen) and the ______ face
(inside cell).
■ Answer: exoplasmic; cytosolic

Biological Membranes — Lesson 15 | University of The Gambia, SOMAHS | Study Guide