Functions of Plasma Membrane
1. Physical barrier between ICF and ECF.
2. Membrane transport
3. Cell sensing and signal transduction
4. Cellular recognition of antigens
5. Cell-cell communication
6. Communication between cellular
compartments
Biochemical Composition
55% proteins 42% lipids 3% carbohydrates
25% phospholipids 13% cholesterol 4% sphingolipids
Glycerophospholipid molecule
O CH2-PO4
=
–
C-O-CH2
–
C-O-CH2
=
O
Amphipathic Nature
Polar Head → Hydrophilic (PO4- or OH-)
Face aqueous intracellular and extracellular
compartments
Non-Polar Tail → Hydrophobic (HC chain)
Constitute hydrophobic core
Lipid Rafts
1. Aka Detergent Resistant Membranes.
2. Micro domains present on outer leaflet.
3. Enriched with cholesterol, sphingolipids and signaling proteins.
4. Involved in signal transduction and response to external stimuli.
Caveolae
1. Small flask shaped membrane invaginations into cytoplasm.
2. Derived from lipid rafts.
3. Contain protein Caveolin-1.
4. Involved in signal transduction and transport of lipoproteins.
Membrane Fluidity
Individual phospholipid molecules and membrane proteins show free
lateral movement within specific layer.
Factors affecting Fluidity
• Lipid Composition
1. • length of HC tails
• Degree of Unsaturation
• Trans FA – decrease membrane fluidity
2. • Cis FA – increase membrane fluidity
• Temperature
• With increase in temperature HC chains become
3. disordered and membrane fluidity increases
Transition Temperature (Tm)
The temperature at which the state of the membrane
changes from solid (gel) to fluid.
Cholesterol – fluidity buffer
1. T > Tm
Membrane fluidity decreases
2. T < Tm
Membrane fluidity increases
Protein Constituents
Membrane proteins act as –
1. Enzymes
2. Pumps
3. Transporters
4. Channels
5. Structural components
6. Antigens
7. Receptors
INTEGRAL OR INTRINSIC PERIPHERAL PROTEINS
PROTEINS
Span the lipid bilayer as a Bound to hydrophilic regions of
bundle of α helical intrinsic proteins or polar head
transmembrane segment. of phospholipids through
electrostatic forces and van der
Waal’s forces.
Separated by strong detergents Easily separated upon
or membrane destruction. treatment with detergents.
- Transporters Ankyrin in RBC membrane
- Ion channels
- GPCR
- Glycophorin A in RBC
membrane
Carbohydrate Constituents
1. Oligosaccharides present on outer leaflet as
glycoproteins or glycolipids.
2. ABO antigens on RBC membrane – glycolipids.
Glycocalyx
1. Glycoprotein and glycoprotein covering plasma
membrane of certain endothelial and epithelial cells
2. Function – protection, intercellular adhesion, cell-
cell communication and recognition
Fluid Mosaic Model
Plasma Membrane are fluid bilayers of amphipathic
phospholipids — hydrophilic head groups that face the aqueous
environment and hydrophobic lipid tails that interact with each
other to form a barrier to passive diffusion of large or charged
molecules i.e., is selectively permeable.
• Heterogeneous and Asymmetric Nature
1.
• Dynamic Nature
2.
• Fluid Nature
3.
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
1. Plasma membrane is selectively permeable
2. Membrane transport refers to the collective
mechanisms that mediate the passage of ions and
small molecules through the lipid bilayer.
ACTIVE PASSIVE
TRANSPORT TRANSPORT
Nature of Transport Against Along the gradient
electrochemical
gradient
Utilization of ATP hydrolysis No
Energy
Saturation Kinetics Feature may be
Simple Diffusion
1. Molecules move passively along the conc. gradient
across lipid bilayer till equilibrium is reached.
2. Non polar molecules – gases and steroid hormones.
3. E.g., exchange of O2 and CO2 at alveoli and tissue.
Facilitated Diffusion
Facilitated by
a. Protein transporter via Ping –pong mechanism
b. Ion channel.
ION CHANNEL – protein molecules that span across the cell
membrane allowing the passage of ions.
Highly selective for one type of ion.
Contain aqueous pore which become accessible to ions upon
conformational change in protein structure.
Ion Channel Open on e.g.
LIGAND Ligand binding Acetylcholine receptors
GATED (hormones or drugs) Ca channels in
sarcoplasmic reticulum
VOLATAGE Change in electrical Voltage gated Na and K
GATED potential across channels
membrane
MECHANO Mechanical Sensory receptors that
SENSITIVE stimulation respond to touch, pressure
Aquaporins
1. Tetrameric transmembrane proteins.
2. Channels for transport of water molecules.
3. No passage of ions.
4. Crucial role in water balance of body.
5. Clinical Vignette – impaired functioning of
aquaporins in nephrogenic diabetes.
SIMPLE FACILITATED
DIFFUSION DIFFUSION
Mode of No carrier Carrier molecule involved
Diffusion molecule involved
Saturation No Yes
Kinetics Diffusion is linear No increase in diffusion
once saturation is reached
Competitive Absent Substance that share the
Inhibition same carrier protein
compete for transport
Rate of Slow Fast
Diffusion
Specificity No Specific
ACTIVE TRANSPORT
PRIMARY ACTIVE SECONDARY ACTIVE
TRANSPORT TRANSPORT
Transport directly coupled to No direct hydrolysis of ATP
ATP hydrolysis Transport of one solute against
a conc. gradient is coupled with
transport of another along its
electrochemical gradient.
Aka COUPLED TRANSPORT
or COTRANSPORT
Na-K ATPase Na dependent glucose transport
MDR-1 protein
VESICULAR TRANSPORT – involves formation of vesicles
from cell membrane
ENDOCYTOSIS EXOCYTOSIS
Cells take up molecules Molecules are released
e.g., receptor-mediated LDL Proteins synthesized and
transport packaged within the RER and
Golgi apparatus are concentrated
PHAGOCYTOSIS by in secretory vesicles
macrophages → fuse with plasma membrane
→ expel their contents
PINOCYTOSIS e.g., insulin and cytokines
(Cell drinking)
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
Passive Transport Active Transport
Simple Diffusion Primary Active Transport
Facilitated Diffusion Secondary Active Transport
Vesicular Transport
Channel Proteins
Exocytosis
Carrier Proteins
Endocytosis
Phagocytosis Pinocytosis
CLINICAL VIGNETTE
1. Familial Hypercholesterolemia
defects in receptor-mediated LDL transport.
2. Cancer resistance to chemotherapy
MDR-1 protein pumps chemotherapeutic drugs
out of cells.
3. Hereditary Spherocytosis
mutations in ankyrin or spectrin deficiency.
4. Cystic Fibrosis
mutations in CFTR protein an ATP dependent Cl
ion channel.
REFERENCES
• Denise R. Ferrier, Ritu Singh, Rajeev Goyal, “Cell Membrane”,
Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews – Biochemistry, 2nd South Asian
Edition, pp. 15-24.
• DM Vasudevan, Sreekumari S, Kannan Vaidyanathan, “Cell
Membrane”, Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students, 10th
Edition, pp. 17-26.