2.
2 The Plasma Membrane
2.2.1 Describe, using diagrams, the general structures of the plasma membrane (Phospholipid
bilayer, proteins, carbohydrates, and cholesterol)
2.2.2 Relate phospholipid properties and water-lipid interactions (hydrophobic and
hydrophilic) to the cell membrane function
The plasma membrane is composed of a phospholipid bilayer – two layers of
phospholipids arranged to allow the m
embrane to exist in a watery environment.
• Polar (charged) or hydrophyllic heads face outside the cell. The heads love
water
• Nonpolar or hydrophobic tails face inside the cell, the tails hate water.
• This arrangement allows the membrane to keep the internal and external
environments separate
• The plasma membrane also contains cholesterol, proteins (membrane and
transport), and carbohydrates
• The phospholipids are arranged in such a way that the polar heads can be closest to
the water molecules
• nonpolar hydrophobic tails can be furthest away from the water molecules.
• This creates a barrier – polar at its surface and nonpolar in the middle.
• Water-soluble substances cannot move across the plasma membrane easily
because they are stopped by the nonpolar ( water hating tails) in the middle.
This allows the plasma membrane to separate the environment inside the cell
from the outside and select which molecules can pass across.
• This makes the plasma membrane act as a selective barrier/ it will control
movement of substances into and out of the cell.
Phospholipid structure
Head – loves water –
made up of phosphate
groups
Tail – hates water –
made up of fatty acids/
lipids
Phospholipid bilayer
(2 layers of phospholipids)
1. Use the image below that illustrates the cell membrane to answer questions a-b. [7
marks]
Y : hydrophyllic head
X : hydrophobic tail
a. Label parts A-C from the diagram on the right. (3 marks)
A: Phospholipid
B. Glycoprotein ( carbohydrate chain)
C. Protein Channel
b. Label a part of the structure in the diagram above that is hydrophobic with X and a
part that is hydrophilic with Y. Then define the terms hydrophilic and hydrophobic
below. (4 marks)
Hydrophobic – water hating – repels water
Hydrophyllic – water loving- attracts water
Use the image below to answer questions a - b.
a. Identify the name given to the cell part in the image above.
Plasma membrane / cell membrane/ phospholipid bilayer
b. Identify the main function of the above structure and explain how the lipid bilayer
enable it to perform its role.
Main Function: Cell membrane acts as a selective barrier/ control movement of
substances into and out of the cell (2 marks)
2. True or False: The plasma membrane is selectively permeable, allowing only certain
substances to pass through. True
2.2.3 Identify the function of proteins, carbohydrates, and cholesterol in the plasma
membrane
Protein Function
1. Receptors: Proteins on the outer surface of the plasma membrane
Function: Transmit signals to the inside of the cell.
2. Proteins at the inner surface anchor the plasma membrane to the
cell’s internal support structure, giving the cell its shape.
3. Transport proteins: Run across the entire membrane and create
tunnels through which certain substances can enter and leave the
cell.
Function: Proteins allow large/hydrophilic /polar molecules to pass
through and contribute to the selective permeability of the plasma
Cholesterol Function
Nonpolar cholesterol is repelled by water(hates) and so is found among the
phospholipids hydrophobic tails
➢ Cholesterol:
1. prevents the fatty acid tails of the phospholipid bilayer
from sticking together.
2. contributes to the fluidity of the membrane. (moving
like structure)
3. is important for maintaining homeostasis in a cell
(internal balance in the cell)
Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates attached to proteins are called glycoproteins, stick out from the
plasma membrane
Their function is:
1. Define the cell’s characteristics
2. Help cells identify chemical signals
3. Cell recognition
What is homeostasis?
The process of maintaining balance in an organism’s internal environment.
Which of the below is NOT a function of the plasma membrane:
A. A barrier between the cell and the watery environment outside.
B. Selectively permeable membrane.
C. Control cell growth
D. Responsible for homeostasis
Which is a key property of the plasma membrane?
A. Permeability
B. Structural integrity
C. Selective permeability
D. Rigidity
2.2.4 Describe, using visuals, the Fluid Mosaic Model of the cell membrane
The plasma membrane is made up of two layers (bi-layer) of phospholipids that are
arranged tail-to tail. Moving with and among the phospholipids in the plasma
membrane are cholesterol, proteins and carbohydrates.
Together, the phospholipids in the bilayer create a “sea” in which other molecules
can float ( proteins, cholesterol and carbohydrates).
The fluid mosaic model describes the phospholipids in the bilayer as a “sea” in which
other components move around, forming a pattern or mosaic on the cell surface.
The phospholipids move sideways within the membrane. The other components
(proteins etc.) also move among the phospholipids.
The components of the plasma membrane are in constant motion, sliding past one
another (making the membrane appear fluid).
1. The Fluid Mosaic Model describes parts of the cell membrane such as proteins and
phospholipids as .
A. Bound to carbohydrates
B. Floating laterally throughout the space
C. Tethered to one place in the membrane
D. As hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules
2. A model that describes the arrangement of molecules that make up a cell
membrane is known as ………………….
A. Flood mosaic model
B. Fare mosaic model
C. Fear mosaic model
D. Fluid mosaic model
3. Define plasma membrane.
A. Lipid that helps minimize effects of temperature
B. Only on the outer surface of the plasma membrane and are
attached to proteins or lipids; form distinctive cellular markers
C. Flexible boundary of a cell that separates a cell from its
surroundings
D. May extend partway into the plasma membrane, cross the
membrane entirely, or be loosely attached to its inside or outside
face
Explain the functions of the plasma membrane including homeostasis
1. Responsible for homeostasis is the plasma membrane. The process of maintaining
balance in an organism’s internal environment is called homeostasis.
2. The plasma membrane is a thin, flexible boundary between a cell and its
environment that allows nutrients into the cell and waste and other products to leave
the cell.
[Link] membranes have selective permeability, which means they allow
some substances to pass through while keeping others out.
Subtopic 2.3 Cellular Transport across the plasma membrane
Compare and contrast, using visuals, the different forms of passive transport (Diffusion
(with reference to dynamic equilibrium), facilitated diffusion, and osmosis (with reference to
how osmosis works)
Summary Notes:
Cellular transport moves substances throughout the cell and moves substances into and out of the cell
➢ Passive transport does not require energy; types include:
➢ Diffusion is the movement of substances from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
➢ Facilitated diffusion is the diffusion of ions and other small molecules across the
plasma membrane using transport proteins like channel proteins and carrier proteins to transport charged polar
molecules that cannot diffuse through the phospholipid bilayer from high to low concentration
➢ Osmosis is the diffusion of water across the plasma membrane. from high water concentration to low water
concentration
➢ During passive transport, substances move down the concentration gradient,
from high concentration to low concentration
Compare and contrast osmosis and diffusion
➢ Diffusion is the movement of substances from an area of high concentration (solute) to an area of low
concentration(solute)
➢ Osmosis is the movement of water across the plasma membrane or selectively permeable membrane
Both are moving from high concentration to low concentration
Diffusion:
• Movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
• Movement from one side of a membrane to another, un-facilitated
• Diffusion continues until all molecules are evenly spaced (dynamic equilibrium is reached)
• Note: molecules will still move around but stay spread out.
• Diffusion Osmosis
Osmosis: diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane
• Water moves from high to low concentrations
• Water moves freely through pores.
• Solute (green) too large to move across
[Link]
Investigate Osmosis
Types of solutions - hypertonic, hypotonic, or isotonic solutions
Explain the effect of hypertonic, hypotonic, or isotonic solutions on plant and
animal cells
Hypotonic solutions- High concentration of water , low solute (salt /glucose etc) concentration
If a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution water will enter the cell . Animal cells swell up and may
burst , plant cells swell up and become turgid
Hypertonic solution- High solute concentration (salt/glucose etc), low water concentration. If a
cell is placed in a hypertonic solution water will leave the cell and the cell will become smaller
and decrease in size.
If an animal cell is placed in a hypertonic solution – it will shrink and become smaller. if a plant
cell is placed in a hypertonic solution – the cell will lose water making the cell shrink , we say the
cell is plasmolyzed
Isotonic solution is a solution with the same concentration of solutes and water- if cells are
placed in an isotonic solution the cell will remain the same and show no change
Compare and contrast, using visuals, different forms of active transport(Protein
pumps (with reference to Na+/K+ pump), endocytosis, exocytosis, and coupled
transport)
Differences between active and passive transport
➢ Active transport
• Requires energy called ATP
• Moves substances across the plasma membrane against the concentration gradient; from low
concentration tohigh concentration.
•
Types of active transport:
1. Protein pumps are carrier proteins that move one substance in one direction, move two substances
in one direction or move two substances in opposite directions
Example: Sodium-Potassium (Na+/K+) ATPase Pump
2. Endocytosis—large substances enter the cell; plasma membrane surrounds a substance outside the
cell, pinches off as a vesicle and leaves the substance inside.
3. Exocytosis—large substances (waste and hormones) can exit the cell; reverse of endocytosis; vesicle
fuses with plasmamembrane and releases its contents outside