Membrane structure

1915, knew membrane made of lipids and proteins

Reasoned that membrane = bilayer
Where to place proteins?

Lipid layer 1
Proteins
Lipid layer 2

Membrane structure

Membrane structure
freeze fracture

proteins intact,
one layer or other
two layers look different

Membrane structure
Experiment to determine membrane fluidity:

marked membrane proteins mixed in hybrid cell

Membrane structure
Membrane fluidity
phospholipid f.a. tails: saturation affects fluidity

cholesterol buffers
temperature changes

Membrane structure
fluid mosaic model 1970s
fluid phospholipids move around

mosaic proteins embedded in membrane

Membrane structure
cell membrane amphipathic - hydrophilic & hydrophobic

hydrophilic

hydrophobic
hydrophilic
membrane proteins inserted, also amphipathic

Membrane Proteins
Membrane proteins:
Integral: inserted in membrane
- transmembrane span
membrane

Peripheral: next to membrane

- inside or outside

Membrane structure
Two transmembrane proteins: different structure

Bacteriorhodopsin: proton pump

Bacterial pore protein

Membrane Proteins

Movement of molecules

Simple Diffusion: most basic

force to move molecules

Disperse until concentration equal in all areas

Movement of molecules
Cell membranes only allow some molecules across w/out help:

Small, non-polar molecules OK

ex. steroids, O2, CO2
No charged, polar, or large molecules
ex. sugars, ions, water*

Transport Across Membranes

Types of transport:
A. Passive transport
- Simple diffusion
- Facilitated diffusion
- Osmosis

B. Active transport
C. Bulk transport
Energy Required?
Directionality?

Passive Transport - Simple Diffusion

NO ENERGY required
DOWN concentration gradient

molecules
equally distribute
across available
area by type

- non-polar molecules
(steroids, O2, CO2)

Passive Transport Facilitated Diffusion

NO ENERGY required
DOWN concentration gradient

molecules equally distribute but cross membrane

with the help of a channel (a) or carrier (b) protein.

Passive Transport - Osmosis

osmosis movement
of water across cell
membrane

water crosses cell

membranes via
special channels
called aquaporins

moves into/out of cell until

solute concentration is balanced

Passive Transport - Osmosis

In each situation below, does water have net
movement, and which direction:
fewer solutes in
solution, than in cell

equal solutes in
solution as in cell

more solutes in
solution, than in cell

Passive Transport - Osmosis

tonicity # solutes in solution in relation to cell

- hypotonic fewer
solutes in solution

- isotonic equal
solutes in solution

animal cell

- hypertonic more
solutes in solution
plant cell

Passive Transport - Osmosis

Paramecium example
regulate water balance
pond water hypotonic
water into contractile
vacuole
water
expelled

Passive Transport - Osmosis

Scenario: in movie theater, watching a long movie.
You are: drinking water
What happens to your
blood?

You are: eating popcorn

What happens to your
blood?