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3 Membrane Structure
Essential Idea: The structure of biological membranes makes them
fluid and dynamic.

Phospholipid Bilayers
-Phospholipids form bilayers in water due to the amphipathic properties of
phospholipid molecules
-amphipathic substances contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic
properties
-Hydrophilic part of a phospholipid is the phosphate group
-Hydrophobic part of a phospholipid consists of 2 hydrocarbon chains
-Because of their polar nature, phospholipids become arranged into double
layers when mixed with water
-This stable structure forms the basis of cell membranes

Membrane Proteins
-Membrane proteins are diverse in terms of structure, location, and function
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Hormone binding sites (receptors)

Immobilized enzymes with active sites facing outside
Cell adhesion to form tight junctions
Cell to cell communication
Channels for passage
Pumps for active transport

2 Groups of Membrane Proteins:

-Integral proteins have hydrophobic sections and are embedded in the
membrane
-many are transmembrane, and extend across the membrane

-Peripheral proteins are hydrophilic

-most are attached to the surface of integral proteins
-some have a hydrocarbon chain anchoring them to the membrane
-The protein content of membranes is variable because the function of the
membrane varies

Can you determine which ones are integral proteins and which ones are
peripheral proteins?
Cholesterol in Membranes
-Cholesterol is a type of lipid that belongs to a group called steroids
-Most of a cholesterol molecule is hydrophobic, so it is attached to the
hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails
-One end is attracted to the phosphate head

Fluid Mosaic Model

-Membranes are in constant motion
-Components move freely
-Fluidity needs to be carefully controlled
-Cholesterol disrupts the regular packing of phospholipids, preventing solid
behaviour
-Inversely, cholesterol also restricts molecular motion and therefore the
fluidity of a membrane
-At high temperatures, it stabilizes membrane and raises its melting point,
restricts membrane fluidity
-At low temperatures, it intercalates between the phospholipids and prevents
them from clustering together and stiffening

Davson-Danielli Model
-Sandwich model where layer of proteins is adjacent to phospholipid bilayer
to explain membrane integrity

Disproved by:
-Freeze-etched electron micrograph
-rapid freezing and fracturing along the center of membrane, revealing
globular transmembrane proteins

-Structure of membrane proteins

-proteins were found to be varied in size

-Fluorescent antibody tagging

-red and green markers were attached to membrane proteins
-after a few minutes the markers were mixed (due to constant motion)