UNIT 1 BIOLOGY
PART 2 – CELL MEMBRANE
AND TRANSPORT
KEY KNOWLEDGE
the structure and function of the
plasma membrane in the
passage of water, hydrophilic and
hydrophobic substances via
osmosis, facilitated diffusion and
active transport
THE
FLUID
MOSAI
C
MODEL
PLASMA
MEMBRANE/ NOTE:
Insoluble = Cannot dissolve in water (like
CELL oil)
MEMBRANE
Definition:
The insoluble boundary of the living cell
that maintains the contents of the cell
and regulates the movement of
substances in and out of the cell.
All cells have a plasma membrane.
PLASMA MEMBRANE :
DIFFERENT TO A CELL WALL
Although all cells have a plasma membrane, only some cells
have a cell wall.
Plants have a cell wall made of cellulose and pectin.
Fungi have a cell wall made of chitin.
Bacteria have a cell wall made of peptidoglycan.
The cell walls are tough and they give strength to
the cells. However they can be described as ‘freely
permeable” because they allow a lot of particles
through.
SELECTIVELY PERMEABLE
Unlike the cell wall, the Plasma
Membrane is described as “selectively
permeable” or “differentially
permeable”.
This is because it allows some
substances through and not others.
HOW DOES THE PLASMA MEMBRANE WORK?
To answer this question we must understand the structure of the
Plasma Membrane.
/ transport
INTEGRAL PROTEINS
Integral proteins are nestled into the phospholipid
bilayer and stick out on either end.
Integral proteins are helpful for transporting larger
molecules, like glucose, across the cell membrane.
They have regions, called “polar” and “nonpolar”
regions, that correspond with the polarity of the
phospholipid bilayer.
D= Carbohydrate
C= Transport
chain
protein
Function= Signal
Function = Transport
cells (cell
macromolecules(larg
A= Phospholipid communication)
e) across membrane
bilayer
Function=
F= Carrier
Diffusion/osmosis
Protein
(regulates what
Function=
enters/leaves the
Transport
cell) and protection
molecules across
cell by having a
shape that
allows other
substances to
bind to it.
E= Membrane/peripheral
B= Cholesterol protein
Function= Make the Function= Membrane
membrane stable stability, molecule transport
and not fall apart assistance and even cell
(keep its fluidity) signalling (if carbohydrate
THE FLUID MOSAIC MODEL
The Plasma membrane is composed of two layers of phospholipids.
This
diagram
represents
one
phospholipi
d molecule.
PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER
PHOSPHOLIPID STRUCTURE
The phospholipid molecule has :
One head, and
Two tails.
The head (phosphate group) is
described as hydrophilic.
This means that the heads are
attracted to water.
The tails (fatty acids) are
described as hydrophobic.
This means that the tails are
repelled by water. This is why
the tails face inwards, away from
the watery environment of the
cell.
The two layers of the
phospholipid molecules form
the basis of the plasma
membrane structure and
give it its name:
FLUID MOSAIC MODEL
The phospholipid molecules are capable
of sideways movement. This movement is
described as “Fluid” and forms part of the
name of the membrane structure model.
There are also other molecules embedded
in the bilayer structure such as proteins.
These molecules form a pattern, hence
the rest of the name; “mosaic”.
RECAP- USING YOUR WHITE
BOARDS
Recap from last lesson
Q1. Draw a phospholipid and label it.
Present to teacher once the class is ready.
Q2. Draw the phospholipid bilayer. Present
to teacher once the class is ready.
Q3. Draw the cell membrane and label it.
Present to teacher once the class is ready.
Q4. Draw Miss Barbante’s dog Harper.
Present to teacher once the class is ready.
APPLICATION OF
KNOWLEDGE QUESTION
Think question:
There is fluid inside and outside the cell.
Why are the fatty acid tails inside the cell membrane not on the
outside?
