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Membranes differ in type but they are all fundamentally made up of phospholipids and work on the principle of self assembly through hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions with water.
A phospholipid is a molecule that has a charged (or polar) head group that includes phosphate ions (hence the phospho.. bit). These head groups are polar in the same way that water molecules are polar, hence the head groups are attracted to water (hydrophilic).
The tail of a phospholipid is made up of one or two long hydrocarbon chains which are not polar, and hence repel water and attract to themselves (hydrophobic).
So a phospholipid is ambiphilic, ie. simulatenously hydrophobic and hydrophilic.
If I were to draw it @ = headgroup I = hydrocarbon chain
@
II
If you put a large concentration of these molecules in water, the tails will clump together and the polar head groups will point outwards facing the water. A membrane is therefore a double layered sheet of phosholipids that self assemble into double layered membranes:
(water)
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
(water)
these membranes can then have membrane proteins spanning the membrane to act as gateways in and out of the cell. For example KCSA is a potassium ion channel used during nerve signalling.
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∙ 14y ago
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∙ 12y agoWiki User
∙ 13y agoThe plasma membrane in a cell consists of glucose molecutes, phosolipids, cholesterol, and carbohydrates. Phosolipids have two fatty acid molecules and a phosophate group.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoLipids
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What is the main role for proteins?
Intrinsic proteins are the integral proteins inside the plasma membrane, or phospholipid bilayer, of a cell. The reason they are called intrinsic is because they cannot be released unless the membrane is disrupted.
What are the three main part of a cell?
A cell consists of three main parts---the nucleus, the cell "stuff" called cytoplasm, and the outer cell membrane.
What describes the major role of lipids within a cell?
They are the main structural components of membranes
The main structural component of plant cell walls is?
cellulose
Does the cell membrane remove waste from the cell?
The cell membrane does not permit waste into the cell. Its main function is to keep the integrity of the cell by letting the waste out of the cell.
Every cell is surrounded by a thin membrane. What is the main function of this cell membrane?
It has a structural function that is to maintain the structural integrity of the cell and prevent all of the intracellular material from being outside.It has a physiologic/biochemical function also, and that is to regulate what enters and leaves the cell (it is semi permeable), and it also has receptors that react with substances and this is how messages are passed to and from cells.
What is the main role for proteins?
Intrinsic proteins are the integral proteins inside the plasma membrane, or phospholipid bilayer, of a cell. The reason they are called intrinsic is because they cannot be released unless the membrane is disrupted.
What are the main functions of the cell membrane and cell wall?
The cell wall and the cell membrane regulate what enters and exits the cell.
What are the three main part of a cell?
A cell consists of three main parts---the nucleus, the cell "stuff" called cytoplasm, and the outer cell membrane.
What is the primary function of the cell wall?
The cell wall is responsible for providing structural support for the cell. It prevents the cell from bursting when excess water enters. Animal cells do not have a cell wall, only a cell membrane. The main function of the cell membrane is to keep substances out of and inside the cell.
What describes the major role of lipids within a cell?
They are the main structural components of membranes
What is one main difference between the cell wall and the cell membrane?
The cell wall is more rigid than the cell membrane.
What are the main cell parts?
Nucleus, cell membrane and protoplasm
Another name for plasma membrane?
A cell membrane is also known as a plasma membrane or cytoplasmic membrane. The cell membrane separates the interior of a cell from its outside environment. The main function of a cell membrane is to protect the cell from its surroundings.
Where is the cell wall in plants found what is its function and what is it made of?
A plant cell wall is found outside the plasma membrane (cell membrane), like a totally porous box. It has many functions, but the main one would be for structural support. It is made, essentially from Glucose. (Though it's bonded together in a slightly different form).
What are the three main parts of cells?
A cell consists of three main parts---the nucleus, the cell "stuff" called cytoplasm, and the outer cell membrane.
The main structural component of plant cell walls is?
cellulose
