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Lecture notes

HKDSE Biology Cell membrane notes

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Summary of everything you need to know about the cell membrane, including its structure and properties. Point form, easy to read with useful tables and diagrams, with relevant practicals included. Written by a 6 year DGS full scholarship recipient

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Cell membrane
- differentially permeable
- made up of phospholipids + proteins


Fluid mosaic model
proposed by Singer and Nicolson (1972)




phosphate heads X widely separated/touch each other
draw + label: transmembrane protein + glycoprotein
add suitable title below diagram

phospholipids proteins

- arranged in a bilayer - interspersed among the
- constant lateral motion <fluid> phospholipid molecules in mosaic
drift among same layer/plane (X flip pattern randomly, asymmetrical
flop from 1 layer to another) <mosaic>
relatively weak hydrophobic - attached to surface / embedded
interactions hold membrane half-way / span entire layer
molecules in place transmembrane
X fixed position - carbohydrates attached >
glycoproteins
Structure
- arranged in a bilayer Channel proteins
- hydrophilic head - fixed channel size
- polar1 phosphate group - for certain substances eg. ions
- glycerol - passive transport: X energy slow
point outwards in contact with (aq) rate
solutions inside CYTOPLASM and
outside the cell EXTRACELLULAR Carrier proteins/ protein pumps
FLUID (tissue fluid) - bind to certain substances eg. sugar
electron micrograph: dark lines - change shape transport to other

1
one of the nucleus attracts the electrons more strongly
small -ve charge and small +ve charge at opposite ends of molecule

, - hydrophobic tail side
- non-polar2 fatty acids - active transport: energy fast rate
point inwards, protected from - against concentration gradient
contacting (aq) environment continue after equilibrium
electron micrograph: lighter region
Receptors ID card scanner
- bind to chemical msgers outside
cells
eg. hormones, neurotransmitters,
insulin (blood glucose regulation)
- relay msg to inside of cells
- may turn on activities in cells

Antigens ID card
- glycoproteins for cell recognition
- self vs foreign antigens
- not attack vs attack

Enzymes
- speed up chemical reactions
eg. breakdown of food substances



Development of discovery of structure of cell membrane
1895 Overton: lipid-soluble substances could penetrate cells easily

1917 Langmuir: major component of CM exhibited both water-loving and water-hating
properties

1925 Gorter + Grendal:
extracted lipids from the CM of red blood cells
spread the lipids in a single layer on a water surface
> area of layer was DOUBLE the surface area of CM
proposed the bilayer model 2 layers of lipids

1935 Davison + Danielli:
scientists observed 2 dark lines in electron micrograph of CM
> thought dark lines = protein layers
proposed the ‘sandwich’ model
phospholipids bilayer sandwiched between 2 layers of proteins3

1972 Singer + Nicolson:
scientists split CM of frozen cell, observed particles on inner surfaces
> suggesting proteins are interspersed among phospholipids
proposed the Fluid Mosaic Model
phospholipid bilayer with protein molecules interspersed in mosaic pattern
NOS
- scientific knowledge is tentative, subject to change
- doing science requires creativity and imagination

2
nuclei attract the electrons equally; molecule has no charged regions
3
those proteins extracted from membrane were mainly hydrophobic; X on surface of membrane in
contact with water

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Uploaded on
March 27, 2025
Number of pages
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Written in
2023/2024
Type
Lecture notes
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