Structure

• The phospholipids form a bilayer. Cells have an aqueous solution both outside (extracellular fluid) and inside (cytoplasm).
• The hydrophilic heads of the phospholipid face the external environment on the outside, and the cytoplasm on the inside.
• The hydrophobic tails are folded into the membrane, protected from water.
• The fluid mosaic model describes cell membrane structure:

  • Mosaic. Proteins and other molecules (e.g. cholesterol) are embedded within the cell membranes.
  • Fluid. The phospholipids are responsible for the fluidity since they themselves are constantly moving around the cell/organelle.
• Proteins can be fluid or stationary. While the cellular membrane itself is fluid in its nature, proteins in the membrane can either be fluid or stationary.
• Fluid proteins are present all around the cell. Fluid proteins are proteins that are typically needed at all points of the circumference of the cell. They can move sideways across the bilayer.
• Stationary proteins are anchored to a particular position. Stationary proteins are anchored into a particular location where it will serve its purpose. This is often the case with many types of receptor proteins and transport proteins.
• Structure of the membrane:

  A) Extrinsic proteins

  B) Intrinsic protein

  C) Cholesterol

  D) Channel protein

  E) Phospholipid bilayer

  F) fibrous glycoprotein

  G) Glycoprotein - protein with carbohydrate group

  H) Glycolipid - lipid with carbohydrate group