Membranes

• Compartmentalisation = formation of separate membrane-bound areas in a cell
• Compartmentalisation is vital for:

  • metabolism (includes many different and incompatible reactions)
  • containing different reactions that require specific conditions
  • protects vital cell components
• Membranes are formed from a phospholipid bilayer.
• Phospholipid bilayers are suited as membranes because cells normally exist in aqueous environments so their hydrophilic phosphate heads can interact with water and protect their hydrophobic tails.