--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

Constituents of cell membrane

What are the fundamental constituents of cell membrane?

E

Expert

Verified

The cell membrane is made up of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins. The membrane lipids are phospholipids, a special kind of lipid to which one extremity a phosphate group is bound therefore assigning electrical charge to this area of the molecule. As phospholipids contain one electrically charged extremity and a long neutral organic chain they can systematize themselves in two layers of related molecules: the hydrophilic part (or polar) of each layer faces outwards in contact with water (that is, a polar molecule too) of the extracellular and intracellular space and the hydrophobic chains (that is, non-polar) face inwards isolated from the water. Since this kind of membrane is made up of two phospolipid layers it is also termed as a bilipid membrane.

Membrane proteins are embedded and scattered in the compact bilipid structure. Carbohydrates emerge in the outer surface of the membrane related to certain of such proteins under the form of glycol-proteins or bound to phospholipids making glycolipids. The membrane carbohydrates make the glycocalix of the membrane.

This explanation (with additional explanations) is termed as the fluid mosaic model regarding the structure of the cell membrane.

   Related Questions in Biology

  • Q : Tubular secretion What is meant by the

    What is meant by the tubular secretion? Write some of the examples of substances released through the renal tubules?

    		•
  • Q : Implications for Management What are

    What are the implications of management in Creative industry ?  

    		•
  • Q : Describe bone matrix-main components

    Describe briefly the term bone matrix? And also write down its main components?

    		•
  • Q : Define the term cellular regeneration

    Define the term cellular regeneration? How is mitosis associated to this process?

    		•
  • Q : Physiological reason of syndrome

    What is the physiological reason of the syndrome acknowledged as cretinism?

    		•
  • Q : Research on Organizational Behavior

    With the availability of computer technology, thousands of research studies relating to management and organizational behavior are conducted all over the globe. The internet, intranet, websites and electronic data collection have considerably facilitated the conduct of research. Theory building a

    		•
  • Q : Managing in Global Economy -

    This poses many challenges and opportunities. For example, at a macro level, property ownership arrangements vary widely in different countries. So does the availability of natural resources and components of the infrastructure, as well as the role of government in business. For our purposes, a v

    		•
  • Q : What is hematosis What do you mean by

    What do you mean by the hematosis? Where does hematosis occur within human?

    		•
  • Q : Disadvantages of Equity Motivation -

    1)     Is a given factor and input or an outcome? For example, "responsibility" is viewed by some as input and as output by others. 2)     How does a person choose (or change) the comparison other? 3)     Under what circu

    		•
  • Q : Official name of the term pyruvic acid

    Write down the official name of the term pyruvic acid.

    		•