Give an account of the structure and properties of Biological membranes. Include details of the modifications of membrane structure found in different specialised cells and organelles½
The Fluid Mosaic model was codified by Singer and Nicolson in 1972. It describes the structure and properties of the cell membrane very simply. Every membrane consists of a Phospholipid bilayer. This is simply two layers of phospholipid molecules that come together due to their unique properties.
The heads of the phospholipids are hydrophilic and the tails, hydrophobic. This structure means that the membrane forms quickly, is very strong, but also gives it the property of fluidity as the phospholipids can diffuse freely laterally and flow past each other. Fatty acids in the membrane can lower melting point which will increase the fluidity of the membrane.
Scattered in amongst the phospholipids are protein molecules. These are what give the membrane its mosaic appearance. These proteins can act as channels allowing ions to travel across the membrane. They do this by either only allowing certain shaped molecules to pass through them or they actively transport molecules wit the help of ATP. These structures give the membrane the property of being differentially permeable and so can control what passes across it into and out of the cell.
The Essay on Cell Structures: Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Cells
Bacterial cells are Prokaryotic cells. These cells have several internal structures and surface structures. The cell walls are of two types, gram positive and gram negative. Out of all the structures, the two selected structures are the cell- wall and endospores. The cell- wall of bacterial cells is found in three distinct shapes such as spherical, spiral and rod shaped. The cell wall of the ...
Modifications :
There are a number of modifications made to the cell surface membrane to cope with the jobs it is required to perform in different organisms. In neurones, the proteins in the fluid mosaic are adapted to pump sodium Na ions out of the cell and potassium ions in. These ions create a concentration gradient which will incur either a resting potential or an action potential thus sending a message down the neurone. Another adaption to the membrane occurs in the nephron. The loop of henle has proteins in the membrane which pump out, by means of active transport, ions to suck out the water from the urea to retain it.
This countercurrent system would be impossible without the specialised proteins and water channels in the membrane of the loop of Henle. Also, in the membrane for the Collecting Duct and Distal Proximal Tubule there are receptors for the hormone ADH. This is vital to the workings of the kidney as it is a means of controling how much water is retained or allowed to stay in the urea and so be excreted from the body. ADH controls the opening of ionic protein channels to let water move out into the medulla.
