The cell membrane is a thin semi-permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm. It is composed of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates arranged in a fluid mosaic structure. The membrane regulates what enters and exits the cell through diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport, endocytosis, and exocytosis. Membrane proteins carry out important functions like transport, signaling, enzyme activity, and attaching to cytoskeleton. Dysfunctions of ion channels and receptors in the membrane can cause various disorders. Many drugs like local anesthetics, antimicrobials, and antifungals act by disrupting the structure and function of the cell membrane.
9. History
• 1895-Charles Ernest Overton- layers surrounding cells are
”lipoids” made of lipids and cholesterol
• 1925-Gorter and Grendel proposed lipid bilayer model of cell
membrane
• 1935-Danielli and Davson earliest molecular model of
biomembranes including proteins with lipids.
• 1958-Robertsons says two protein layers are adsorbed to lipid
bilayer. All membrane have same composition.
• 1972- The Fluid Mosaic Model of Singer and Nicolson.
• 1984-The Mattress Model by Mouritsen and Bloom.
13. Lipid composition varies across the two leaflets of
the same membrane
Changes in distribution
have biological
consequences
Platelet is able to play
its role in clot
formation only when
phosphatidylserine
moves to outer leaflet.
Phosphatidylserine
exposure also act as
marker for programmed
cell death
16. • Important for exocytosis and endocytosis
• For membrane biogenesis
Factors altering fluidity
• Temperature ↑….. Fluidity
• Cholesterol content ↑….. Fluidity
16
Role of Fluidity of membrane
18. 18
More than lipids…
In 1972, S.J. Singer & G. Nicolson
proposed that membrane proteins are
inserted into the phospholipid bilayer
It’s like a fluid…
It’s like a mosaic…
It’s the
Fluid Mosaic Model!
19. Membrane is a collage of proteins & other
molecules embedded in the fluid matrix of the
lipid bilayer
Extracellular fluid
Cholesterol
Cytoplasm
Glycolipid
Transmembrane
proteins
Filaments of
cytoskeleton
Peripheral
protein
Glycoprotein
Phospholipids
20. Membrane proteins
• Classified depending on
type of interaction with
bilayer.
i. Integral membrane
proteins- pass through
bilayer
ii. Peripheral membrane
proteins- associate with
bilayer by non-covalent
interactions
iii. Lipid-anchored proteins.
21. Lipid-anchored membrane proteins
• Covalently linked to
membrane by short
oligosachharide linked to a
molecule of GPI embedded on
outer leaflet.
• Example –Scrapie protein PrPc
• Some linked to inner leaflet
like Ras and Src proteins have
been implicated in
transformation of normal cell
to malignant cell.
22. Lipid-anchored membrane proteins
• One of protein is responsible for
sleeping sickness.
• Protozoan parasite carried by
tsetse flies survives in blood by
virtue of dense cell surface coat
made of a GPI anchored
glycoprotein.(Eg- Transamidase
complex)
• Several hundreds of glycoprotein
variants to invade host immune
system. Trypanosome brucie
23. Six major functions of membrane proteins
Transport Enzymatic activity Signal transduction
Cell-cell recognition Intercellular joining Attachment to the
cytoskeleton ECM
24. • Mechanical structure – maintain the physical integrity of cell
and hold the cytoskeleton in place.
• Selective permeability – Gases, hydrophobic and small non
polar molecules can easily pass through it.
• Transport – certain molecules pass through passively other
need various transporters.
• Markers and signalling – some surface proteins act as cell
marker and helps in cell signalling.
functions of cell membrane
26. Diffusion
2nd Law of Thermodynamics
governs biological systems
universe tends towards disorder (entropy)
Diffusion
movement from high low concentration
27. Diffusion
Move from HIGH to LOW concentration
“passive transport”
no energy needed
diffusion osmosis
movement of water
28. Diffusion across cell membrane
Cell membrane is the boundary between
inside & outside…
separates cell from its environment
IN
food
carbohydrates
sugars, proteins
amino acids
lipids
salts, O2, H2O
OUT
waste
ammonia
salts
CO2
H2O
products
IN
OUT
29. Diffusion through phospholipid bilayer
What molecules can get through directly?
fats & other lipids
inside cell
outside cell
lipid
salt
aa H2Osugar
NH3
What molecules can
NOT get through
directly?
polar molecules
H2O
ions
salts, ammonia
large molecules
starches, proteins
30. Factors affecting rate of diffusion
•Temperature- Higher temperature → diffuse faster
•Surface area- Larger surface area → diffuse faster
•Concentration gradient- Higher gradient→ diffuse
faster
•Size of particles- smaller particles → diffuse faster
•Diffusion medium-
• Solid → slowest
• Liquid → faster
• Gas → fastest
31. Channels through cell membrane
Membrane becomes semi-permeable
with protein channels
specific channels allow specific material
across cell membrane
inside cell
outside cell
sugaraaH2O
saltNH3
32. Facilitated Diffusion
Diffusion through protein channels
channels move specific molecules across
cell membrane
no energy needed
open channel = fast transport
facilitated = with help
high
low
33. Active Transport
conformational change
Cells may need to move molecules against
concentration gradient
shape change transports solute from
one side of membrane to other
protein “pump”
“costs” energy = ATP
ATP
low
high
35. How about large molecules?
Moving large molecules into & out of cell
through vesicles & vacuoles
endocytosis
phagocytosis = “cellular eating”
pinocytosis = “cellular drinking”
exocytosis
exocytosis
38. Osmosis is diffusion of water
Water is very important to life,
Diffusion of water from
high concentration of water to
low concentration of water
across a
semi-permeable
membrane
39. Concentration of water
Direction of osmosis is determined by
comparing total solute concentrations
Hypertonic - more solute, less water
Hypotonic - less solute, more water
Isotonic - equal solute, equal water
hypotonic hypertonic
water
net movement of water
44. Ligand gated Ion channels
are molecules that act
like keys that fit certain binding
pockets or locks on the receptor.
Activated or turned
on by
Cell membrane
47. G protein Effector pathway Substrates
Gs Adenylyl cyclase Beta-receptors,
H2, D1,serotonin
Gi Adenylyl cyclase Muscarinic M2
D2, alpha-2,opioid
Gq Phospholipase C Alph-1, AT1, M1,
M3
Go Ca++ channel K+ channel in
heart, SM
G-protein coupled receptors
48. g
b
a
G-protein coupled receptors
Cell membrane
• G-protein composed of one
alpha, beta, and gamma subunit
• 2 primary signaling cascades:
cAMP or phosphatidylinositol
pathways
• Pathway activated depends on
alpha subunit type
• (Gαs, Gαi/o, Gαq/11,
Gα12/13)
• GDP bound to a when
g
b
a
49. g
b
a
G-protein coupled receptors
Cell membrane
• When a ligand binds, the receptor changes
conformation, allowing G-protein to be
activated (GDP is exchanged for GTP)
• G-protein dissociates from receptor then
subunits from each other.
GTP
a
GTP
52. g
b
a
Phosphatidylinositol pathway
GTP
a
GTP
• Gαq/11 binds to Phospholipase C (PLC)
and catalyzes the cleavage of
phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate
(PIP2) into the second messengers
inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate (IP3) and
diacylglycerol (DAG).
P
P
P
To sarcoplasmic
68. Integrins
a b
• Join the cytoskeleton on
the inside of the cell to the
extracellular matrix on the
outside.
• Heterodimers of alpha and
beta subunits
Cell membrane
76. Polymyxin B & Colistin
• They are active against gram-negative bacteria only.
• Colistin is more potent on Pseudomonas, Salmonella
and Shigella.
• Rapidly acting bactericidal agents
• They have high affinity for phospholipids: the peptide
molecules (or their aggregates) orient between the
phospholipid and protein films in gram-negative
bacterial cell membrane causing membrane
distortion or pseudopore formation →ions, amino
acids, etc. leak out.
77. • Given orally, side effects are limited to the g.i.t.
• Systemic toxicity of these drugs (when injected) is
high: flushing and paresthesias (due to liberation of
histamine from mast cells), marked kidney damage,
neurological disturbances, neuromuscular blockade.
• Uses: skin infections, burns, otitis externa,
conjunctivitis, corneal ulcer—caused by gram-
negative bacteria including Pseudomonas.
• Gram-negative bacillary (E. coli, Salmonella,
Shigella) diarrhoeas, especially in infants and children
78. Daptomycin
• Lipopeptide antibiotic used in the treatment of
systemic and life-threatening infections caused by
Gram-positive organisms
• Inserts into the cell membrane →aggregates → alters
the curvature of the membrane → creates holes that
leak ions → rapid depolarization → loss of
membrane potential → inhibition of protein, DNA,
and RNA synthesis → bacterial cell death.
• Use: Skin and skin structure infections, MRSA
• Dose: 4 mg/kg IV
-Cell membrane or plasma membrane or plasmalemma or cytoplasmic membrane
10nm thick
Plants have cell walls made up of cellulose which function in the support and protection of the cell.
Animals have only cell membranes made up of phospholipid bilayer and protein which protects and hold together the cell and its parts, it does not need to provide the support that plant cell was provide because animals have other forms of support ( i.e. exoskeletons and endoskeletons) and the lack of the cell wall allows for increased flexibility and advanced cell/tissue specialization, which plants cannot achieve.
Bacterial cell walls are made up of peptidoglycan and provide support for the cells much like plant cell walls.
Fungal cell membrane
Memb lipids are amphipathic
Cell membrane is Asymmetric because-
Phospholipids in outer and inner leaflets are different
Proteins are also slightly different in outer & inner leaflet
Carbohydrate mainly on outer leaflets
Cholesterol molecules- Mobile
Polar end towards cell membrane
Speed of Lateral movement 107 /second
Flip flop – once in a month
There is no hole in the cell membrane
GPI- Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Anchor
Src family kinase is a family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases
cell needs materials in & products or waste out
Stereospecific
e.g transport of glucose by insulin by glucose transport
Hormone release from glands, neurotransmitters release
Ligands- substances which binds to receptors.. Hormone, NT, Drugs, toxins
Macromolecule to which a particular ligand binds and receptor undergo some transformational changes show biological actions.
Epinephrine- 1st messenger
C AMP 2nd messenger
PK A- phosphorylation of enzymes, transcription factors, ion channels
Gi binds to K Channels
Clinical significance: Pertusis, Cholera
PDE inhibitors and caffeine
Antagonist: Atropine, scopolamine, pirenzepine
Non selective alpha blocker- phenoxybenzamine, phentolamine
Aplfa1 selective- prazosin, terazosin, doxazosin
Alfa2 selective- Yohimbine
D Receptors- tell about Parkinsons disease
GABA B Agonist- Baclofen
GABA B antagonist – Sclofen
TSH mutant rece- follicular adenoma
LH R dysfunction- precocious puberty
We will see signaling in one pass receptors
The first drug licensed to act on this pathway is sorafenib — a Raf kinase inhibitor.
Grb2- Growth factor receptor-bound protein2
SOS- Sons of seven protein
Ras- H-ras and K-ras Harvey and Kirsten sarcoma virus first identified in rats
STAT= Signal transducer and activator of transcription
TGF-Beta
BMP
Ligands in ECM – collagen, fibronectin, and laminin
Important for cellular processes including: cell adhesion, cell migration, signal transduction, and cell growth/death
Ligands include: Lipopolysaccharide, double-stranded RNA, flagellin, heat shock proteins
Important for the innate immune response to bacterial and viral stimuli.
Prostaglandins (PGs) and Leukotrienes (LTs) and PAF are
biologically active derivatives of 20 carbon atom
polyunsaturated essential fatty acids that are
released from cell membrane phospholipids. They
are the major lipid derived autacoids.
The dibucaine number (DN) is the percent of pseudocholinesterase (PChE) enzyme activity that is inhibited by dibucaine. Together, the DN and the PChE enzyme activity results can help to identify individuals at risk for prolonged paralysis following the administration of succinylcholine.
They are useful for tachycardias and re entrants arrhythmias
They exhibit synergism with many other AMAs by
improving their penetration into the bacterial cell.