![]() The plasma membrane is an important part of a cell, as it provides it with protection and also helps in maintaining a proper shape. Proteins which compose (or get embedded in) the membrane carry out the diffusion of elements in a selective manner. The plant cell membranes enjoy extra protection in the form of cell walls however, in animals, cell membrane is the only covering/encapsulation. Not just supporting the matter present in cells, but also the function of maintaining contact with other cells is carried out by the cell membrane. The contents of a cell are supported by this membrane. The process of the fusion of cell membrane with intracellular vesicles results into excretion of contents present in vesicles.ĭemarcating the boundaries of a cell is the primary function of plasma membrane. Different mechanisms carry out the function of incorporation and removal of materials into and out of the membrane. Proteins and lipids are important components which form the cell membrane. Cytoskeleton also helps in anchoring the membrane proteins to the cell membrane. The framework or cytoskeleton proves to be useful in the processes of organelles like cilia. Surface of the cell membrane on the side of cytoplasm is lined by the cytoskeleton. The hydrogen bonds of these peripheral proteins are formed of hydrophilic phospholipid heads which form the bilayer. These proteins are attached/bound to the surface of the membrane by means of hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. Examples of these structures include the cadherins, integrins, clathrin-coated pits, desmosomes, caveoles, etc. These proteins are present on the entire/whole surface of the cell membrane. Fluorescence and electron microscopy can be used in viewing these proteins. These are structures present on the inside, outside, and also throughout the cell membrane. Following are the various parts of the cell membrane. ![]() This peculiar arrangement of hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers doesn’t allow nucleic acids, amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and ions to pass through the bilayer. Forces underlying the formation of this bilayer are electrostatic, van der Waals, non-covalent interactions, and hydrogen bonds. The (hydrophobic) tails of these phospholipids face each other. The bilayer is formed by the arrangement of phospholipids in a manner that their head regions (which are hydrophilic) face external environment as well as the internal cytosolic environment. ![]() The cell membrane is made up of two layers that are composed of phospholipids. This description about cell membrane structure and functions should help in understanding the working in a better manner. Information pertaining to the function of the cell membrane and its structure is presented in the following paragraphs. Most of the research carried out for the purpose of studying cell membrane structure makes use of red blood cells (RBCs), as the absence of internal membranes and nuclei in RBCs results into the isolation process being carried out quite easily. ![]() The characteristic feature of this organelle is that it allows only certain substances to pass through. Images obtained through electron micrography reveal the bilayer structure of cell membranes. This organelle is also referred to as plasma membrane. In plant cells, the membrane encapsulates the protoplasm. Cell membrane is a protective covering that acts as a barrier between the inner and outer environment of a cell (in animals). ![]()
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