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3 days ago · The cell membrane, therefore, has two functions: first, to be a barrier keeping the constituents of the cell in and unwanted substances out and, second, to be a gate allowing transport into the cell of essential nutrients and movement from the cell of waste products.
- Roderick MacKinnon
Roderick MacKinnon is an American doctor, corecipient of the...
- Second Messenger
second messenger, molecule inside cells that acts to...
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- Intrinsic Protein
In cell: Membrane proteins …type of protein, called the...
- Endocytosis
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- Ion Channel
ion channel, protein expressed by virtually all living cells...
- Sterols
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- Roderick MacKinnon
A cell’s plasma membrane, also called the cell membrane, defines the boundary of the cell and determines the nature of its contact with the environment. Cells exclude some substances, take in others, and excrete still others, all in controlled quantities.
Thumbnail: The cell membrane, also called the plasma membrane or plasmalemma, is a semipermeable lipid bilayer common to all living cells. It contains a variety of biological molecules, primarily proteins and lipids, which are involved in a vast array of cellular processes.
- Definition
- Function of The Cell Membrane
- Phospholipid Bilayer
The cell membrane, also known as the plasma membrane, is a double layer of lipids and proteins that surrounds a cell. It separates the cytoplasm (the contents of the cell) from the external environment. It is a feature of all cells, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic.
The cell membrane gives the cell its structure and regulates the materials that enter and leave the cell. It is a selectively permeable barrier, meaning it allows some substances to cross, but not others. Like a drawbridge intended to protect a castle and keep out enemies, the cell membrane only allows certain molecules to enter or exit.
The cell membrane is made up of a phospholipid bilayer. Phospholipids are lipid molecules made up of a phosphate group head and two fatty acid tails. Importantly, the properties of phospholipid molecules allow them to spontaneously form a double-layered membrane. The phosphate group head of a phospholipid is hydrophilic, whereas the phospholipid ta...
Feb 2, 2023 · What is a cell (plasma) membrane and what it does in a cell: its facts, analogy, composition, location, & functions described using examples & labeled picture.
Learning Goals. List the four primary features of a biological membrane and explain why they are important for cellular function. Explain how the chemical composition of a membrane (including lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins) contributes to its function.
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2 days ago · It also provides a fixed environment inside the cell. And that membrane has several different functions. One is to transport nutrients into the cell and also to transport toxic substances out of the cell. Another is that the membrane of the cell, which would be the plasma membrane, will have proteins on it which interact with other cells.
