Factors Affecting the Integrity of Cell Membranes

Group 1 - Lorenzo Daniel L. Antonio, Paolo Carlo Calalang, Timothy Carandang, Oneil Joshua Calderon, MHAB1

Submitted to: Maam Elena M. Ragragio Submitted: September 20, 2012 Introduction Osmosis refers to the movement of materials through a membrane along a concentration agent. Cell membrane, thus, plays a key role in maintaining balance of movement in and out of the cell. But this does not happen all of the time. Cell membrane is not resistant to sudden changes that may affect its integrity. Factors that can affect cell membranes permeability are temperature, presence of organic solvent, and pH effects. Objectives 1. To determine some factors that affect the permeability of cell membranes Hypothesis 1. Temperature increase will increase cell membranes permeability so much as to inflict damage on the cell membrane; 2. Presence of organic solvents will also increase cell membranes permeability. 3. Deviation from cells normal pH will also increase cell membranes permeability. Methodology Materials: Sugar beets Razor blade Distilled water Water bath Spatula Beaker Procedure: Peels were obtained from sugar beet and put in the beaker with distilled water by a spatula. Seven separate sections of these peels were made. Three sections were then placed in three test tubes each with 10 ml distilled water and were labeled A, B, and C. These test tubes were subjugated under different temperature levels. The tubes were observed and occasionally stirred for 30 minutes.

1. Test tube A under room temperature 2. Test tube B under refrigerator temperature 3. Test tube C under 60C After 3o minutes, the sugar beet peels were removed with forceps and put in wet mount. Each slide was examined under the microscope. Color intensities were compared by +, ++, and +++ The remaining four sections were mounted in separate slides and labeled D, E, F, and G and were examined under the microscope. 1. D - with 50% chloroform 2. E with a drop of 50% acetone 3. F 0.1 NaOH 4. G - 0.1M HCl Observations made after 15 minutes and 30 minutes were separately made.

Results Test Tube A (room temperature) B (refrigerator temperature) C (60 C) D (chloroform) E (acetone) F (1M NaOH) G (1M HCl) Intensity of Color ++ + +++ + + +++ +++

Discussion

Increase in temperature increases the cell permeability because phospholipids and proteins with it, which constitute the cell membrane, breaks down in the presence of heat. This is seen in the results exhibited. Refrigerator temperature had the weakest color intensity among the three controls while temperature of 60C yielded the strong est color intensity because it damaged the cell membrane so much by melting phospholipids and proteins constituting it. Presence of organic solvents increases the cell permeability because of the nature of organic solvents themselves. They are nonpolar. Like molecules interact with other like molecules. This is also the case in the cell membrane. Nonpolar organic solvents interact with the nonpolar phospholipid layer, thus weakening the whole of the cell membrane. Particle size

of organic solvents is small thus making them enter quicker the cell membrane. Also, the more concentrated the organic solvent, the more it makes cell membrane permeable not only because of nonpolar-nonpolar interaction, but also because it increases the osmotic pressure of water. Deviation from cells normal pH changes the proteins orientation and shape, thus leaving holes on the cell membrane. These holes make the cell membrane more permeable.
References J. Mauseth, Botany, 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc., p. 269.