Biological membranes

z Form cell’s boundary

z Divide eukaryotic cells into compartments
(organelles)
Biomembranes z Place of communication and transport between
Structure and function compartments

Biomembrane - composition Biomembranes

z Assembly of a phospholipid bilayer and proteins
embedded in it
z All biomembranes of eukaryotes and eubacteria
have the same phospholipid bilayer structure
z Archebacteria have membranes that are
monolayers but look and behave like bilayers
z Specific function of each membrane depends on
the membrane proteins that are present in that
membrane

Phospholipid bilayer Phospholipid structure

z Built from lipids and steroid derivatives z Glycerol backbone

z Phospholipids = Phosphoglycerides z Connected by
z Phosphoglycerides are main ingredient ester bonds to fatty
z Glycolipids acid chains
z Sphingolipids z Phosphoric acid
z Steroids z Alcohol
z Cholesterol

1
Alcohols Alcohols in biological membranes

z Give a phospholipid its name z Decide about the properties of the phospholipid
z Phosphatydylinositol z When cleaved become important signaling
z Phosphatydylcholine molecules
z Alcohol end is extremely
polar (hydrophilic)
z Form head groups

Fatty acids Fatty acids

z Fatty acid end of a phospholipid molecule is z Double bonds in

strongly nonpolar (hydrophobic) unsaturated fatty acid
z Forms internal tails in the membrane create a bend and
z Usually even number of carbons “loosen up”
membrane packing
z Myristate 14
z Palmitate 16
z Arachidonate 20

Sphingolipids Sphingolipids

z Sphingosine z Glycosphingolipids
(base) backbone z Receptors for viruses
z Amide link to an z Sphingomyelins
additional fatty acid z Signaling molecules
chain
z Ether link to sugars
or phosphoric acid
and alcohol

2
Sterols Cholesterol
z Another class of z Hydroxyl group can interact with water what
membrane lipids makes the molecule amphipathic
z All have four z Cholesterol is very abundant and necessary in
hydrocarbon rings membranes of eukaryotic cells
z Cholesterol has a
hydroxyl substituent
on one ring

How do the phospholipid bilayers

Phospholipid bilayer form?

z In a bilayer z Driving force are hydrophobic interactions

z Fatty acid tails point inward
z Alcohol heads point outward
z Each phospholipid layer is called a leaflet
z Leaflets are different in composition
between the fatty acid chains of phospholipids
and glycolipids molecules
z Hydrogen bonds between polar groups stabilize
the bilayer
z Phospholipids in biological membranes are
synthesized in 2-step enzymatic reaction

Synthesis of membrane lipids Synthesis of membrane lipids

1. Two fatty acids are added to glycerol 3-

phosphate to produce phosphatidic acid (acyl
transferases)
2. Phosphatase and phosphotransferase attach
head groups

This step enlarges lipid bilayer

This step determines the chemical nature of the bilayer

3
Physical properties of the
phospholipid bilayer
z Highly dynamic
z Lateral mobility
z Flipping between leaflets
z Imperfectly packed fatty
acid chains (double bonds
in fatty acid chains) are
responsible for membrane
permeability
Phospholipid bilayer
z Spontaneously assemble
to form closed bilayers
z Phospholipid bilayers
spontaneously seal to form
closed compartments
z The two faces of a
membrane (cytosolic and exoplasmic) are
asymmetrical in lipid and protein composition
Functions of membrane proteins
z Transport of nutrients
z Passage of water
z Selective transport of molecules (keep the
unwanted molecules out, secrete metabolic
byproducts)
z Maintenance of proper ionic composition inside
the cell
Physical properties of the phospholipid
bilayer (not a biological membrane)
z High electrical resistance
z Impermeable to ions
z Permeable to gases and small lipid soluble
molecules
z Slightly permeable to water
z Ability to self seal (always form closed
compartments)
Membrane proteins
z Each cell membrane has a set of specific
membrane proteins
z Membrane proteins allow the membrane to carry
out its distinctive functions
z Are either integral (intrinsic) or peripheral
Functions of membrane proteins
z Reception of signals from the extracellular
environment
z Expression of cell identity
z Physical and functional connection with other
cells or the extracellular matrix (in multicellular
organisms)
4
 Examples of intrinsic membrane
Integral (intrinsic) membrane proteins proteins

z Cross the bilayer (transmembrane) z Glycophorin: single transmembrane

z Transmembrane segment is usually α helix domain protein
z A segment of 25 hydrophobic residues
z Examples: G protein coupled receptors, ion
channels, pumps, transporters z Bacteriorhodopsin:
multiple
transmembrane
domains protein

Peripheral membrane proteins Asymmetry of the membrane

z Do not interact with hydrophobic
core of the bilayer
z Are associated with membranes
through
z Lipid anchors
z Interactions with bilayer
(but not complete crossing)
z Or contact with integral membrane
proteins
z The two faces of a membrane are asymmetrical
in lipid and protein composition
z All integral and membrane bound proteins are
distributed asymmetrically
z Each protein has a single, specific orientation
with respect to cytosolic and exoplasmic faces of
the membrane
z Glycolipids are located exclusively on the
exoplasmic leaflet

Lipid bilayer is a fluid Lateral mobility in biomembranes

z Both lipids and integral membrane proteins can z Mobility (diffusion) of a given membrane
move laterally within the membrane components depends on:
z Can also flip-flop between leaflets z Lipid composition (tails, cholesterol)
z The size of the molecule
z Its interactions with other molecules
z Temperature
• Temperature “melts”
the membrane

5
Plasma membranes have different
protein:lipid ratio
z !!!Protein:lipid ratio in the membrane depends on
the function
z Mitochondrial membrane is 76% protein (has
many transporters and enzymes)
z Myelin (Schwann cell) membrane has 18%
protein (phospholipids are great insulators)
Summary
z Biomembrane is an assembly of phospholipid
bilayer and proteins
z Phospholipid bilayer is responsible for structural
features
z Biological membranes contain both integral or
peripheral membrane proteins
z Membrane proteins are responsible for specific
function of each membrane
z Membranes spontaneously assemble to form
bilayers and closed compartments