Membrane Structure and Function

Eva Socorro Estrada Aranas-Angel, MD, FPSGM

Department of Biochemistry Davao Medical School Foundation

Biomedical Importance


Plasma Membranes selective permeabilities, channels, pumps, cell-cell cellinteractions, trans-membrane signaling transSpecialized Compartments enzymes, excitationexcitation-response coupling, energy transduction

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Compartmentalization of Internal Body Water


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Intracellular Fluid
2/3 of the total body water Provides environment for the cell to - make, store and utilize energy - repair itself - replicate - perform special functions

Extracellular Fluid - 1/3 of total body water

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Ionic Compositions of ICF and ECF

Substance Na+ K+ Ca++ ClHCO3PO4Glucose Protein
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Extracellular 140 4 2.5 100 27 2 5.5 2

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Intracellular 10 mmol/L 140 0.1umol/L 4 10 60 0-1 16 g/dL

Membranes Are Complex Structures

Asymmetric sheet-like enclosed structures with distinct inner and outer surfaces Sheet-like structures are non-covalent assemblies that are thermodynamically stable
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Membranes Are Complex Structures



Major Lipids in Mammalian Membranes

A.
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Phospholipids
More common Consist of glycerol backbone to which are attached two fatty acids in ester linkage and phosphorylated alcohol FA constituents are usually even numbered, 16-18 carbons Unbranched, saturated or unsaturated
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Fatty Acids O II R1-C- O- 1CH2 I R2-C- O- 2CH OI I 3CH2- O-P-O-R3 II O Glycerol Alcohol

Membranes Are Complex Structures



Major Lipids in Mammalian Membranes

A.

Phospholipids Phosphatidic acid is simplest phosphoglyceride 1,2-diacylglycerol 3phosphate, a key intermediate in the formation of all other phosphoglycerides
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Fatty Acids O II R1-C- O- 1CH2 I R2-C- O- 2CH OI I 3CH2- O-P-O-R3 II O Glycerol Alcohol

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Membranes Are Complex Structures



Major Lipids in Mammalian Membranes

B. Glycosphongolipids Sugar containing lipids built on a backbone of ceramide Include galactosyl and glucosyl ceramide (cerebrosides) and the gangliosides
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Membranes Are Complex Structures



Major Lipids in Mammalian Membranes

C. Sterols
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Most common sterol in membranes is cholesterol Intercalates among the phospholipids of the membrane, with its hydroxyl group at the aqueous surface and the remainder of the molecule within the leaflet
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Membranes Are Complex Structures

Membrane Lipids are Amphipathic - Contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic region POLAR

HEAD GROUP

Apolar Hydrocarbon Tails

S
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S S

Membranes Are Complex Structures

Straight tails saturated fatty acids Kinked tails unsaturated fatty acids, make membrane become less compact, more fluid
POLAR HEAD GROUP

Apolar Hydrocarbon Tails

S
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S S

Membranes Are Complex Structures

Membrane Lipids Form Bilayers Micelle a structure where hydrophobic regions are shielded from water while the hydrophilic polar groups are immersed in the aqueous environment Bilayers- key structures in bilogic membranes. A bilayer exists as a sheet in which the hydrohobic regions of the phospholipids are protected from the aqueous environment while the hydrophilic regions are immersed in water
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Membranes Are Complex Structures

Membrane Lipids Form Bilayers 1. How many biologic materials are lipid soluble? - gases such as oxygen, CO2, nitrogen, small molecules with little interaction with solvents - steroids
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Membranes Are Complex Structures

Membrane Lipids Form Bilayers 2. How are the transmembrane concentration gradients for non-lipid soluble maintained - Membranes contain proteins, and proteins are also amphipathic molecules that can be inserted into the correspondingly amphipathic lipid bilayer
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Membranes Are Complex Structures

Membrane Lipids Form Bilayers Proteins form channels for the movement of ions and small molecules and serve as transporters for molecules that otherwise could not pass the bilayer

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Membranes Are Complex Structures



Membrane Proteins Are associated with the Lipid Bilayers

Phospholipids act as solvent for membrane proteins creating an environment in which the latter can function

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Membranes Are Complex Structures


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Membranes Are Asymmetric Structures

Inside-Outside asymmetry

-Attributed to irregular distribution of proteins

within the membranes. - provided by the external location of carbohydrates attached to membrane proteins - inside-outside asymmetry of phospholipids

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Membranes Are Complex Structures


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Membranes Are Asymmetric Structures

Inside-Outside asymmetry

choline containing PPL (PPC and sphingomyelin, outer molecular layer - aminophospholipids (PPS and PPE) are preferentially located in the inner membrane - GSLs and glycoproteins whose sugar moieties protrude outward from plasma membrane
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