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Illustration of a eukaryotic cell membrane Comparison of a eukaryotic vs. a prokaryotic cell membrane. The cell membrane (also known as the plasma membrane or cytoplasmic membrane, and historically referred to as the plasmalemma) is a biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of a cell from the outside environment (the extracellular space).
All animal cells are encased within a cell membrane made of a thin lipid bilayer that protects the cell from exposure to the outside environment. Using receptors composed of protein structures, the cell membrane is able to let selected molecules within the cell. Inside the cell membrane includes the cytoplasm, which contains the cytoskeleton. [7]
[3] [4] MCS are important in the function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), [5] since this is the major site of lipid synthesis within cells. [6] The ER makes close contact with many organelles, including mitochondria , Golgi , endosomes , lysosomes , peroxisomes , chloroplasts and the plasma membrane . [ 7 ]
The membrane is a homogeneous substance; The electrical field is constant so that the transmembrane potential varies linearly across the membrane; The ions access the membrane instantaneously from the intra- and extracellular solutions; The permeant ions do not interact; The movement of ions is affected by both concentration and voltage differences
Schematic of cell adhesion. Cell adhesion is the process by which cells interact and attach to neighbouring cells through specialised molecules of the cell surface. This process can occur either through direct contact between cell surfaces such as cell junctions or indirect interaction, where cells attach to surrounding extracellular matrix, a gel-like structure containing molecules released ...
Direct contact between cells allows the receptors on one cell to bind the small molecules attached to the plasma membrane of different cell. In eukaryotes, many of the cells during early development communicate through direct contact. [5] Synaptic signaling, an integral part of nervous system activity, occurs between neurons and target cells.
In biology, membrane fluidity refers to the viscosity of the lipid bilayer of a cell membrane or a synthetic lipid membrane. Lipid packing can influence the fluidity of the membrane. Viscosity of the membrane can affect the rotation and diffusion of proteins and other bio-molecules within the membrane, there-by affecting the functions of these ...
The connexon complexes stretches across the cell membrane and when two adjacent cell connexons interact, they form a complete gap junction channel. [9] [10] Connexon pores vary in size, polarity and therefore can be specific depending on the connexin proteins that constitute each individual connexon.