What function do lipids, carbohydrates and proteins have in the cell membrane?

Answer 1

The cell membrane, also known as the plasma membrane, surrounds the cell. It consists of lipids and proteins that are imperative in both structure and function of the cell.

Plasma membranes have several different functions within the cell. They control which substances can pass through as well as the ease with which substances pass through the membrane. The plasma membrane is selectively permeable, which means that some substances cross easily while others cannot cross at all. Many of the substances that do cross are waste and nutrients.

The plasma membrane also controls the flow of information between the cells and the environment. It has receptors in it that have the ability to read and generate signals, and because of this it plays a central role in biological communication.

Proteins carry out most membrane processes. Among these are transport, communication, and energy transduction. For transport, some proteins form channels or pores for substances to pass through, while others bind to the substances and carry them to the other side.

Lipids are mainly for insulation, while proteins are much more active. For example, Myelin, a membrane that serves as an insulator around certain nerve fibers, has a low percentage of protein (18%). Plasma membranes contain about 50% protein, while the internal membranes of mitochondria and chloroplasts contain 75% protein.

Carbohydrates often attach to the external surface of integral proteins. These carbohydrates may hold adjoining cells together or act as sites where viruses or chemical messengers such as hormones can attach.

Answer 2

Membrane Carbohydrates

Answer 3

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What function do lipids, carbohydrates and proteins have in the cell membrane?