These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors, and they activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound. These proteins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators.

In addition, the plasma membrane’s surface carries markers that allow cells to recognize one another, which is vital for tissue and organ formation during early development, and which later plays a role in the immune response’s “self” versus “non-self” distinction.Īmong the most sophisticated plasma membrane functions is the ability for complex, integral proteins, receptors to transmit signals. These are the more obvious plasma membrane functions. The plasma membrane must be very flexible to allow certain cells, such as red and white blood cells, to change shape as they pass through narrow capillaries. Cells exclude some substances, take in others, and excrete still others, all in controlled quantities.

Describe phospholipid, protein, and carbohydrate functions in membranesĪ cell’s plasma membrane defines the cell, outlines its borders, and determines the nature of its interaction with its environment (see (Figure) for a summary).Understand the cell membrane fluid mosaic model.

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

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