Features of fluid mosaic model
Answers
Cell membrane is made up different colourful and embedded structures such as lipids and proteins as in a mosaic tile
Which seems to be flowing in a waving motion as a fluid
Fluid Mosaic Model:
It was proposed by Singer and Nicolson.
Bio membrane is viscous fluid, consists of phospholipids and proteins.
Phospholipids and protein molecules are not arranged uniformly but as a mosaic.
Phospholipids are arranged in a bilayer with polar heads towards outer sides and hydrophobic tails towards inner side.
Lipid molecules can move sideways. This property provides fluidity and allows membrane to stretch and to reseal if disrupted.
Depending on the ease of extraction, membrane proteins can be classified as integral and peripheral.
Peripheral proteins lie on surface of membrane and can be easily extracted.
Integral proteins are partially or totally buried in the membrane.
Totally buried integral proteins are also known as trans-membrane or tunnel proteins. These provide channels for passage of water soluble materials.
With such a structure, cell membrane is described as “protein icebergs in the sea of lipids.”
Note: Proteins provide structural and functional specificity to cell membrane.
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