Question

Why fluid mosaic model of cell is called iceberg structure

Answer 1

As per this model cell membranes are protein icebergs in sea of lipids(lipid is quasi fluid like or u can say liquid jelly like which allow lateral movements of proteins in it)

Answer 2

Answer:-

It is because singer and Nicholson are two scientist which discover fluid mosaic model which are known as Quasi fluid nature of lipids. In this model we have phospholipids, proteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids, carbohydrates and cholestriol. We have two types of phospholipids

1) head :- They are polar in nature. They response to aqueous environment.

2)tail :- They are non-polar in nature. They present at the center of the cell and it is protected from the aqueous environment.

Note :- Phospholipids are mostly contained saturated and in very less number of unsaturated fatty chains.

Proteins are also of two types:-

1) External proteins :- They are consist of 30%. Loosly attached with phospholipids. They are removed easily. Lies at periphary and outside of the bilayer.

2) Internal proteins :- They are consist of 70%. Tightly attached can't be removed easily. They are removed by crude methods like detergent.

According to this model, proteins and phospholipids shows lateral movement but in flip flop movement only phospholipids can move. This cannot be done by proteins due to their large size.

In this model, flip flop movement are very rarely seen in phospholipids as compared to lateral movement.

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