Give the biochemical composition of plasma membrane. How are lipid molecules arranged in the membrane?
Chemical composition of plasma membrane
Components
composition
Lipids
(20-79%)
proteins
(20-70%)
carbohydrates
(1-5%)
water
20%
Lipids are the major components of the cell membrane as they form the continuous structural frame of the cell membrane. Lipids such as phospholipids, glycolipids, and steroids are found in membranes.
The lipid molecule possess both polar hydrophilic (water foving) and non-polar hydrophobic(water repelling) ends. The hydrophilic regionis in the form ofa head, while the hydrophobic
part contains twotails of fatty acid.
Hydrophobic tail is present towards the centre of the membrane.This structures results isthe formation of lipid bilayer known as unit membrane/biological membrane/cell membrane.
