Question

List and describe five distinct properties of biological membranes.

Answer 1

A biological membrane is an enclosing or separating membrane that acts as a selectively permeable barrier within living things.

This biological membranes consists of phospholipid bilayer with embedded , integral and peripheral protiens.

- The phospholipid bilayer contains charged hydrophilic head groups , which interact with polar water . The lipid also contains hydrophobic tails, which meet with the hydrophobic tails of the complementary layers.

Properties:-

(1) selectively permeability:- this is the most important property od of a biomembrane. This means that the size, charge, and other chemical properties of atoms and molecules attempting to cross it will determine whether they succeed in doing so. generally , small hydrophobic molecules can readily cross phospholipid bilayers by simple diffusion.

(2) fluidity:-

The hydrophobic core of the phospholipid bilayer is constantly in motion because of rotations around the bonds of lipid tails. membrane fluidity is important , as it enables membrane proteins to diffuse rapidly in the plane of the bilayer and to interact with one another.

(3) protection:-

It act as a physical barrier for intracellular components of a cell.

(4) Endocytosis:- is the process in which cells absorb molecules by engulfing them. The plasma membrane creates a amall deformation onward called an invagination, in which the substance to be transported is captured.

(5) Exocytosis:-

The membrane of a vesicles from inside of the membrane can be fused with the plasma membrane, extruding its contests to the sorrounding medium. This process is called exocytosis.

- Exocytosis occurs in various cells to remove undigested residues of substances brought in by endocytosis, to secrete substance such as enzymes .

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