Unit 2 · 2.3 — Plasma Membrane [cite: 9]

Everything to learn here

• Concept: The cell membrane is defined by the fluid mosaic model, composed of a dynamic phospholipid bilayer embedded with proteins, steroids (like cholesterol for fluidity), and carbohydrates [cite: 13, 14, 21].
• Concept: Membrane structure establishes a selectively permeable barrier, tightly regulating the internal cellular environment independently from external conditions [cite: 13, 21].
• Vocabulary: Integral Proteins — proteins that penetrate the hydrophobic interior of the lipid bilayer, often spanning the entire membrane (transmembrane) [cite: 14].
• Vocabulary: Peripheral Proteins — proteins that are loosely bound to the surface of the membrane or to integral proteins [cite: 14].
• Skill: FRQ Task Verb "Represent" — Represent the plasma membrane structurally, accurately placing and labeling hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions [cite: 19, 22].
• Concept: Describe how the various components of the cell membrane work together to maintain internal homeostasis.
• Vocabulary: Vocabulary: Phospholipid — An amphipathic lipid with a hydrophilic phosphate head and hydrophobic fatty acid tails.
• Concept: Explain how the arrangement of hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids determines a protein's position in the membrane.
• Vocabulary: Vocabulary: Fluid Mosaic Model — A model describing the cell membrane as a flexible layer of moving lipids and proteins.

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