CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE ACTIVITY
Recall Prior Knowledge:
1. The cell membrane regulates what enters and leaves the cell and also serves
as a boundary between life inside the cell and non-life outside the cell.
2. Cell membrane is made up of two layers (bilayer) of phospholipid molecules
3. Phospholipids have a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails.
4. Structure determines function
HOW DOES THE STRUCTURE OF THE CELL MEMBRANE HELP DETERMINE
FUNCTION?
Activity 1: Work in pairs
Build a membrane model
Materials:
Scissors
Handout
Tape
BASIC DISCUSSION:
1. A cell is enclosed by membrane
2. A wide variety of proteins are located running through membrane, anchored
to outer and inner surfaces of membrane, and partially embedded in
membrane.
3. Lipid bilayer provides framework for membrane
4. Proteins provide different functions
5. Many organelles are enclosed in their own membranes helping to
compartmentalize the cell.
6. Different types of proteins & lipids in different membranes give different
membranes different selective permeability’s
Activity 2: Work in pairs
Interactive animation
View the following animation and answer questions below:
http://www.wisc-online.com/Objects/construction-of-the-cell-membrane/
1. Why can the membrane only allow lipid soluble substances to pass through?
2. What are three examples of hydrophobic substances that can pass through
membrane easily?
3. What are three examples of hydrophilic substances that need the help of
various proteins for transport across membrane?
4. List four different functions of membrane proteins?
5. What is different between integral and peripheral proteins?
6. What is the function of cholesterol in membranes?
7. Is cholesterol found in plant cell membranes?
Class Discussion of Questions:
Activity 3: Individuals but may discuss
Labeling a diagram-word bank below
Word bank:
Pore protein
Cholesterol
Channel protein
Hydrophilic phosphate
head of phospholipid
Glycoprotein (protein
with carbohydrate
attached to it)
Phospholipid molecule
Receptor protein
Hydrophobic fatty acid
tail of phospholipid
molecule
Enzyme
Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What function would the glycoprotein serve?
What function would enzyme serve?
What function would the pore and channel protein serves?
What function would receptor protein serve?
Class Discussion:
Activity 4:
View video:
http://www.dnatube.com/video/360/Fluid-Mosaic-Model
1. Why is the structure of the cell membrane referred to as a fluid mosaic
model?
2. How many layers of phospholipids are in the membrane?
3. How are the phospholipids positioned in the membrane?
4. Remember, water is both inside and outside cell. Why are phospholipids
positioned the way they are?
Discussion
Activity 5:
Check for understanding:
Dispense quiz questions
Discussion