PM component

Lipids

1. Phospholipid

   • Hydrophilic head faces the inside and outside of the cell.

   • Hydrophobic tail embedded inside the membrane.

   • Role: Forms the primary structure of the plasma membrane, arranged in a bilayer, acts as a barrier that separates the cell's interior from the outside.

2. Steroids

   • Hydrophobic tail embedded inside the membrane near phospholipid tail.

   • Hydrophilic hydroxyl group.

   • Role: Acts as a fluidity buffer.

Proteins

1. α-helical bundle

   • Hydrophilic: Faces in the inner pore.

   • Hydrophobic: Faces the lipid bilayer.

   • Role: Integral Membrane Proteins that span the membrane one or multiple times, often using alpha helices or beta-barrel structures. Acts as channels, transporters, receptors, or enzymes, allowing specific molecules to pass through or transmitting signals across the membrane.

2. Beta-barrels

   • Hydrophobic and hydrophilic alternation.

   • Role: Facilitates molecular transport across membranes.