BIL 498 Lecture Notes - Hydrophile, Lipid Bilayer, Glycocalyx
25 Jan 2014
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Document Summary
In addition to the lipid bilayer, the cell membrane also contains a number of proteins. We have already mentioned the presence of certain proteins in the cell membrane. In this section we will discuss the different classes of proteins found there. While the lipid bilayer provides the structure for the cell membrane, membrane proteins allow for many of the interactions that occur between cells. As we discussed in the previous section, membrane proteins are free to move within the lipid bilayer as a result of its fluidity. Although this is true for most proteins, they can also be confined to certain areas of the bilayer with enzymes. Membrane proteins perform various functions, and this diversity is reflected in the significantly different types of proteins associated with the lipid bilayer. Proteins are generally broken down into the smaller classifications of integral proteins, peripheral proteins, and lipid-bound proteins. Integral proteins are embedded within the lipid bilayer.
