plasma membrane
Let an agent explain the plasma membrane and its structure and functions, describe transport and signalling across it, describe specialised membranes and their roles in health and disease, and support learning in cell biology.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain the plasma membrane and its structure and functions, describe transport and signalling across it, describe specialised membranes and their roles in health and disease, and support learning in cell biology.
The membrane that separates the interior of a cell from its environment, composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, cholesterol and carbohydrates, regulating the passage of substances by passive transport such as diffusion and osmosis and by active transport, receiving signals through receptors, and taking specialised forms such as the sarcolemma of muscle cells, the sperm membrane and the outer membrane of some bacteria; the plasma membrane is fundamental to cell identity, communication and homeostasis.
What it is for: The boundary membrane of cells.
It can be explain structure and functions; describe transport and signalling; describe specialised forms; support learning.
Distinguishing features
Lipid bilayer
Selective permeability
Membrane proteins
Fluid mosaic
What it looks like
Not visible without a microscope; a thin bilayer.
How it is recognised
Phospholipid bilayer bounding the cell
Selective transport, receptors, specialised forms
The cell wall is a rigid outer layer in plants and bacteria; organelle membranes are internal
Related models
is a kind of - category
is related to - an organelle with its own membranes
is related to - uptake across membranes
is related to - B-cell receptors on the membrane
In practice
Families and kinds
plasma membranes of animal cells
plasma membranes of plant and fungal cells
bacterial inner and outer membranes
specialised membranes such as the sarcolemma
membrane domains and rafts
Standards and regulation
Cell biology nomenclature
Laboratory standards
No regulation of the concept
Failure modes and hazards
Oversimplified membrane models
Confusing membrane with cell wall
Agents giving personal medical advice
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What the plasma membrane is.
Cell biology.
Structure
Structure.
Structure
Structure.
- What is the structure of the plasma membrane, and what does the fluid mosaic model describe? definition
- Which cell type or aspect is meant? boundary
Transport
Transport.
Transport
Transport.
- How do passive transport, active transport, channels, carriers and vesicles move substances across the membrane? definition
- Which entry fits membrane transport? action
Function Functions and specialisations.
Science.
Signalling
Signalling and identity.
Signalling
Signalling.
- How do receptors and surface molecules enable signalling, adhesion and immune recognition? provenance
- Which entry fits cell signalling? action
Specialised
Specialised membranes.
Specialised
Specialised.
- How do the sarcolemma, sperm membrane and bacterial outer membrane differ from a generic plasma membrane? provenance
- Which entry fits a specific membrane? action
Health Health and applications.
General information.
Disease
Membranes in disease.
Disease
Disease.
- How do membrane defects and membrane-targeting drugs relate to disease and treatment, in general terms? provenance
- Is the user asking about their own condition, which needs a clinician? boundary
Research
Research methods.
Research
Research.
- How are membranes studied with microscopy, biophysics and molecular methods? provenance
- Which findings are contested? boundary
Learn History and teaching.
Education.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did membrane models develop from early bilayer proposals to the fluid mosaic model? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Teach
Teaching.
Teach
Teaching.
- How can the plasma membrane be taught with models? action
- Which misconceptions arise? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should membrane transport be a separate entry?
- How should cell biology resources be linked?
- How should research literature be linked?