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A small, non-polar molecule like oxygen or carbon dioxide would move through a phospholipid membrane with the least difficulty, as they can easily pass through the hydrophobic interior of the membrane without the need for a specific transport protein.
The molecule that plays an important role in limiting what gets in and out of cells is the cell membrane. It is composed of a phospholipid bilayer that acts as a barrier, allowing only certain molecules to pass through. The cell membrane also contains various proteins and channels that further regulate the movement of substances across the membrane.
Large molecules such as proteins, charged ions, and polar molecules have difficulty passing through the phospholipid bilayer due to its hydrophobic core. These molecules often require assistance from transport proteins or channels to facilitate their movement across the membrane.
In endocytosis, molecules like proteins, lipids, and even viruses can be engulfed by the cell membrane and transported across the phospholipid bilayer in vesicles called endosomes. These vesicles are then processed by the cell to release their contents into the cytoplasm.
The most notable characteristic is amphipathicity, meaning it is hydrophilic on one end and hydrophobic on the other. This allows it to form a bilayer, of which cell membranes are made. If a molecule were to cross through the membrane, it would need to diffuse through a hydrophilic region, a hydrophobic region, and another hydrophilic region, which is difficult for most molecules. This is why the phospholipid bilayer is a good way to separate a cell from its environment.
Water molecules can pass through the plasma membrane via a process called simple diffusion, where they move across the lipid bilayer. Since water is a polar molecule, it can also travel through specialized channels in the membrane called aquaporins, which facilitate the rapid movement of water in and out of the cell.