Cellular membrane and associated proteins

Cellular membranes are dynamic lipid bilayers that serve as the fundamental structural boundary of the cell and its organelles, providing a scaffold for a vast array of associated proteins. These proteins, which include receptors, transporters, and enzymes, are responsible for critical processes such as signal transduction, nutrient uptake, and maintaining electrochemical gradients (Alberts et al., 2014). In disease states, membrane protein expression or function is often dysregulated, contributing to pathologies like cancer, where receptors may be overexpressed, or cystic fibrosis, involving transporter mutations (Santos et al., 2017). While the membrane itself can be a target for certain antimicrobial agents that disrupt lipid integrity, the majority of pharmacological interventions focus on the specific proteins embedded within the bilayer. Consequently, 'Cellular Membranes and associated proteins' represents a broad biological category rather than a single, discrete therapeutic target, encompassing over half of all known drug targets (Overington et al., 2006).

Other names

Plasma membraneBiological membraneCytoplasmic membraneCell surface proteinsMembrane-bound proteins

Modulation of receptor-mediated signaling, inhibition of transmembrane transport, or direct disruption of lipid bilayer structural integrity (Santos et al., 2017).