Lipid bilayer of the cell membrane (None commonly used)

The lipid bilayer of the cell membrane is a thin, amphipathic structure composed predominantly of phospholipids, along with cholesterol and glycolipids, that forms the essential boundary between the cell interior and the external environment. In this arrangement, the hydrophilic phosphate heads face the aqueous environments inside and outside of the cell, while the hydrophobic fatty acid tails are sequestered in the interior of the bilayer. The lipid bilayer confers structural integrity, selective permeability, and the environment for membrane proteins to function in signaling, transport, cell adhesion, and recognition. Although the bilayer is not a classical drug target, its properties and integrity are crucial for cellular homeostasis, and some drugs act by disrupting or modifying its structure, particularly in anti-infective therapy. Alterations in bilayer composition play indirect roles in several human diseases but are rarely the direct target of pharmacological therapy.

Other names

Phospholipid bilayerCell membranePlasma membraneBiological membraneBilayer membranePlasmalemma

Membrane disruption (many antimicrobials form pores or dissolve membrane integrity); Alteration of fluidity or permeability; Interference with membrane-associated proteins via indirect changes in bilayer environment