Mammalian cell plasma membrane lipid bilayer (PM)

The mammalian cell plasma membrane lipid bilayer is a fundamental biological structure composed primarily of phospholipids, cholesterol, and proteins, organized in a fluid mosaic model (Alberts B, et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th ed., 2002). It serves as a semi-permeable barrier that regulates the transport of ions and molecules, maintaining cellular homeostasis and protecting the internal environment (Cooper GM, The Cell: A Molecular Approach, 2nd ed., 2000). Beyond its structural role, the lipid bilayer is a dynamic platform for signal transduction, where lipid rafts and specific lipid species modulate the activity of membrane-bound receptors and enzymes (Simons K & Toomre D, Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 2000). In various diseases, such as cancer and neurodegeneration, the composition and fluidity of the membrane are often altered, contributing to pathological signaling or increased susceptibility to oxidative stress (Maxfield FR & Tabas I, Nature, 2005). Pharmacologically, the lipid bilayer is targeted by agents like general anesthetics, which are thought to alter membrane properties to affect ion channel function, and certain antimicrobial or anticancer peptides that induce membrane disruption (Heimburg T, Biophys Rev, 2010).

Other names

Cell membraneCytoplasmic membranePlasmalemmaLipid bilayerPlasma membrane

Modulation of membrane fluidity, alteration of lipid raft organization, pore formation, and disruption of lipid-protein interactions to influence signaling and permeability.