The cell membrane is a bilayer of phospholipids that separates the fluid inside the cell from the fluid outside. This membrane is semi-permeable to ions, but is not completely impermeable to water. This is because the cell membrane contains special transport proteins that allow certain types of ions to pass through. This helps to maintain a proper electrochemical balance in the cell.

Which of the following is a characteristic of the cell membrane? Membrane transport proteins help the cell to receive and transport nutrients. Membrane transport proteins function in a variety of ways, including as receptors or as enzymes. Some function as pumps to force solutes through the membrane when concentrations are too low to diffuse them spontaneously. Other membrane proteins, known as transporters, function as ion channels, water channels, and gas channels. Their functions are not fully understood.

Integral Proteins

The cell membrane is made up of layers, each with their own set of properties. The cell membrane is an integral part of the cell and determines how it interacts with the surrounding environment. It also anchors the cytoskeleton, which helps give it shape, and attaches to other cells to form tissues. The cell membrane is remarkably flexible, which is why cells like red blood cells and white blood cells can bend and change shape. This flexibility helps them pass through narrow capillaries.

Among the characteristics of the cell membrane, the main component is protein. It has a major role in the cell membrane, and it is the most likely type of material to diffuse through the membrane. It also serves as a barrier between the water-containing compartments, and it is highly specific in which substances it allows through.