General ---------Biology----------------------------------------------------- ------------------Online------------------------------- Ch. 8 Membrane Structure and Function

These basic functions of the plasma membrane are listed in Figure 8.9 Some functions of membrane proteins, of your text.  Follow the links:

• Transport: the movement of substances into and out of the cell
• Enzymatic activity: the arrangement of enzymes in sequence for chemical pathways
• Signal transduction: nerve impulses travel between cells as chemical signals and chemical receptors are located in cell membrane.
• Intercellular joining: cells are held together to form tissues by attachments of membrane proteins.
• Cell-cell recognition: we recognize our own cells, and attack foreign cells, based on the proteins present in the membranes.
• Attachment to the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix.