Plant Cell Membrane And Bacteria Cell Membrane: 9 Facts

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In this article, we came to know about plant cell membrane and bacteria cell membrane and other related facts about them.

Cell membrane also called as biological membrane, plasma membrane present outside the all type of cells separate out cell from the external environment. Cell membrane specify the boundary of the cell, give it a shape.

According to fluid mosaic model given by Singer and Nicholson, plasma membrane can be made up of two-dimensional liquid in which protein and lipid molecules diffuse into it more and less easily. Cell membrane having lipid bilayer in which proteins are embedded in lipid layer.

Do both plant and bacteria have cell membrane?

Plant and bacteria both have cell membrane outside the cytoplasm that cover whole cell from all the side. Cell membrane is the basic structure of all kind of cell that maintain the shape of cell. Cell membrane of plant and bacteria are enwrapped by Cell Wall.

The cell membrane involved in many cellular activities like control the movement of organic molecules, cell signalling, ion conduction and cell adhesion. Cell membrane provide the shape to the cell by anchoring the cytoskeleton and attaching to the extracellular matrix.

Cell Wall is present outside the cell membrane of bacteria, most of archea and plants to provide the cell extra mechanical support. Cell membrane is selectively permeable, allow only selected ions or molecule to pass through it

Similarities between plant cell membrane and bacteria cell membrane

  • The cell membrane of plant and bacteria are encompass of lipid bilayer.
  • The proteins mainly integral and peripheral both type are present in the cell membrane of both the cell’s cell membrane.
  • External of the cell membrane of plant and bacterial cell, cell wall is exist for mechanical hold up.
  • Cell membrane of both plant cells and bacterial cell are selectively permeable, allow through it only selected ions or molecules.
  • Cell membrane of both plant cells and bacterial cell participate in the process of phagocytosis (cell eating) and pinocytosis (cell drinking).
  • Both the cell’s cell membrane help them for cell signalling and communication.
  • Cell membrane of plant and bacteria cell intiates the signal transduction pathway inside the cell which transmits the signal to the specific molecules.

Difference between plant and bacteria cell membrane

  • Cell membrane of plant cell formed the intracellular membrane that surrounds various organelles. In bacterial cells, no such membrane observed.
  • In plant cells, plasma membrane is the part of endomembrane system that having endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, nuclear membrane and lysosomes but in bacterial cells membrane bound organelles are absent.
  • Bacterial cell membrane function in energy conservation because of proton motive force is generated while such property of cell membrane in plant cells not observed.
  • Except Mycoplasma and methanotrophs, bacterial cell membrane do not have sterols whereas in plant cell membrane it is common.
  • Bacterial cell membrane is having a wide range of fatty acids present in it but in plant cells they are not present.

Function of plasma membrane

  • The plasma membrane is present in all the living organisms. The foremost function of cell membrane is to protect the cell from external unfavourable environment.
  • It act as regulators for most of the ion or molecules, allowed only selected ions or molecules this act as a barrier. This property of plasma membrane coined as selectively permeable membrane.
  • It helps in signal transduction, transmits the signal from one cell to another.
  • It provides fixed environment to the cell.
  • It is responsible for transport of nutrients into the cell and excrete out toxic materials out of the cell.
  • Cell membrane provide shape to the cell.
  • Cell membrane involved in the communication between cells and cells components.
  • The cell membrane is also helps to maintain the cell potential.

Diagram of cell membrane

plant cell membrane and bacteria cell membrane
Detailed structure of cell membrane from Wikipedia

Difference between cell Wall and cell membrane

  • All the living cells present on earth have cell membrane outside its periplasm but Cell Wall is present in fungi, bacteria and plant cells.
  • Cell membrane is very delicate thin layer but cell Wall is thick, rigid structure.
  • It helps in passage of different types of molecules and protect the protoplasm but cell Wall helps in providing rigidity and shape to the cell.
  • Cell membrane composition is of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. Cell Wall is build of cellulose (plant cells), chitin (fungal cells) and peptidoglycan (in bacterial cell).
  • Cell membrane is very thin seen only under election microscope and Cell Wall is observed with light microscope.
  • Cell membrane is semi-permeable/ penetrable ( allow only selected molecules) but Cell Wall is completely permeable or porous ( allow all the molecules to pass through it).
  • Cell receptor are present in the cell membrane that helps in cell to cell communication whereas receptors are absent in the Cell Wall.
  • Cell membrane is metabolic active whereas Cell Wall is inactive.
  • Cell membrane is living, thickness reains same throughout life but cell wall is non-living and grow continuously as the time spends.
  • Cell membrane will require proper nutrition or sustenance for its survival but cell wall does not any nutrition or nutriment from cell but deposition instead.
  • Function of cell membrane are signal transduction, permeability, cell division and motility conduction. Cell Wall provide protection from external environment to the cell.

Conclusion

The bacterial and plant cell membrane is present inside of Cell Wall and protect the cell. Cell membrane provide cover to the periplasm and help in motion of ions, proteins and nutrients into the cell. Cell membrane excrete out toxic materials out of the cell by exocytosis. The cell membrane adjust its shape as per environment. It is living and metabolic active.

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