fluid mosaic model
Fluid Mosaic Model In 1972, S. Singer and Garth L. Nicolson proposed a new model of the plasma membrane that, compared to earlier understanding, better explained both microscopic observations and the function of the plasma membrane. This was called the fluid mosaic model. The model has evolved somewhat over time, but still best accounts for the structure and functions of the plasma membrane as we now understand them. The fluid mosaic model describes the structure of the plasma membrane as a mosaic of componentsincluding phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydratesin which the components are able to flow and change position, while maintaining the basic integrity of the membrane. Both phospholipid molecules and embedded proteins are able to diffuse rapidly and laterally in the membrane. The fluidity of the plasma membrane is necessary for the activities of certain enzymes and transport molecules within the membrane. Plasma membranes range from 510 nm thick. As a comparison, human red blood cells, visible via light microscopy, are approximately 8 m thick, or approximately 1,000 times thicker than a plasma membrane. Figure 3.18 .