What are the functions of a Biomembrane?

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The plasma membrane has several essential functions. These include transporting nutrients into and metabolic wastes out of the cell; preventing unwanted materials in the extracellular milieu from entering the cell; preventing loss of needed metabolites and maintaining the proper ionic composition, pH (?7.2), and osmotic pressure of the cytosol.

To carry out these functions, the plasma membrane contains specific transport proteins that permit the passage of certain small molecules but not others. Several of these proteins use the energy released by ATP hydrolysis to pump ions and other molecules into or out of the cell against their concentration gradients. Small charged molecules such as ATP and amino acids can diffuse freely within the cytosol but are restricted in their ability to leave or enter it across the plasma membrane.

Functions of Membrane Proteins can be summarized like this:

1. Anchors
2. Identifiers
3. Enzymes
4. Receptors
5. Carriers
6. Channels
   A. Leak Channels
   B. Gate Channels