Library / English Dictionary

PLASMA MEMBRANE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A thin membrane (a double layer of lipids) enclosing the cytoplasm of a cell; proteins in the membrane control passage of ions (like sodium or potassium or calcium) in and out of the cell

Example:

all cells have a cell membrane

Synonyms:

cell membrane; cytomembrane; plasma membrane

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("plasma membrane" is a kind of...):

semipermeable membrane (a membrane (as a cell membrane) that allows some molecules to pass through but not others)

Holonyms ("plasma membrane" is a part of...):

cell ((biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; they may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals)

Credits

 Context examples: 

This allele, which encodes palmdelphin protein, may be involved in plasma membrane dynamics.

(PALMD wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

The increased intracellular Ca2+ stimulates the interaction of nNOS and calmodulin (CaM) and the translocation of nNOS from the plasma membrane to the cytoplasm.

(Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

They are transported to the plasma membrane as cleaved, but otherwise intact polypeptides.

(Notch Signaling Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

Biricodar binds directly to the plasma membrane drug-efflux pumps P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP-1) and inhibits their activities, which may result in increased intracellular accumulation and retention of cytotoxic agents.

(Biricodar Dicitrate, NCI Thesaurus)

Cytoplasmic Protein Genes encode Cytoplasmic Proteins that are typically localized in the cell interior, generally excluding the plasma membrane, mitochondria, and the nucleus.

(Cytoplasmic Protein Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

PP4 and PP4-X (Lipocortin family) are similar to lipocortin I and calpactin I. PP4 is also an Annexin family member, Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid binding proteins located on the plasma membrane cytosolic face.

(Annexin A5 Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

Additionally, the Tec family member Btk is recruited to the plasma membrane where it is involved in activation of PLCg.

(BCR Signaling Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

The extracellular facing lipid layer of the plasma membrane.

(Outer Leaflet of the Lipid Bilayer, NCI Thesaurus)

Minute protoplasmic masses that make up organized tissue, consisting of a nucleus which is surrounded by protoplasm which contains the various organelles and is enclosed in the cell or plasma membrane.

(Murine Cell Types, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

This protein plays a role in the transport of monocarboxylates across the plasma membrane.

(Monocarboxylate Transporter 5, NCI Thesaurus)