Explain how the sidedness of the plasma membrane comes into

Explain how the sidedness of the plasma membrane comes into being. What components contribute to the sidedness? Where are they contracted? How do they reach the inner or outer side of the membrane?

Solution

The sidedness of the plasma membrane comes into being due to the presence of; proteins in the plasma membrane. There are two types of proteins; extrinsic proteins which are loosely associated with the membrane surface and the intrinsic or membranes proteins that are embedded in the membrane, these proteins show sidedness with respect to protein composition. Techniques to study the outer and inner plasma membrane are high-magnification electron micrographs; specially the Freeze-fracture electron micrograph of human red blood cell membranes, which are the classical specimens to study membrane structure.