The cell membrane, or plasma membrane, is the selectively permeable boundary that encloses every cell, separating the cytoplasm from the external environment and regulating the exchange of ions, nutrients, signals and waste. Its core structure is a phospholipid bilayer in which proteins, cholesterol and carbohydrate…
The cell membrane, or plasma membrane, is the selectively permeable boundary that encloses every cell, separating the cytoplasm from the external environment and regulating the exchange of ions, nutrients, signals and waste. Its core structure is a phospholipid bilayer in which proteins, cholesterol and carbohydrates are embedded, conferring fluidity, mechanical resilience and the capacity for transport, recognition and signaling. Membrane proteins include channels, pumps and receptors that mediate active and passive transport, ion homeostasis and the transduction of external stimuli. Research relevant to this topic examines membrane-bound enzyme activity, such as calcium ATPase function and its modulation by cholesterol and xenobiotics; the regulation of metal-ligand homeostasis and ion-pump synchronization in epidermal cells; and charge-density and lipid effects on plasma membranes in microbial and model systems. The membrane is also central to receptor-mediated processes, including receptor expression in cancer and the cellular consequences of pharmacological and oxidative challenge. By controlling permeability and compartmentalization, the cell membrane maintains the internal conditions necessary for life and serves as the interface for communication and drug action. Its study integrates biochemistry, biophysics and cell biology to explain how composition and dynamics determine transport, signaling and the cell's response to its environment.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 49 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Cell Membrane, linking to each citing work.