PLASMA MEMBRANE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does plasma membrane mean? 

• PLASMA MEMBRANE (noun)
  The noun PLASMA MEMBRANE has 1 sense:

1. 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

  Familiarity information: PLASMA MEMBRANE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PLASMA MEMBRANE (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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

cell membrane; cytomembrane; plasma membrane

Context example:

all cells have a cell membrane

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)

 Context examples 

That portion of the cell contained within the plasma membrane but excluding the nucleus.

(Cytoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

Natural or synthetic compounds mimicking acetylcholine neurotransmitter action at nicotinic receptors, which are ionotropic receptors that form ligand-gated ion channels in plasma membranes.

(Nicotinic Agonist, NCI Thesaurus)

Upon CBL phosphorylation, CAP/CBL dissociates from the receptor to complex with caveolar flotillin and localize to plasma membrane lipid rafts.

(CBL Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

Caveolin 1 (CAV1), encoded by the CAV1 gene, is a scaffolding protein and the main component of the caveolae plasma membranes found in most cell types.

(Caveolin 1, NCI Thesaurus)

The release of neurotransmitter at the synapse involves the fusion of synaptic vesicles with the neuronal plasma membrane and requires several proteins that act together to form a synaptic fusion complex.

(Botulin Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

Natural or synthetic compounds inhibiting acetylcholine neurotransmitter action at nicotinic receptors, which are ionotropic receptors that form ligand-gated ion channels in cells' plasma membranes.

(Nicotinic Antagonist, NCI Thesaurus)

After agonist binding at the plasma membrane, NOSIII-activating receptors translocate to caveolae.

(Nitric Oxide Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

This gene plays a role in plasma membrane interactions.

(PDZK1IP1 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes PDZK1-interacting protein 1, plays a role in plasma membrane interactions.

(PDZK1IP1 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein may play a role in plasma membrane dynamics.

(Palmdelphin, NCI Thesaurus)