How does the structure of a protein allow it to fit in a cell membrane?
Like the cell membrane, a protein can have a hydrophobic (water fearing) and hydrophilic (water loving) portion. The hydrophobic section will face the phospholipid tails in the cell membrane, and the hydrophilic section will face the polar phospholipid head. Furthermore, in the portion facing the fatty lipid tail, hydrophilic portions will invert inwards, creating a hydrophilic channel in the protein, allowing polar ions and compounds to travel through. It’s a little confusing, and I am confusing myself a little bit, but maybe this picture will help.
