Polar membrane



In the scientific literature polar membrane has acquired two separate meanings.

1) A lipid biomembrane expressing polarity in the electrical sense. Such membranes can be manipulated chemically and their electrical properties can be studied by application of biophysical techniques.

2) A specialized region of the lipid cell membrane in bacterial cells, usually located at or near the so-called cell poles (e.g. the ends of a cylindrical cell). This region can easily be distinguished from the "normal" membrane regions in ultrathin sections of embedded bacteria by electron microscopy when the cell membrane is orientated perpendicular to the viewing direction. There, the membrane appears slightly thickened with a finely-frilled layer facing the inside of the cell. It is also possible to isolate these polar membranes from the bacterial cells and study them in face view in negatively-stained preparations. The polar membrane bears a fine array of attached particles in hexagonal close packing and these have been shown to possess ATPase activity. Interestingly, the polar membrane is invariably found in close juxtaposition to the points of insertion of the bacterial flagella into the plasma membrane, especially where multiple flagella bases are grouped in a region of the cell membrane. It may thus be inferred that the polar membrane could be of importance in the supply and transfer of energy to the bidirectional molecular rotational motor situated at the base of each individual bacterial flagellum (see also Electrochemical gradient).