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FluidMosaikModell

FluidMosaikModell, commonly called the Fluid Mosaic Model, is a foundational concept describing the structure of biological membranes. Proposed by S. Jonathan Singer and Garth L. Nicolson in 1972 to replace the earlier Davson–Danielli model, it portrays the cell membrane as a fluid phospholipid bilayer in which proteins are embedded or attached, forming a mosaic that is capable of lateral movement. Phospholipids arrange with hydrophilic heads facing outward and hydrophobic tails inward, creating a hydrophobic core. Cholesterol and other lipids modulate membrane fluidity and mechanical stability. Proteins are classified as integral (transmembrane) or peripheral, and some proteins associate with the bilayer’s inner or outer surface. Carbohydrates attached to lipids and proteins contribute to the extracellular glycocalyx and cell recognition.

The model emphasizes membrane asymmetry, with different lipid composition on the outer and inner leaflets. It

also
highlights
the
dynamic
nature
of
membranes:
lateral
diffusion
of
lipids
and
many
proteins
enables
rapid
remodeling
and
signaling.
Experimental
evidence
from
fluorescence
recovery
after
photobleaching
(FRAP)
and
single-particle
tracking
supports
mobility,
while
cytoskeletal
interactions
can
constrain
diffusion.
Over
time,
refinements
have
noted
membrane
microdomains
or
lipid
rafts
and
active
maintenance
of
asymmetry
by
flippases
and
related
enzymes.
The
FluidMosaikModell
remains
a
foundational
framework
in
cell
biology,
guiding
understanding
of
membrane
transport,
signaling,
and
interactions,
while
accommodating
refinements
that
reveal
greater
structural
and
functional
complexity.