ABSTRACT
The cell membrane is home for a number of types of proteins, which are generally divided into integral proteins and peripheral proteins. Integral proteins contain a sequence of hydrophobic groups that are embedded in the lipid bilayer, while peripheral proteins are adsorbed on to the surface of the cell, generally attached to an integral protein. The majority of functional proteins are integral, the most important peripheral proteins being the spectrin and ankyrin proteins. These bind to the inside of the plasma membrane to form the cytoskeleton, a network of proteins which runs throughout the cell, and is involved in a range of structural and transport functions.
