Final answer:
Plasma membrane proteins are essential for transport, recognition, and adhesion: they aid in transport across the membrane, enable cellular recognition, and facilitate cell adhesion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The roles of plasma membrane proteins include various functions vital to cellular processes. Notably, three roles are:
- Transport: This includes creating channels, acting as carriers, and functioning as pumps to facilitate the movement of substances across the membrane.
- Recognition: Membrane proteins carry markers that enable cells to identify each other, critical for tissue formation and immune response.
- Adhesion: Proteins in the membrane facilitate cell-cell attachment, helping maintain the structure of tissues.
For example, integral proteins can span the membrane, acting as carriers or channels for molecules, whereas peripheral proteins can be involved in recognition and adhesion, playing critical roles in immune function and tissue formation.