Which component is NOT found in the construction of the cell membrane?

The cell membrane is primarily composed of a bilayer of lipids, along with proteins and carbohydrates that are embedded or attached to the lipid layer. The lipid bilayer provides a structural foundation, creating a semi-permeable barrier that separates the interior of the cell from its external environment. Proteins embedded in the membrane serve various functions, including transport, signaling, and structural support. Carbohydrates attached to lipids or proteins often play critical roles in cell recognition and communication.

Nucleotides, on the other hand, are the building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA and do not have a structural role in the cell membrane. Since nucleotides are not involved in the membrane's composition, they can be identified as the component that is not found in its construction. This distinction helps clarify the roles of various biomolecules within cellular structures and their specific functions, emphasizing the unique roles that lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates play in membrane structure and function.