Which type of protein can completely transverse the cell membrane?

The option regarding integral or intrinsic proteins is correct because these proteins span the entire width of the cell membrane, embedding themselves through the lipid bilayer. Their structure includes hydrophobic regions that interact with the fatty acid tails of the membrane lipids, allowing them to traverse the membrane completely. This characteristic enables them to play crucial roles in various cellular functions, including transporting molecules across the membrane, acting as receptors, and forming channels for ion flow, among other functions.

Peripheral proteins, in contrast, do not penetrate the lipid bilayer; they are associated with the exterior or interior surfaces of the membrane. Receptor proteins and channel proteins, while they can also span the membrane or associate closely with it, might not completely perforate the lipid bilayer in the same manner as integral proteins, thus emphasizing the unique nature of integral proteins in completely crossing the membrane.