004 Membranes Flashcards
the composition of membranes
lipids
proteins
carbohydrates
primary component of biological membranes
phospholipids (PL)
amphipathic
hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail
these are attached covalently to some membrane lipids and proteins
carbohydrates
meaning of glycosylated
attached to carbohydrate molecules
hydrophilic head group contains
phosphate moiety
hydrophobic tail made of
fatty acids
two types of phospholipids based on their backbone
- glycerophospholipids (glycerol backbone)
2. sphingolipids (sphingosine backbone)
three types of membrane lipids
- phospholipids (most abundant)
- glycolipids (sphingosine backbone and carbohydrate/oligosaccharide residue, outer leaflet)
- cholesterol (embedded in lipid layer, steroid nucleus with hydroxyl group)
Outer sheet membrane lipids (faces extracellular environment)
- phosphatidylcholine
- sphingomyelin
- glycolipids
inner sheet membrane lipids (faces the intracellular environment)
- phosphatidylinositol
- phosphatidylserine
- phosphatidylethanolamine
three types of membrane proteins
- integral membrane proteins
- peripheral proteins
- lipid-anchored
integral membrane proteins
embedded in the membrane and firmly stabilized by hydrophobic interactions with lipids
transmembrane proteins
span entire lipid bilayer and interact with both intracellular and extracellular
include transporters, ion channels, and receptors
integral monotopic proteins
firmly attached to one sheet of the membrane
peripheral proteins
loosely bound to the membrane through electrostatic interactions with lipids or proteins
lipid anchored
tethered to membranes via a covalent attachment to a lipid molecule
glycocalyx
outer sheet of membrane that is covered with a carbohydrate shell due to presence of glycolipids and glycosylated proteins
3 functions of glycocalyx
- protection
- cell adhesion
- cell identification (imp in red blood cells)
phosphatidylserine as a marker for apoptosis
in healthy cells PS is found in inner leaflet of bilayer
during apoptosis PS is displayed on extracellular side
serves as a label and dying cells recognized and removed by phagocytes
Niemann-Pick Disease
rare autosomal recessive
deficiency in sphingomyelinase
so sphingomyelin accumulates in lysosomes of body
enlargement of liver and spleen, cherry red spots in eyes
patients generally do not live past 18 months
factors that influence membrane fluidity
temperature
lipid composition
cholesterol
at the transition/melting temp (Tm) the membrane is at
optimal fluidity
what kind of fatty acids decrease membrane fluidity
long saturated fatty acids
due to tighter packing which strengthens their interaction and reduces mobility