4: Transport across cell membranes Flashcards
What is plasma membrane?
All membranes around and within all cells
All have the same basic structure
What does the cell-surface membrane do?
Allows different conditions in and out of the cell
Controls the movement of substances
Provides structural integrity
How are phospholipids essential for cell-surface membranes?
Hydrophillic heads point towards outside of the cell as attracted by water on both sides
Hydrophobic tails point to the center of the cell membrane, repelled by water
What does amphiphatic mean?
Contains both hydrophobic and hydrophillic components
Why is a membrane said to be a fluid mosaic?
Fluid: flows, moves, changes shape
Mosaic: different size, patterns, shapes
Why does the cell-surface membrane have pores?
Selectively permeable
What types of proteins exist in the cell-surface membrane?
Intrinsic/integral/transmembrane
Extrinsic/peripheral
What is an intrinsic protein?
Span the full bilayer from one side to the other
They interact with the lipophillic core and it embeds them there
Protein channels / Carrier proteins
What is a protein channel?
Water filled tubes to allow water-soluble ions to diffuse across the membrane
What is a carrier protein?
Binds to ions or molecules (glucose/amino acids)
Causes a change in conformational shape
Moves the molecule across the membrane
What are the function of proteins in the bilayer?
Structural support
Acts as channels transferring water-soluble substances
Allows active transport using carrier proteins
Cell-surface receptors for identifying cells
Helps cells adhere (join) together
Acts as receptors (hormones)
What is an extrinsic protein?
Surface of bilayer, never extends beyond
What are the functions of extrinsic proteins?
Mechanical support
Cell receptors with glycolipids
Cell receptors for hormones
Where is cholestrol found?
Within the bilayer
What does cholestrol do in the bilayer?
Provides strength to membrane
Reduce lateral movement of molecules
Make the membrane less fluid at high temp
Prevent leakage of water and dissolved ions
What is a glycolipid?
Carbohydrate covalently bonded to a lipid
Carb. extends outside the cell
What is the function of glycolipids?
Recognition sites (ABO Blood) Maintain stability of membrane Helps cells to attach to each other
What is a glycoprotein?
Carbohydrate chains bonded to extrinsic protein
What are the functions of glycoproteins?
Recognition sites
Help cells attach to each other
Recognition (e.g lymphocytes recognise own cells)
When is transport across the bilayer not possible?
Molecules not lipophillic
Too large to pass through channels
Same charge as proteins
Polar (electrically charged) therefore cannot move through the non-polar hydrophobic tails
What are the functions of intracellular membranes?
Divides cytoplasm from organelle contents Entry and exit Internal transport mechanisms Enzyme isolation Interface for reactions
How can a rate of entry graph differ with facilitated diffusion and diffusion?
Facilitated diffusion graph plateaus as the channel protein becomes saturated
What are similarities between how H2O and O2 diffuse?
Move down conc. gradient
Diffuses through phospholipid bilayer
Why does the rate of uptake increase in the presence of oxygen?
Active transport - using O2 creates ATP energy to cause the carrier proteins to change shape
Why does uptake of a substance increases as conc. does?
Diffusion is proportional to conc. gradient
What are the things that hold chromatids together?
Centromere
How many chromosomes found in nuclei in telophase and a sperm cell if there are 26 in prophase?
Prophase: 26
Telophase: 26
Sperm cell: 13