B2 Flashcards
What is an integral protein?
A protein embedded throughout the entire membrane. Able to do so as they are amphipathic, have a hydrophobic region in the middle where the fatty acid tails are, and ends are hydrophilic where the aqueous environments are. Allow larger or polar molecules to move through membrane, most are specific.
What is a peripheral protein?
Proteins that are bound to the surface of the membrane, so do not need to be amphipathic. Can be found on the inner or outer surface of a cell, and can be attached to the phospholipids or to an integral protein.
What is cholesterol?
A chain of steroid lipids that are in the hydrophobic region of the membrane of animal cells. They allow for fluidity by preventing the over expanding or condensing of the membrane in extreme temperatures.
How does the phrase “fluid mosaic model” explain the structure of the phospholipid bilayer?
Fluid= made of closely associated but not bound phospholipids which provides fluidity to allow mobement and facilitate transport (vesicles, endo/exo cytosis)
Mosaic= the presence of different proteins in a non-consistent pattern
Why are phospholipids amphipathic?
Tails: non-polar and hydrophobic- fatty acid tails
Heads: contains a phosphate group and a glycerol. phosphate= negative charge, glycerol- positive charge. This makes it polar, thus hydrophilic
What is meant by partially or selectively permeable?
In terms of the phospholipid bilayer
Some substances move easily through the cell membrane, while others do not.
Small, non-polar molecules diffuse through membrane non-selectively
Larger or polar molecules cannot, so they require integral proteins to move through.
What are some functions of membrane proteins?
- J: Junctions- joins two cells together
- E: Enzymes- catalyse metabolic reactions e.g ATP synthase
- T: Transport- facilitated diffusion, osmosis, active transport
- R: Recognition- glycoproteins markers for cell identification (antigens)
- A: Anchoring- attachment site for cytoskeleton
- T: Transduction- Receptor for hormones (and other signalling hormones)
Describe the differences between active and passive transport
Active- moves particles from area of low concentration to high concentration, against the concentration gradient. Requires energy, usually as ATP to move against gradient. Through integral proteins.
Passive- natural flow of particles from an area of high concentration to low concentration with the concentration gradient. Does not require energy. Can be through bilayer or integral protein.
Explain the structure and function of glycoproteins and glycolipids
Both are carbohydrate chains that attach to the outer surface of the cell membrane for cell identification and adhesion.
Glycolipid- attach directly to phospholipids
Glycoprotein- attach to a peripheral protein
What is the role of saturated fatty acids in the membrane?
Saturated fatty acids are straighter and have a higher melting point, creating a dense bilayer which limits expansion at warmer temperatures
What is the role of unsaturated fatty acids in the membrane?
The presence of double bonds that makes the phospholipids less straight, preventing them from packing tightly, especially at higher temperatures.
How does cholesterol aid in membrane fluidity in animal cells?
At high temps: adds stability to the membrane and prevents overexpansion of the phospholipids
At low temps- their presence prevents the phospholipids from packing so tightly and reducing fluidity.
Note: organelle membranes often have much less cholesterol as they are exposed to less temperature fluctuations.
Define simple diffusion
When particles move from an area of high concentration to low concentration (with the concentration gradient) through the phospholipid bilayer. Does not require proteins to move.
Define facilitated diffusion
When particles require a protein to be transported in or out of the cell as they are too large, charged or polar to travel through the bilayer. Moves with the concentration gradient.
Define osmosis
The movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane via passive transport, from dilute to concentrated. Water is polar and thus takes a long time to move through simple diffusion, so often moves through proteins called aquaporins.
What are aquaporins?
Protein channels dedicated to the movement of water in and out of the cell. Water is polar, so aquaporins have a polar core to facilitata rapid water movement.
Note: having aquaporins is an adaptation for water movement, thus concentration can vary.
Define hypertonic
A solution with a higher concentration of solutes is hypertonic to the other. If the extracellular environment is higher in solutes than the cell, then it is hypertonic. Water will be drawn out of the cell.
Define hypotonic
A solution with a lower concentration of solutes is hypotonic to the other. If the extracellular environment is lower in solutes than the cell, then it is hypotonic. Water will be drawn into the cell.
Define isotonic
When the solution inside and outside the cell have the same concentration of solutes. No net movement of water in or out of the cell.
What types of molecules can move through the cell membrane by simple diffusion?
- Small enough to fit through phospholipid heads
- Non-polar to move through the tails
- Examples: CO2, O2
Note: polar particles can move through, but very slowly
What are the differences between carrier proteins and protein channels?
- Channel proteins: have a polar core that creates a space for polar and charged particles to move through
- Carrier proteins: changes shape as the molecules move through it
How does the sodium and potassium pump demonstrate active transport?
Active transport is used to move particles against concentration gradient. Done by protein pumps which use energy and only move in one direction.
Example: the sodium-potassium pump moves 2 ions, is crucial for neural signalling
Define endocytosis
Materials entering the cell by pushing through the cell membrane and creating a vesicle. The pinching of the membrane requires energy, thus is active transport. Can be regulated by receptors
What are the types of endocytosis?
Phagocytosis: endocytosis of large, solid particles
Pinocytosis: endocytosis of liquids and solutes
Define exocytosis
When materials are removed from the cell. Materials are inside a vesicle which merges with the cell membrane to expell the contents. The vacuole is made by the golgi apparatus.
What are the uses of exocytosis
- Used by unicellular organisms to expel water in a contractile vacuole to maintain osmotic balance
- Used to export proteins
What are gated ion channels?
Channel proteins that can be opened at specific times for diffusion to be turned on. This allows for an regulation or more dramatic influxes (useful for action potential)
What is indirect active transport?
When ATP is used to move a substance, but another substance can move as a result of the active transport of the first.
What is Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAM)
Cells in multicellular organism tissue are connected by cell to cell junctions. CAM are proteins embedded in the cell membranes. They protrude towards other cells and create junctions between cells, allowing more complex cellular arrangements in tissues.
Explain the role of the golgi apparatus in exocytosis of proteins
Proteins made at the Rough ER are packaged and moved to the Golgi for synthesis. The membrane of the Golgi pushes through to create vesicles that transport protein products to the membrane. At the membrane, the vesicle fuses with the membrane and the protein is expelled.
What is the difference between a neurotransmitter and a voltage gated ion?
Neurotransmitter/ ligand gated channels: a chemical messenger facilitates the opening of the channel
Voltage gated channels: gates open/ close based on changes to internal/ external environments. A change in the charge (from action potential) causes the channel to open.
How is the sodium- potassium pump an example of an exchange transporter?
The same protein moves sodium in one direction, and potassium in the other direction. When the pump changes shape to release the sodium ions, the potassium ions enter at the same time. When it changes shape again to release the potassium, the sodium can be collected again.
What is the role of ATP in the functioning of the Sodium-Potassium pump?
ATP creates the shape change that closes the pump on the inside and facilitates its reopening on the outside. When ATP is 1x phosphate group binds to the outside of the pump and breaks off the ATP. When potassium enters the pump, the sodium is expelled and the phosphate gets detached, which triggers the next shape change.
How are sodium-dependent glucose cotransporters an example of indirect active transport?
in the intestines and kidneys
The sodium-potassium pump uses active transport to move sodium into the extracellular space where glucose resides. Once a high sodium concentration is established, the sodium will move via a channel protein that moves glucose and sodium. No ATP is used to move the glucose, but was used to move the sodium, so moving the glucose is indirectly energy consuming.
What are some of the uses of cell adhesium molecules in living organisms?
- To prevent movement
- To facilitate movement
- To protect against the spread of tumors by preventing cells from breaking away (metasis)
What are some examples of endocytosis?
- Immune system- phagocytosis by white blood cells
- Unicellular feeding
- Endosymbiotic theory