B2 Flashcards
Integral protein
Protein embedded throughout the entire membrane, due to amphipathic nature
Peripheral protein
Protein that remains bound to the surface of the membrane, not protruding into hydrophobic section of membrane
Cholestrol
Chain of steroid lipid that sit in hydrophobic region of membrane in animal cells
How does the fluid mosaic modal explain the structure of the cell membrane?
Phospholipids are closely associated but not bound, providing the fluidity that allows cells to change shape, and facilitates transport in and out of cell by vesicles. Mosaic refers to the presence of different proteins (and others) in a non-consistent pattern
Why are phospholipid amphipathic?
Lipid tails: non-polar, hydrophobic
Phosphate group: polar, hydrophilic
What does it mean to say that the cell membrane is partially or selecively permeable?
Some substances pass through easily while others dont
Glycoprotein
Carbohydrate chain attached to the peripheral protein
Glycolipid
Carbohydrate chain attached to lipid tails
What advantage does unsaturated fatty acid provide?
Double bonds between carbons reduces the straightness of fatty acids and thus, prevents tight packing of fatty acids
Advantages of saturated fatty acids
Straighter structure, allows for a higher melting point, denser bilayer and limited expansion at higher temperatures
How does cholestrol aid membrane fluidity in animal cells?
At higher temperatures, cholestrol adds stability to the membrane and prevents overexpansion.
At lower temperatures, presence of cholestrol prevents phospholipids from packing tightly and losing fluidity
What features must be drawn on a model of the cell membrane?
Phospholipids with saturated and unsaturated fatty acids
Integral proteins
Glycolipid
Glycoprotein
Cholestrol (animals only)
Peripheral proteins
What are the different functions of membrane proteins?
Junction: joins two cells together
Enzymes: catalyses metabolic reactions
Transport: facilitates diffusion, osmosis and active transport
Recognition: glycoproteins act as markers for cell identification
Anchorage: attachment site (usually for the cytoskeleton)
Transduction: receptor for hormone (or another signalling molecule)
Example of a membrane protein that acts as an enzyme
ATP synthase
What is the problem for the membrane when it is cold?
Condensing phospholipids reduce fluidity
How do plants deal with condensing phospholipids when it is too cold?
Uses unsaturated fatty acids to preserve distance
How do animals deal with condensing phospholipids when it is tool cold?
Unsaturated fatty acids and cholestrol to preserve distance
What is the problem with the membrane when it is too hot?
Phospholipids expand and the membrane can lyse/burst
How do plants deal with expanding phospholipids when it is hot?
Use more saturated fatty acids (which are denser, take up less space and have a higher melting point)
How do animals deal with expanding phospholipids when it is hot?
Cholestrol connects phospholipids when it is hot, saturated fatty acids
Simple diffusion
Particles moving through phospholipids from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration without requiring a protein
Facilitated diffusion
Larger or charged/polar particle moving from high to low concentration through a protein channel/carrier protein without requiring energy
Osmosis
MOvement of water through a semi-permeable membrane via passive transport from high water concentration to low water concentration
Aquaporins
Special protein channels that specifically function for the transport of water in/out of cells
Hypertonic
Having a higher concentration of solute (out of two environments)
Hypotonic
Having a lower concentration of solutes (out of two environmetns)
Isotonic
When two aqueous solutions have the same concentration of solutes
Difference between carrier proteins and channel proteins
Channels have a polar core that creates space for polar and non-polar molecules to go through
Carriers change shape as molecule move through it
Passive transport
Movement of particles across a cell membrane from an area of high to low concentration, with the concentration gradient. No energy is required
Examples of passive transport
Simple diffusion
Facilitated diffusion
Osmosis
Active transport
Movement of particles across a cell membrane from an area of low to high concentration, against the concentration gradient. Requires energy (ATP)
Examples of active transport
Protein pumps
Endocytosis/exocytosis
Which particles do simple diffusion?
Small and non-polar (fast)
Small and polar (slow)
What types of proteins can do facilitated diffusion?
Protein channels
Carrier proteins
What is the charge of the protein channel core?
Polar core
What type of molecules can travel through a protein channel (facilitated diffusion)
Small, charged/polar molecules
Can protein channels be selective?
Yes e.g. a tag that labels the carrier protein as only for glucose
What types of molecules can travel through a protein channel (facilitated diffusion)?
Larger molecules of any polarity
What particles travel through a protein pump?
Any particle going from low to high concentration
Which direction can protein pumps move particles?
Any but each protein pump can only move only direction.
How many shapes do protein pumps alternate between?
Two