B2.1 Membranes and membrane transport

Question 1

What are membranes composed of?

Answer 1

Proteins and lipids.

Question 2

What is the purpose of a membrane?

Answer 2

To regulate the movement of substances in and out of the cell as well ad keep beneficial factors in.

Question 3

What is the fluid mosaic model?

Answer 3

In 1972 proposed proteins are inserted into the phospholipid layer and do not form a layer on the surface. They believed proteins formed ammoniac floating in a fluid bilayer of phospholipids

Question 4

What is considered the backbone of the membrane?

Answer 4

Phospholipids

Question 5

What are the phospholipids composed of?

Answer 5

A 3 carbon compound called glycerol. Two of them have fatty acids combined with them. The third is attached to a highly polar organic alcohol that includes a bond to a phosphate group.

Question 6

Why is the phospholipid amphipathic?

Answer 6

The fatty acids are not water soluble because they are non polar but the organic alcohol is highly soluble because it is polar.