C4 Transport Across Cell Membranes Flashcards
Solvent
The liquid in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution
Solute
The minor component in a solution, dissolved in the solvent.
Fluid-mosaic model
Fluid - properties and lipids are free to move around. Mosaic - an assortment of components of different sizes and shapes embedded in the phospholipid bilayer
Phospholipid bilayer
Phospholipids arrange themselves into a bilayer so that the hydrophilic heads are facing out (towards water) and the hydrophobic tails are facing in
Cholesterol
Membrane Stability: 1. Prevents membrane from becoming too FLUID by reducing phospholipid movement; hydrophobic regions bind to phospholipid fatty acid tails, causing them to pack more closely together 2. Prevents membrane from becoming too RIGID - reduces cell frigidity @ low temperatures
Extrinsic proteins
Present on only one side of the phospholipid bilayer - provide support to the membrane or may be involved in cell signalling.
Intrinsic proteins
Embedded through both sides of the phospholipid bilayer - channel and carrier proteins which transport large molecules and ions across the membrane
Glycoproteins
Attached to Intrinsic proteins: Cell adhesion - This is the attachment of cells to one another.
Cell recognition - This allows cells to recognise one another.
Cell signalling - This is communication between cells.
Glycolipids
Attached to lipids Cell adhesion - This is the attachment of cells to one another.
Cell recognition - This allows cells to recognise one another.
Cell signalling - This is communication between cells.
Simple Diffusion
The net movement of molecules from a concentration (dilute solution) to a concentration (more concentrated solution) (energy exists as kinetic energy; doesn’t need an external source of energy ie. ATP, therefore PASSIVE movement)
Facilitated Diffusion
Diffusion that is made easier by transmembrane channels and carriers in the membrane (channel and carrier proteins)
Factors that affect diffusion
- concentration gradient 2. higher temperature 3. larger surface area 4. smaller molecule 5. shorter distance for diffusion 6. molecule size
How does a smaller molecule/ion affect diffusion rate
Less kinetic energy is needed to move a smaller molecule, so it’ll move faster at the same temperature, increasing the rate of diffusion
How does the concentration gradient affect diffusion rate
The bigger the difference of concentration, the probability of molecules colliding over the region, therefore increasing the rate of diffusion
How does a shorter diffusion pathway affect diffusion rate
If the speed is the same, but the distance is smaller, then the time taken to travel the distance must be smaller {cell membranes cannot be made thinner}