Cell Biology - exam 1 Flashcards
Intracellular compartment
contains 2/3 of body weight/water
Extracellular compartment
contains 1/3 body weight/water
3/4 outside of blood vessels (interstitial)
1/4 inside blood vessel (plasma)
ICF vs. ECF
ICF = higher in proteins, lower in sodium, and higher in potassium ECF = lower in protein, higher in sodium, and lower in potassium
Roles of plasma membrane
- controls the transport of materials from ECF and ICF
- provides receptors for hormone and other biological active substances
- participates in the generation and conduction of electrical currents
- aids in the regulation of cell growth and proliferation
Integral proteins
Span the entire lipid bilayer and are essentially part of the membrane
Peripheral proteins
Are bound to one side of the membrane and do not pass into the lipid bilayer
Functions of membrane proteins
- receptors
- channels/carriers
- enzymes
- anchors
- recognition (antigens)
Cholesterol in membranes
Provides fluidity for proteins (allows proteins to move along the membrane)
Plasma membrane receptors bind…
- hormones
- growth factors
- neurotransmitters
Types of signal transduction pathways in plasma membranes
- G-proteins
- Enzymes
- Ion Channels
G-protein linked receptors
- ligand (1st messenger) binds to the receptor and undergoes a conformation change in the g-protein receptor
- activation of g-protein leads to increase in an intracellular 2nd messenger
- 2nd messenger leads to cell response
Enzyme - linked receptor
- Has intrinsic activity or linked to an enzyme
- Tyrosine kinase most frequent enzyme
- utilized by many growth factors (cell division)
- important in some tumorigenesis mechanisms
Ion-Channel Linked Receptors
- receptors act as gated channels for ion flow across membrane
- ligand binding transiently opens channel allowing ion flow
- involved in neuro conduction and muscle contraction
What is passive transport?
- relies on gradients (high to low)
- do not require energy
- ex: diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion
What is active transport?
- transports molecules against gradient (low to high)
- requires energy
What is vesicular transport?
- cell encloses material in a small spherical membranous sac
- ex: endocytosis, exocytosis
Diffusion
- movement of molecules across membrane from high to low concentration
- Lipid soluble molecules (steroids, thyroid hormones, gases)
- stops when concentration is equal on both sides
Osmosis
- diffusion of water toward high solute concentration
- solutes create osmotic force that attracts water
- main determinants (Na+, glucose, urea, and proteins)
- Wherever these molecules go water always follows
Isotonic
does not cause osmotic flow of water into or out of cells as concentrations are equal
Hypotonic
Less solutes outside the cell causes osmotic flow of water into the cell causing the cell to swell
Hypertonic
More solutes outside the cell causes osmotic flow of water out of the cell causing the cell to shrivel
Facilitated diffusion
- carrier proteins transport molecules too large to fit through channel proteins (glucose, amino acids)
- molecules bind to receptor site on carrier protein
- protein changes shape so molecule can pass through
- sites are highly specific
- finite number of transporters
Carrier-mediated transport
- transports ions and organic substrates (facilitated diffusion or active transport)
- characteristics: specific, saturable, regulated
Active transport
- requires energy to move substrates against a gradient
- types: electrical, chemical, electrochemical