Cell Membrane Flashcards
Do all cells have a cell membrane?
Yes.
Cell Membrane Main Functions
Protection, a Fixed Environment, Transport, and Structural Support.
Why is the cell membrane significant?
Since it regulates cell transport, it is important for homeostasis.
What unique characteristic does the cell membrane have in regulating what can &can’t enter the cell?
It has a semi-permeable, and selective membrane.
The model used for interpreting the cell membrane used until today.
Fluid Mosaic Model
Why is the Fluid Mosaic Model fluid?
It is flexible and changes shape.
Why is the Fluid Mosaic Model mosaic?
Like a mosaic, it is consisted of several molecules.
How does the cell membrane be selectively permeable?
It receives and responds to stimuli.
What are the different components of the cell?
Phospholipids
Proteins
Cholesterol
Carbohydrates
Phospholipids have a unique characteristic in that it is ___.
Amphipathic
What is the definition of the phospholipids being amphipathic?
It is both hydrophilic and hydrophobic.
It mainly provides structure to the cell.
Phospholipids
With phospholipids being a main component for the cell having structure, it is ___.
Abundant
Phospholipids are composed of:
A Phosphate Head and Two Fatty Acids
The head of a phospholipid is composed of ___ and ___.
Glycerol and phosphate.
What part of the phospholipid is hydrophilic
and makes +H bonds with water (since it’s polar)?
Phosphate-linked Head Group
What part of the phospholipid is hydrophobic and are non-polar molecules?
Two Fatty Acid Tails
With the two fatty acid tails, one is ___, and the other one is ___.
Saturated and Unsaturated
Spherical vesicles of a bilayer of phospholipids.
Liposome
In an aqueous solution, phospholipids make what you call as a ___.
Phospholipid Bilayer
Lipid monolayers with a fatty acid core and polar surface.
Micelle
50% of plasma membrane
Proteins
Second major component next to phospholipids.
Proteins
Proteins based on location:
Integral
Peripheral
Proteins embedded entirely on bilayer, extends across.
Integral Proteins
Proteins that does not extend across, exterior or interior only.
Peripheral Proteins
Since peripheral proteins are only attached to the exterior or interior of the cell, it is ___.
Easily separable.
Commonly known as peripheral proteins.
Cell specific proteins like enzymes, transporters, and carriers.
Proteins based on function:
Ion Channels
Carrier Proteins
Enzymes
Receptor Proteins
Glycoproteins
Tiny Pores in the Cell Membrane
Ion Channels
Why are ion channels only have tiny pores?
It’s tiny to accommodate specific ions only (Na, P, Ca, Cl).
Where large molecules like glucose and amino acids pass through.
Carrier Proteins
Analogy
Tiny: ___
Large: ___
Tiny is to Ion Channels
as to
Large is to Carrier Proteins
Catalyzes chemical reactions.
Enzymes
It has binding sites that sets off molecular triggers.
Receptor Proteins
Each hormones have their own ___.
Receptor Sites
Allow cells in immune system to recognize foreign and domestic cells.
Glycoproteins
Why is it that organ transplant can only happen between the same specific blood types?
Each person has a unique recognition site, so if the blood type doesn’t match, the immune system recognizes it as a foreign molecule and attacks it.
Maintains fluidity and distance between the phospholipids.
Cholesterol
What condition triggers the cell membrane components to move farther away?
High Temperature
What condition triggers the cell membrane components to clump and render the cell rigid?
Low Temperature
