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1.3 Cell membranes and transport > Cell membrane > Flashcards

Cell membrane Flashcards

1
Q

What is a lipid

A

Large a varied group of organic compounds e.g. fats and oils

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2
Q

What are the 3 components of a lipid

A

A lipid is similar to a Carbohydrate it contains:

  1. carbon
  2. hydrogen
  3. oxygen

However the proportion of oxygen is less than carbohydrates

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3
Q

What determines the properties of any particular lipid

A
  1. They glycerol molecule in a lipid always stays the same
  2. The fatty acids determine the properties of the lipid
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4
Q

What is the test for fats and oils

A

Emulsion test

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5
Q

What is a fatty acid

A

An organic acid with a carboxyl (COOH) group at one end, which has a long hydrocarbon tail (R group) attached

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6
Q

What is the general formula of a fatty acid

A

RCOOH

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7
Q

What are the two types of fatty acids

A
  1. Saturated fatty acids
  2. Unsaturated fatty acids
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8
Q

How do the fatty acids in a lipid vary

A
  1. Length of the hydrocarbon tail
  2. HOw saturated the R group is
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9
Q

What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids

A
  1. Saturated fatty acid
    • Single carbon to cabon bonds (C-C)
  2. Unsaturated fatty acids
    • Double carbon to carbon bonds (C=C)
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10
Q

How thick is the cell surface membrane

A

7nm

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11
Q

What type of microscope allows you to investigate the detailed structure of a cell membrane

A light microscope

An electron microscope

A

Electron microscope

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12
Q

Compare an electron microscope to a light mircroscope

A

Jamie we need to do this.

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13
Q

What is the structure of a cell membrane?

A

The structure of a cell membrane is composed of…

  • 75% Phospholipids, the remainder being
  • Proteins, cholesterol and polysaccharides
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14
Q

phospholipid, protein, cholesterol, polysaccharide

Which is the key element of the cell surface membrane

A
  • Phospholipid
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15
Q

What is the structure of a phospholipid

A

A Phospholipid has

  • 2 fatty acid chains and a phosphate group
  • The Phosphate end of the phospholipid molecule is polar and therefore attracts other polar molecules e.g. water (Hydrophilic)
  • The Lipid end of the phospholipid molecule is non polar, and therefore does not attract water (Hydrophobic)
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16
Q

What happens when a phospho lipid comes into contact with water

A
  • Hydrophilic heads are attracted to water and dip into it
  • The hydrophobic tails move away from the water
  • This forms a mono layer
17
Q

What 2 things happen if you shake up this mono layer

A
  1. Phospholipids would form tiny spherical structures called micelles
  2. The hydrophobic tails turn inwards and are protected by the hydrophilic head
18
Q

With respect the cell membrane…what 3 things can phospholipids form

A
  1. Monolayers
  2. Miceles
  3. More importantly bi layers
19
Q

Why are Bi layers important

A

It forms the basis of the structure for the cell surface and other membranes

20
Q

What does a phospholipid by layer look like?

A
21
Q

What are the 5 reasons why phospholipids form the basis of cell membrane structure

A
  1. Phospholipids can form bi layers
  2. The inner phospholipid layer
    • Has its hydrophilic head pointing inwards towards the centre of the cell and interacts with the water in the cytoplasm
  3. The outer phospholipid layer
    • Has its hydrophilic head pointing outwards interacting with the water surrounding the cell
  4. The hydrophobic tails of the two phospholipid layers point towards each, other towards the centre of the membrane
  5. The phospholipid component of a membrane allows lipid soluable molecules accross, but excludes water soluable molecules
22
Q

What are the two ways proteins are embedded into the phospholipid bylayer

A
  1. Extrinsic proteins
  2. Intrinsic proteins
23
Q

What is an extrinsic protein?

A
  • Extrinsic proteins can be found on each side of the phospholipid bi-layer
  • Their function is to provide structural support and form recognition sites by identifying cells and receptor sites for hormone attachment
24
Q

What is an intrinsic protein?

A
  • Intrinsic proteins can be found accross both of the phospholipid bi-layers
  • Some of the intrinsic proteins are carriers, transporting water soluable substances accross the cell membrane
  • Other intrinsic proteins allow active transport of ions accross the membrane by forming channels
25
Q

Label the cell membrane

A
26
Q

Label cell membrane answers

A

1.3 Cell membranes and transport (15 decks)

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