Cell Membrane Precursors

Question 1

What are cell membrane precursors?

Answer 1

specialized phospholipids in the cell wall

extra compound on the phosphate head

Question 2

phosphatidyl-

Answer 2

phospholipid with something stuck to it

• specific task
• play a role in assembly of surfactant (different proteins and phosphatidyl- compounds)
• surfactant breaks fluid tension in the lungs

Question 3

Precursors present in cell wall

Answer 3

polyunsaturated fats/lipids
arachidonic acid
phosphatidylinositol (PI)
phosphatidelserine (cytosolic)
phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)
phosphatidylcholine (PCh)
Sphingomyelin
Cholesterol

Question 4

Phosphatidylinositol

Answer 4

(PI)

inositol: storage compound for IP3

IP3: inositol triphosphate makes smooth muscle contract

Question 5

Phosphatidylserine

Answer 5

(cytosolic)

immune marker
-healthy cells should only have phosphatidylserine on the inside of cell wall
-flippase if it becomes outward facing…. flippase needs ATP to function

Question 6

Phosphatidylcholine

Answer 6

(PCh)

storage molecule for choline

choline used to assemble acetylcholine

important for signaling and transduction

Question 7

Sphingomyelin

Answer 7

NOT a phospholipid

fatty compound the body uses to construct
-myelin of the nervous system
- arachidonic acid