Cell Membrane Structure

Question 1

What is a phospholipid?

Answer 1

Molecule with a phosphate head and fatty acid tail

Question 2

What does hydrophobic mean?

Answer 2

water hating

Question 3

What does hydrophilic mean?

Answer 3

water loving

Question 4

Which part of a phospholipid is hydrophobic?

Answer 4

fatty acid tails

Question 5

What part of a phospholipid is hydrophilic?

Answer 5

phosphate head

Question 6

How do phospholipids arrange themselves in membranes?

Answer 6

as a bilayer

Question 7

What is a glycoprotein?

Answer 7

protein in the membrane with a carbohydrate chain attached

Question 8

What is a glycolipid?

Answer 8

phospholipid with a carbohydrate chain attached

Question 9

What is the function of glycolipids and glycoproteins?

Answer 9

cell recognition (antigens, receptors etc)

Question 10

What is the function of cholesterol in the membrane?

Answer 10

Stability - restricts movement of other molecules

Question 11

What are the two types of proteins that span the membrane?

Answer 11

carrier proteins and channel proteins

Question 12

What do channel proteins allow through the membrane?

Answer 12

ions

Question 13

What do carrier proteins allow through the membrane?

Answer 13

large molecules (eg glucose)

Question 14

Fluid mosaic model - why is it called fluid?

Answer 14

molecules can move about within the phospholipid bilayer

Question 15

Fluid mosaic model - why is it called mosaic?

Answer 15

membrane made from different molecules eg phospholipids, protein