Cell Membrane Structure Flashcards
dynamic, fluid structures made of lipid and protein molecules
cell membranes
what are cell membranes made of
lipid and protein molecules
who proposed the fluid-mosaic model
Singer and Nicholson (1972)
all biological membranes are a ________
very thin film of lipid and protein molecules
mainly hold the cell membrane together
noncovalent interactions
what are the noncovalent interactions in the cell membrane
- Electrostatic forces
- cation-π interactions
- van der Waals forces
- hydrogen bonding
cell membranes are __, __ structures
dynamic, fluid
provides the basic fluid structure of the membrane and serves as a relatively impermeable barrier to most water-soluble molecules
lipid bilayer
what does the lipid bilayer provide
basic fluid structure of membrane
the lipid bilayer serves as a what
relatively impermeable barrier
span the lipid bilayer and mediate nearly all of the other functions of the membrane
membrane proteins
what does the membrane protein mediate
nearly all of other functions of membrane
provides the basic structure for all cell membranes
lipid bilayer
major lipids in cell membranes
- phosphoglycerides
- sphingolipids
- sterols
the lipid bilayer is __, which means that it has both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties
amphiphilic / amphipathic
properties of the lipid bilayer
- self-assembly
- self-sealing property
spontaneous bilayer formation in aqueous environment
self-assembly
cell membrane will try to heal if there is breakage
self-sealing property
most abundant membrane lipid
phospholipids
parts of phospholipids
- polar phosphate-based head
- nonpolar hydrocarbon tail
two types of phospholipid head
- phosphoglyceride
- sphingomyelin
phosphoglyceride backbone
glycerol
sphingomyelin backbone
sphingosine
unique class of membrane glycerophospholipids containing a fatty alcohol with a vinyl-ether bond at the sn-1 position, and enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids at the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone.
Plasmalogens
how are plasmalogens linked
via ether bonds
two type of nonpolar hydrocarbon tail
- saturated
- unsaturated
rigid
saturated
kinks, preventing tight packing
unsaturated
kinks
cis double bond
Major phospholipids in mammalian plasma membranes
- phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)
- phosphatidylserine (PS)
- phosphatidylcholine (PC)
- sphingomyelin
- commonly found in the inner leaflet of membrane
- small head group allow tighter packing of lipids often leading to formation of curved membrane
phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)
where is phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) commonly found
inner leaflet
size of the head of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)
small, allow for tighter packing
head, backbone, and tail:
phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)
head: ethanolamine
backbone: glycerol
tail: two fatty acid tail
head, backbone, and tail:
phosphatidylethanolamine
head: ethanolamine
backbone: glycerol
tail: two fatty acid tail
- located at inner leaflet
- contribute to membrane potential and cell signaling leading to apoptosis
phosphatidylserine (PS)
where is phosphatidylserine (PS) located
inner leaflet
what does phosphatidylserine (PS) contribute to
- membrane potential
- cell signaling leading to apoptosis
how does phosphatidylserine (PS) signal apoptosis
flips to outer leaflet which acts as signal for phagocytosis
head, backbone, tail:
phosphatidylserine (PS)
head: serine (negatively charged carboxyl group)
backbone: glycerol
tail: two fatty acid tail
- most abundant in mammalian cells
- found in outer leaflet
- influence membrane fluidity
- participates in signal transduction by providing a major source of lipid second messengers
phosphatidylcholine (PC)
where is phosphatidylcholine (PC) located
outer leaflet
what does phosphatidylcholine (PC) influence
membrane fluidity
where does phosphatidylcholine (PC) participate in
signal transduction
how does phosphatidylcholine (PC) participate in signal transduction
by providing a major source of lipid second messengers
head, backbone, tail:
phosphatidylcholine (PC)
head: choline
backbone: glycerol
tail: two fatty acid tail
- abundant in the outer leaflet of cell plasma membranes
- with cholesterol, it forms lipid rafts which serve as platforms for proteins and protein assemblies involved in signal transduction
Sphingomyelin
where is sphingomyelin abundant
outer leaflet
head, backbone, tail:
Sphingomyelin
head: phosphocholine/phosphoethanolamine
backbone: sphingosine
tail: sphingosine backbone, one lone chain of fatty acid
acts as 2nd hydrophobic tail of sphingomyelin
sphingosine backbone
- sugar alcohol with ring structure
- minor phospholipid
- found mostly in inner leaflet
- serve as precursor for signaling molecule
phosphatidylinositol (PI)
where is phosphatidylinositol (PI) mostly found
inner leaflet
phosphatidylinositol (PI) serve as a what?
precursor for signaling molecule
head, backbone, tail:
phosphatidylinositol (PI)
head: inostiol
backbone: glycerol
tail: two fatty acid tail
what does the outer leaflet consist predominantly
- phosphatidylcholine (PC)
- sphingomyelin
- glycolipids
what does the inner leaflet consist predominantly
- phosphatidylethanolamine
- phosphatidylserine
- phosphatidylinositol
- highly unsaturated fatty acids found at high concentration in fish oil
- showed beneficial effects
Omega-3 fatty acids
where are Omega-3 fatty acids incorporated primarily into (cell membrane wise)
PE and PC molecules
where is the Omega-3 fatty acid most notably incorporated
- brain
- retina
Two important fatty acids
- eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
- docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
where is eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) most beneficial
- mood boosting
- triglyceride support
where is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) most beneficial
- brain development
- cognitive function
- eye health