Cell Membranes - Harder Flashcards
Roles of cell surface membranes
- Partially permeable to control which substances enter and leave the cell.
- Site of cell signalling.
Roles of membranes within cells
- Forms vesicles to transport substances around cells.
- Provide barrier between cytoplasm and organelles.
Describe fluid-mosaic model
Fluid - components free to move in phospholipid bilayer.
Mosaic - Components such as cholesterol, phospholipids, glycoproteins, glycolipids scattered throughout.
How thick is cell membrane?
5-10 nm
List components of cell surface membrane
- Proteins - peripheral, integral, glycoprotein
- Phospholipids
- Cholesterol (animal cells)
Why is phosphate head hydrophilic?
It is polar - faces outwards
Why are fatty acid tails hydrophobic?
They are non-polar
Role of cholesterol
Restricts movement of phospholipids, which prevents membrane being too fluid when warm.
Controls fluidity, so prevents membrane becoming too solid when cold.
Function of membrane proteins
- Receptors
- Channels for facilitated diffusion
- Pumps for active transport
Role of phospholipid bilayer
- Allows lipid soluble substances to enter/leave cell.
- Doesn’t allow water soluble/polar substances to enter/leave cell.
Role of glycoLIPIDS
- Act as recognition sites.
- Adhesion - helps cells attach to each other to form tissues.
Role of glycoPROTEINS
- Act as recognition sites
- Receptors for cell signalling
- Adhesion - helps cells stick together to form tissues.
- Act as antigens
Cell signalling process
- Signal molecule released by exocytosis.
- Glycoproteins act as receptors
- Receptors are specific site for signal molecules.
- Shape of receptor and signal molecule are complementary.
- Attachment of signal molecule to receptor causes change inside cell.
- Cell surface membrane allows entry of some lipid-soluble signal molecules.
Effects of high temperature on membrane structure
- KE of phospholipids increase.
- Phospholipids move more.
- Bilayer becomes more fluid and begins to lose structure.
- Increases number of gaps in membrane (becomes more permeable).
- Proteins in membrane could denature.
Effects of organic solvent on membrane
Organic solvents dissolve membranes and can disrupt and break down cells
What investigation looks into the effects of temperature on membrane permeability?
Beetroot PAG