Cells Flashcards
What does the permeability of the membrane depend on
the nature of the molecule (polar , non polar)
size
What can polar molecules easily form
hydrogen bonds
What are polar molecules often called
hydrophilic
What are hydrophobic molecules
non- polar molecules that are unable to form hydrogen bonds
What molecules are lipids
hydrophobic
What three things do membranes consist of
lipids
proteins
glycolipids / glycoproteins
What does amphipathic mean
molecules with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions
what are the three major classes of lipids
phospholipids
glycolipids
sterols
what phospholipids are the most abundant
membrane
What does a phospholipids backbone composed mostly of
glycerol and a three carbon alcohol
What else is attached to the backbone
• negatively charged phosphate molecule forming polar hydrophilic head group
• two non -polar fatty acid chains forming the hydrophobic tails
What are the two fatty acids
unsaturated
saturate
what do the unsaturated fatty acids result in
kinks
Why can’t ions and lipid soluble molecules (polar) pass through the membrane
the interior of the bilayer is hydrophobic (non-polar)
Why can’t uncharged polar molecules like glucose pass through
they are hydrophilic
What can pass through the bilayer
small uncharged non polar lipid soluble molecules
example of large uncharged polar molecules that will be mostly impermeable to the bilayer
glucose
sucrose
Examples of small uncharged polar molecules that will be mostly permeable to the bilayer
water
urea
ethanol
glycerol
Examples of non polar lipid
molecules that will be permeable
Oxygen , Co2 , N2 , steroids
Where does oxygen diffuse from
air in the alveoli (high conc of oxygen) to blood in the capillaries (low conc of oxygen)
Where does carbon dioxide diffuse from in tissues
from cells (conc higher) to blood (conc is lower)
Where does the carbon dioxide diffuse from in the LUNGS
from the blood to the alveoli
What is a transmembrane protein
A protein that transfers molecules across the membrane
What are aquaporins
They are transmembrane proteins that allow water molecules to flow down their channels. From a region of higher concentration to lower
What are the two types of membrane proteins
integral
peripheral
What are integral proteins
embedded in the lips bilayer
difficult to isolate
amphipathic molecules
How are integral proteins embedded into the bilayer
The hydrophobic regions of the integral proteins interact with the hydrophobic interior of the lipid bilayer
What are peripheral proteins
•Hydrophilic
• found on the surface of the membrane
•interact only with the hydrophilic regions of the integral proteins
List the 4 functions of membrane (TRRE)proteins
- Transport
- Recognition
- Receptors
- Enzymes
Explain how membrane proteins help transport proteins
facilitate the movement of molecules in and out of the cell
channel and carrier proteins
What are channel proteins
Transmembrane proteins form channels for the passage of molecules
What are Carrier proteins
Undergo a conformational change to transfer the molecules from one side of the membrane to the other
Explain how membrane proteins help recognition
help in cell-cell recognition
Explain how membrane proteins act as receptors
for chemical signals and are burning sites for molecules like hormones and neurotransmitters
Explain how membrane proteins act as enzymes
catalyse reactions
Define osmosis
The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from lower to higher solute concentrations
How does water move in osmosis
From a region of lower water concentration to a region of higher water concentration
What are the factors that make facilitated diffusion
• molecules move down the conc gradient
• the movement is facilitated by transport proteins
What are channel proteins
transmembrane proteins that assemble to form channels for the passage of polar molecules
What is the selectivity of the ion channels due to
• the binding sites of hydrophilic amino acid side chains lining the channel
• the size of the pore
What are some reasons the channels open or close:
- changes in voltage across a membrane
- binding of small molecules to the channel proteins
- mechanical forces
What are carrier protiens
transmembrane transport proteins
What is the mechanism of carrier proteins
the carrier protein binds to the solute molecules, it undergoes a conformational change and transfers the molecules to the other side of the membrane
Define Active transport
the net movement of particles through a cell membrane from a region of lower conc to a region of higher suing energy
What are 3 things active transport helps to:
• takes up essential nutrients
• removes secretory
• maintain the right concentrations of ions in the cells