Cellular Membranes Flashcards
Function of the Fluid Mosaic Model
Bilayered structure that;
- perform vital physiological roles
- form boundaries
- regulate molecules that enter and exit the cell
= lipids, carbohydrates and proteins make these possible
What do lipids do in the FMM
barrier for water soluble molecules
What separates two aqueous regions
Phospholipid bilayer
Integral membrane proteins
hydrophobic regions of amino acids that penetrate or cross the phospholipid bilayer
(Embedded)
Transmembrane proteins
Specific orientation - two faces on both sides of the phospholipid bilayer
Peripheral membrane proteins
Lack hydrophobic regions and are not embedded in the bilayer
Why are some proteins restricted in movement across the membrane and cause
They are anchored to components of the cytoskeleton or trapped within regions of the lipid rafts
= this causes unequal distribution of proteins = allowing specialisation of certain regions of the cell membrane
What is a glycoprotein
carbohydrate in the membrane is covalently bonded to proteins
What are plasma membrane glycoproteins responsible for
enables cells to be recognised by other cells and proteins
What are glycoproteins in the lipid membrane involved in
cell- cell interactions
What are the two cell adhesion molecules
Homotypic
Heterotypic
What is homotypic binding
occurs when both cell posses the same type of cell surface receptor and their interaction causes them to stick together
What is heterotypic binding
occurs between two different but complimentary proteins and resembles a plug socket
3 types of animal cell junctions
tight junctions
desmosomes
gap junctions
What are tight junctions in animal cells
specialised structures at the plasma membrane that link adjacent epithelial cells
function of tight junctions in animal cells
- restrict migration of membrane proteins and phospholipids
- prevent substances from moving through intracellular space
What are desmosomes in animal cells
act like spot welds on adjacent cells, holding them together
What are gap junctions in animal cells
connections that facilitate communication between cells
They are made up of protein channels called connexions, these span the plasma membranes of two adjacent cells and protrude them slightly
What is facilitated diffusion
molecules must travel through proteins to get into the cell - still diffusion
diffusion
the passive movement towards the state of equilibrium