Chapter 2- Cell Membrane Flashcards
Cell Membrane
Made up of phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins.
Phospholipid
lipid (fat) in cell membranes that contain glyceral backbon, phosphate group (polar/hydrophilic), and two fatty acid tails (non-polar/hydrophobic).
Bc it is amphipathic, spontaneously self-assembles into a bilayer when in an aqueous environment. Phospholipid head will face both aqueous environment (intracellular or extracellular), while the fatty acid tails will face each other.
Cholesterol
- Amphipathic
- Interaction with cell membrane allows for better fluidity in phospholipid membrane
Integral (transmembrane) Proteins
- Amphipathic
- traverse the entire bilayer
- Transport large polar molecules across cell membrane
Receptor proteins
- Triggers secondary responses within cell.
- If receptor protein transmits a signal through the lipid bilayer, it is an integral receptor protein.
Peripheral membrane protein
- Do not extend through the entire bilayer; Located on Periphery
- Hydrophilic
- Contain adhesion and cellular recognition proteins.
Adhesion proteins
- attach cells to other cells (stick like tape)
- Act as anchors for the cytoskeleton.
Cellular recognition proteins
- help cells recognize each other.
- interact with receptor proteins
Fluidity of cell membrane affected by 3 things:
- Temperature- as temperature goes ↑ increase fluidity
while ↓ temperatures decrease fluidity. - Cholesterol- If temperature is ↑ fluidity decreases. If temperature is ↓ fluidity increases.
- Degree of unsaturation- If the fatty acid is saturated then packed tightly. If unsaturated fatty acids then loosely packed because of double bonds causing kinks. (Trans-unsaturated is packed tighter than Cis- bc double bonds are on opposite side)