Chapter 3: Section A: Cell Structure Flashcards
Cells
cells are the structural and functional units of life
Unicellular organisms
composed of a single cell (i.e. bacteria and paramecia)
Multicellular organisms
- composed of more than one cell (i.e. humans, dogs, mushrooms, trees)
- cells are the lowest living level of organisms
Prokaryotic cells
- bacteria, archaea
- no nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles
Eukaryotic cells
- plants, animals, fungi
- have membrane-bound nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
- all have same basic structure but cells can be specialized to perform particular functions
Organelles
structures within the cell that serve a specific function (i.e. mitochondria, lysosomes)
cell size
- cells must be very small in order to function
- -> most animal cells are 10-100 micrometers
- cells must be smaller in size because the smaller the cell, the greater the surface area to volume ratio, which determines how much nutrients can enter and waste to exit
Functions of the plasma membrane
1) Regulate passage of substances into and out of cells and between bell organelles and cytosol
2) Detect chemical messengers arriving at cell surface
3) Link adjacent cells together by membrane junctions
4) Anchor cells to extracellular matrix
Fluid-Mosaic Model
- phospholipid bilayer interspersed with protein and cholesterol molecules
- consistency of olive oil –> flexible
- proteins drift sideways throughout the bilayer
- nonpolar tails of phospholipids face each other
- polar heads face outwards
Integral proteins
- bound to hydrophobic interior of phospholipid bilayer (may or may not extend from one side to other)
Transmembrane proteins
- can be used as channels or carriers
- extend all way through membrane
Peripheral
- bound to the interior or exterior surface of the membrane, usually to integral proteins.
- not ampipathic
Glycocalyx
- some membrane proteins and lipids have carbo chains attached to the cytoplasmic surface (i.e. glycoproteins and glycolipids)
- carbs from glycocalyx provides cell identity and enable cells to interact with each other
Cholesterol
- only in animal cell membranes
- reduces membrane permeability
- keeps membrane at optimal level of fluidity
- is involved in vesicle formation
Integrins
- transmembrance proteins that bind to specific proteins in the extracellular matrix and then link those proteins to other proteins in adjacent cells
specialized types of membrane junctions
- tight junctions (diffusion barrier)
- desmosomes (mechanical stability)
- gap junctions (allow direct comm. between adjacent cells)
Structure of Tight Junctions
- discontinuous series of localized fusions of adjacent plasma membranes
- forms a band around the circumference of the cell
- no extracellular space between cells (prevents leaks)
Function of tight junctions
- join most epithelial cells
- form a barrier to the extracellular space
- selective passage of substances across the epithelial layer of tissues