Chapter 3- the plasma membrane Flashcards
Loss of homeostasis in cells often leads to
Disease
What are the 3 basic parts of the cell?
- Plasma membrane
- Cytoplasm- intracellular fluid containing organelles
- Nucleus
Which cells do not have a nucleus?
Red blood cells
basic functions of different cell types in the body (8)
- Connecting body parts (fibroblast of connective tissue)
- Form linings (epithelial cells)
- Gas transport (erythrocyte)
- Movement (smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscle)
- Storage (adipose cells)
- Immune defenses (leukocytes)
- Control cells (nerve cells)
- Reproduction (sperm and eggs)
Fluid mosaic model
The plasma membranes consist of a phospholipid bilayer with proteins randomly dispersed in it. The mosaic comes from the proteins embedded in the layer. Some are anchored, some float within it.
Why is the membrane important?
separates the intracellular fluid from the extracellular fluid
Selectively permeable definition
The membrane allows substances in or out, or blocks them from entering or leaving
Which 3 macromolecules make up the chemical composition of cells?
Lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates
Importance of lipids in the cell (2)
- Fatty acid tails- hydrophobic portions that face the inside of the membrane. Tails help prevent crossing of water soluble molecules and create a boundary.
- The combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions leads to ability of cells to reseal when damaged or torn
Which macromolecules constitute most of the cell specialized membrane functions?
Proteins
What are the 3 main types of membrane proteins?
Integral, peripheral, and motor proteins
Integral proteins
These proteins are embedded in the plasma membrane. They transport proteins in and out of cells, and are used for enzymes, receptors, and cell-cell recognition (important for immune function)
Peripheral proteins
loosely attached to integral protein. Are not found in the lipid bilayer. They are used for enzymes, motor proteins, cell-cell attachment.
Motor proteins
plasma membrane protein that helps the cell to change shape, like when cells divide
Functions of membrane proteins (6)
- Transport proteins in and out of cells.
- Receptor proteins
- Enzymes
- Cell-cell recognition
- Attachment proteins
- Intercellular junctions
Transport proteins importance and function
Transport proteins in and out of cells. Some proteins form channels through which a particular solute can be selectively moved. Other proteins actively pump substances across the membrane surface by using ATP.
Receptor proteins importance and function
relay messages to the cell interior when bound to/exposed to certain chemical messengers (hormones, etc). Some receptor proteins have receptor sites that are specific to a chemical messenger.
What happens when a protein is bound to a chemical messenger?
It changes shape
Enzymes
Proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. Some enzymes act alone, others act as a team to catalyze sequential steps.
Cell-cell recognition proteins importance
helps with recognizing “self” from “non-self”, important for immune function
Attachment proteins
helps hold some membrane proteins in place, maintains cell shape. Can be located inside of the cell or outside, depending on function
Intercellular junctions
link cells together, used for cell movement/migration in tissues
Which aspects of cells determine their function in the body?
Size, shape, content of cell
Principle of complementarity of structure and function
the activities of cells are dictated by their shapes, and by the types and relative numbers of the subcellular structures they contain. For example, the flat, tile-like epithelial cells lining the inside of your cheek fit closely together to form a barrier that protects underlying tissues from bacterial invasion
Cells only arise from other cells by
Mitosis/meiosis
Extracellular materials
substances contributing to body mass that are found outside the cells
3 main classes of extracellular materials
- Extracellular fluid
- Cellular secretions
- Extracellular matrix
Extracellular fluid
includes interstitial fluid, blood plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid. ECF dissolves and transports substances in the body
Interstitial fluid
the fluid in tissues that bathes all of our cells and contains thousands of substances. The cell extracts from this fluid the substances it needs at the time
Cellular secretions
include substances that aid in digestion (intestinal and gastric fluids) and some that act as lubricants (saliva, mucus, and serous fluids).
Extracellular matrix
cells secrete a jellylike substance composed of proteins and polysaccharides that assembles in the extracellular space. The molecules act like glue to hold the cells together. Most abundant extracellular material
Where is the extracellular matrix most abundant
Connective tissue
Cholesterol
Cholesterol provides structural support to stiffen the membrane- increases membrane stability. A type of lipid
Glycolipids
Chain of sugars attached to a lipid
Glycoproteins
Chain of sugars attached to a protein
Glycocalyx
The combination of glycolipids and glycoproteins on the extracellular surface. Each individual’s is unique, and each cell type will have a slightly different arrangement. This is important for immune system function, as it helps the immune system to recognize foreign cells. It acts as a specific biological marker
What is the purpose of cell junctions?
Cell junctions permanently or temporarily attach a cell to one or more other cells. Most cells in the body form a cell junction.
Types of cell junctions (4)
- Tight junction
- Desmosomes
- Cadherins
- Gap junctions
Tight junction
integral proteins of adjacent cells fuse together. This junction is impermeable- nothing passes through it. Tight junctions between epithelial cells of the stomach prevent gastric juice from “leaking out”, which could be damaging
Desmosomes
anchoring junctions from one cell to another that prevents separation. Like Velcro. Bind cells together to form sheets, resist shearing forces when pulled/stretched
Cadherins
protein filaments extend from cell surface and link to filaments of other cells. Inside the cell, a plaque holds the cadherins in place. Keratin filaments hold plaque in place to prevent movement/shifting
Gap junctions
Communication junctions. Hollow cylinders formed by proteins connect adjacent cells. Different proteins= selective passage of molecules/substances through channels, like ions, simple sugars, small molecules, etc. Importance- cells need to know what’s happening in cells around them.
What happens to the glycocalyx of a cancerous cell?
It changes almost continuously to keep ahead of immune system recognition mechanisms and avoid destruction
Where are gap junctions present?
Present in electrically excitable tissues, like the heart and smooth muscle where ion passage from cell to cell helps synchronize their electrical activity and contraction
Passive membrane transport
movement of molecules across the membrane down their concentration gradient (diffusion) with no ATP required. High to low concentration, downhill movement
What is the driving force of diffusion?
Kinetic energy of molecules. In areas of high molecule concentration- molecules collide and bounce off one another frequently. More collisions= dispersal of molecules
Diffusion speed is determined by (3)
- Concentration- greater concentration difference between 2 areas leads to faster diffusion
- Molecular size- smaller molecules diffuse faster. Large molecules don’t have hard collisions with other molecules
- Temperature- higher temperatures increases kinetic energy and results in faster diffusion rates
Types of diffusion (3)
- Simple diffusion
- Facilitated diffusion
- Osmosis