Chapter 4 Flashcards
Define: Plasma membrane
Outer boundary of the cell that separates it from the world is a thin, fragile structure
Estimated thickness of plasma membrane
5-10 nm
Do all membranes have the same ultrastructure?
Yes
How can you observe the plasma membrane?
An electron microscope
What are the 7 functions of the plasma membrane?
- Compartmentalization
- Scaffold for biochemical activities
- Selectively permeable membrane
- Transport solutes
- Response to external stimuli
- Cell-cell communication
- Energy transduction
What is the plasma membrane made of?
Lipids and proteins
Define: Amphipathic
Property of a molecule having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions
What is insulation for a nerve cell?
Myelin sheath
Define: Phosphoglycerides
Lipids with phosphate group
Define: Phosphoglycerides
Phospholipids built on glycerol backbone
Define: Sphingolipids
Derivative of sphingosine
Define: Sphingosine
An amino alcohol that contains a long hydrocarbon chain
Define: Ceramides
Basic structural units of all sphingolipids, consists of sphingosine linked to fatty acid by amino group
Define: Cholesterol
Smaller and less amphipathic molecule
What sterol makes up to 50% of animal membrane lipids
Cholesterol
Can lipid bilayers self-assemble?
Yes
Liposome functions in the bilayer
- deliver drugs within the body
- membrane proteins inserted into liposomes
What are membrane carbohydrates?
Plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells have carbohydrate, glycoproteins and glycolipids
What is the function of membrane carbohydrates?
Mediates interactions of cell and the environment
What is an example of an important carbohydrate in plasma membrane?
Blood type
What determines blood type?
Glycolipid carbohydrates of RBC plasma membrane
Blood type A
Adds enzyme V-acetylgalactosamine to end chain
Blood type B
Adds enzyme galactose to chain terminus
Blood type AB
Both enzymes present
Blood type O
Lacks enzyme capable of attaching either terminal sugar
What is integral membrane protein function?
Receptors that bind ligands, channels, or transporters to move ions/solutes across membrane
Are integral membrane proteins amphipathic?
Yes
What are peripheral membrane proteins?
Associate with membrane by weak electrostatic bonds
What are lipid anchored membrane proteins
Covalently bonded to a lipid group that resides within membrane
What are lipid rafts?
Outer leaflet of plasma membrane contains specialized regions
What is the function of lipid rafts?
Provide favourable environment for cell-surface receptors
Phospholipids move in what way?
Laterally
Define: Flippases
Enzymes that move certain phospholipids from one leaflet to the other
Define: Apical plasma membrane
Absorbs substances from lumen
Define: Lateral
Cell contact